The Deadline Has Already Passed For New Offerings
The European Accessibility Act took effect June 28, 2025 for new products and services placed on the EU market. Offerings already on the market have a transition period until June 28, 2030.
EU Accessibility Compliance Audit (European Accessibility Act)
HalfAccessible delivers EU accessibility audits for businesses in scope of the European Accessibility Act, whether based in the EU or serving EU customers from anywhere in the world. Every audit combines automated scanning with manual testing by CPWA-, CPACC-, and WAS-certified specialists, benchmarked against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA.
Quick Answer
Accessibility Service Summary
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been enforceable since June 28, 2025, and applies to private businesses selling digital products or services to customers anywhere in the EU, including companies based outside Europe. It covers ecommerce, banking, transport, telecoms, and digital media, and compliance is judged against the accessibility requirements in Annex I of the Directive. EN 301 549 v3.2.1, whose web chapter incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA, is the technical standard most businesses use as evidence; the newer EN 301 549 v4.1.1, based on WCAG 2.2 and published in September 2026, is not yet the legal reference until the European Commission cites it in the Official Journal. Enforcement runs through each member state and has started: a French court has ordered a major retailer to make its site and app accessible under threat of daily penalties, and German businesses have received private warning letters. No confirmed monetary fine under the EAA had been reported as of August 2026, but statutory maximums reach about one million euros in some countries for the most serious violations. The main size exemption covers microenterprises that provide services, meaning fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than two million euros; product manufacturers must comply regardless of size. An EU accessibility compliance audit against WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and EN 301 549 gives EU-facing businesses both the technical evidence and the mandatory accessibility statement the EAA requires.
Think of this audit like a legal and technical health check for your website or product. Instead of guessing whether you meet local accessibility law, we test against the exact standard that law references and show you precisely where you stand.
- The EAA has applied to all new products and services since June 28, 2025; existing services have until June 28, 2030
- EN 301 549 v3.2.1 (WCAG 2.1 AA) is the technical evidence most businesses use against the EAA's Annex I requirements; v4.1.1 (WCAG 2.2, September 2026) is not yet cited in the Official Journal
- Non-EU businesses serving EU customers must comply, not just companies based in Europe
- Enforcement has started through national authorities and courts, such as a June 2026 French court order, though no confirmed EAA monetary fine had been reported as of August 2026
- Statutory maximum fines vary by country and reach about one million euros in some states (Spain, for example) for the most serious violations, plus daily penalties in some states
- A published accessibility statement is a mandatory EAA requirement, not optional documentation
10+ Years of Accessibility Experience
CPWA, CPACC and WAS Certified Specialists
Manual + Automated Testing
Screen Reader Testing
Developer-Friendly Reports
Global Accessibility Consulting
Why This Matters
Why This Compliance Standard Matters
Meeting the right legal standard protects your organization from enforcement risk and makes your product usable by more people.
It Reaches Far Beyond EU-Based Companies
Any business selling covered products or services into EU markets is in scope — including e-commerce retailers, banks, and digital service providers headquartered outside the EU.
Fines Are Set Per Member State, And Can Be Severe
Each EU country defines its own enforcement and penalties. In Spain, for example, the sanctions that apply through Royal Legislative Decree 1/2013 carry statutory maximums of €30,000 for minor, €90,000 for serious, and €1,000,000 for very serious infringements.
Requirements Are Specific To Each Product Or Service
Obligations vary by offering — accessible fonts and formats, text alternatives, and compatibility with assistive technology — rather than a single blanket checklist.
Audit Scope
What an EU Accessibility Compliance Audit Covers
We audit public websites, authenticated applications, SaaS platforms, mobile apps, documents, and design systems.
What is included
Websites
Corporate websites, marketing sites, government websites, university websites, healthcare websites, ecommerce journeys, landing pages, blogs, resource libraries, and multilingual content experiences.
Web Applications
Customer portals, admin dashboards, CRMs, internal software, enterprise workflows, complex forms, authenticated user journeys, data tables, reports, notifications, and role-based interfaces.
SaaS Products
B2B platforms, cloud software, analytics dashboards, AI applications, product onboarding flows, account settings, billing workflows, and feature-rich application screens.
Mobile Applications
Native iOS, native Android, hybrid applications, progressive web apps, orientation changes, touch targets, gestures, screen reader flows, zoom behavior, and mobile form interactions.
Digital Documents
PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint files, forms, reports, policy documents, financial statements, healthcare documents, education resources, and procurement documentation.
Design Systems
Reusable components, UI libraries, pattern libraries, design tokens, Figma components, interaction patterns, and documentation that affects many pages or product screens.
Who it is for
Public-facing teams
Marketing, ecommerce, healthcare, government, education, nonprofit, and service organizations use accessibility audits to make essential public content available to more people.
Product and SaaS teams
Product teams use audits to validate complex workflows, reduce accessibility debt, improve component libraries, and prepare for enterprise accessibility reviews.
Procurement and compliance teams
Legal, compliance, procurement, and sales teams use audit evidence to answer buyer questions, support VPAT work, and document remediation commitments.
What it covers
Website Accessibility Audits
Evaluate public websites against WCAG 2.2 AA using manual testing, automated scanning, keyboard-only navigation, and assistive technologies.
Web Application Accessibility Audits
Review authenticated user journeys, dashboards, complex forms, data tables, notifications, custom widgets, and enterprise workflows.
Mobile Accessibility Audits
Test native and hybrid applications using VoiceOver, TalkBack, keyboard alternatives, zoom, orientation changes, touch target review, and gesture accessibility checks.
PDF And Document Accessibility Audits
Assess PDFs and office documents for tagging, reading order, alternative text, bookmarks, form fields, headings, tables, and screen reader compatibility.
Accessibility Design Reviews
Identify accessibility issues in Figma files, design systems, and component specs before development begins, reducing rework and improving handoff quality.
VPAT And Procurement Reviews
Evaluate products and prepare accessibility documentation that supports enterprise and government procurement conversations.
Issues We Identify
Accessibility Issues We Identify
Each issue is mapped to user impact, the relevant standard, severity, affected users, and practical remediation guidance.
Missing Alternative Text
Missing or inaccurate alternative text prevents screen reader users from understanding meaningful images, icons, charts, infographics, product photos, and linked graphics. We identify images that need concise alternatives, images that should be marked decorative, and complex visuals that need longer explanations.
Keyboard Accessibility
Many users navigate with a keyboard, switch device, voice control, or assistive technology that relies on keyboard behavior. We test focus order, skip links, menus, modals, tabs, accordions, custom widgets, and form flows without a mouse.
Color Contrast
Low contrast can make text, buttons, icons, form controls, and charts difficult or impossible to perceive. We evaluate contrast for normal text, large text, UI components, focus indicators, disabled states, links, and error messages.
Forms
Forms often block users when labels, instructions, required indicators, validation messages, and error handling are not accessible. We test forms with keyboard navigation and screen readers to confirm users can complete and submit successfully.
Headings And Structure
Headings, lists, landmarks, tables, and reading order help assistive technology users understand a page quickly. We identify skipped heading levels, missing landmarks, and reading-order mismatches.
Dynamic Content
Modern applications often update content without refreshing the page. We test status messages, ARIA live regions, notifications, and single-page app transitions to confirm important changes are announced correctly.
Decision Support
How To Choose The Right Accessibility Service
| Feature | Automated Testing | Manual Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast (minutes) | Slower (days) |
| Cost | Low | Higher, but more accurate |
| Manual WCAG Review | No | Yes |
| Keyboard Navigation | Limited | Complete |
| Screen Reader Compatibility | No | Yes |
| Logical Reading Order | No | Yes |
| Meaningful Alternative Text | No | Yes |
| Form Usability | Partial | Yes |
| Overall User Experience | No | Yes |
Helpful Statistics
- 1 in 6 people The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 1 in 6 people globally live with a significant disability, a substantial share of any organization's customers, patients, students, or employees. WHO Disability Fact Sheet →
- WCAG is the international technical baseline. WCAG is the international technical baseline. Regulations and procurement processes worldwide reference WCAG directly or indirectly when defining accessibility requirements. W3C WCAG →
- 56.1 errors per page The WebAIM Million report has found detectable WCAG failures on the large majority of home pages tested every year since the study began, most commonly low-contrast text, missing alternative text, empty links, and missing form labels. WebAIM Million →
Choose This Service If You Need
- EAA applicability review for EU-facing businesses
- EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA gap analysis
- Ecommerce and checkout accessibility review
- EAA accessibility statement preparation
- Multi-country fine and enforcement risk assessment
- Developer-ready remediation roadmap
Audit Methodology
Our Accessibility Audit Process
A structured process gives your team clear findings, clear priorities, and a practical path to compliance.
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01
1. Discovery & Scoping
We review your platform, page count, workflows, and target standard (EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA for the EAA, or WCAG 2.2 AA) to define audit scope and timeline.
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02
2. Automated Scanning
We run automated tools across the defined scope to catch code-level issues quickly, giving us a baseline before manual review begins.
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03
3. Manual Expert Testing
Certified specialists manually test keyboard navigation, focus order, forms, headings, and interactive components against WCAG success criteria.
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04
4. Assistive Technology Testing
We test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack), voice control, and switch access to confirm real-world usability, not just code compliance.
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05
5. Reporting & Prioritization
Findings are documented with severity, standard references, screenshots, and reproduction steps, then organized into a prioritized remediation roadmap.
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06
6. Retest & Validation
After your team implements fixes, we retest affected pages or flows to confirm issues are resolved and no new barriers were introduced.
Standards And Technologies
Standards, Assistive Technologies, And Tools
Assistive technologies
NVDA
JAWS
VoiceOver
TalkBack
Keyboard-only navigation
Browser zoom
Voice Control
Switch Control
Tools
Axe
ARC Toolkit
WAVE
Accessibility Insights
Chrome DevTools
Safari
Firefox
React
Next.js
Angular
Vue
WordPress
Drupal
Shopify
Magento
WooCommerce
Laravel
ASP.NET
Java
Flutter
React Native
Deliverables
What You Receive After The Audit
Executive Summary
A clear summary of audit scope, key risks, priority themes, and recommended next steps for stakeholders.
Accessibility Score
A practical status snapshot that helps teams understand current accessibility maturity and remediation priorities.
Detailed Issue Report
Issue-by-issue findings with screenshots, affected URLs or screens, severity ratings, standard references, and reproduction steps.
Developer Recommendations
Practical remediation guidance, code-level notes, component recommendations, and examples your developers can act on.
Compliance-Ready Documentation
Findings organized to support accessibility statements, VPAT and ACR documentation, and procurement or legal review.
Optional Retest Report
Validation evidence after remediation, showing which issues were fixed and what remains open.
Industries
Healthcare
Accessibility audits for patient portals, provider websites, medical forms, telehealth journeys, and healthcare documents.
Government
Audits for public services, citizen portals, forms, documents, and procurement requirements.
Banking
Audits for financial journeys, statements, account dashboards, authentication flows, reports, and high-risk transactional experiences.
SaaS
Audits for B2B products, dashboards, analytics, onboarding, admin settings, and enterprise procurement readiness.
Education
Audits for university websites, LMS experiences, EdTech platforms, digital documents, admissions journeys, and student services.
Retail
Audits for ecommerce product pages, carts, checkout, filters, account flows, promotions, and customer support journeys.
Proof points
Certified Accessibility Expertise
HalfAccessible brings CPWA, CPACC, and WAS accessibility expertise to audits, remediation support, documentation, and product guidance.
Developer-Friendly Reporting
Reports are written for action. Developers receive clear reproduction steps, expected behavior, affected users, standard mapping, and remediation guidance.
Cross-Border Experience
We support businesses operating across multiple regulatory regions with a single audit benchmarked to the highest applicable standard.
Practical Turnaround
Audit scope is tailored to your product and priorities so your team receives useful findings without unnecessary reporting overhead.
Checklist
Accessibility Audit Checklist
- Page title is unique and descriptive
- Headings follow a logical structure
- Landmarks identify major page regions
- Keyboard users can reach every interactive element
- Focus order matches the visual and logical order
- Visible focus indicators are clear
- No keyboard traps are present
- Links and buttons have meaningful accessible names
- Images have appropriate alternative text
- Text and UI components meet contrast requirements
- Forms have labels, instructions, and accessible error handling
- Dialogs, menus, tabs, and accordions expose state correctly
- Tables include appropriate headers
- Media includes captions or transcripts
- PDFs include tags and a logical reading order
- Mobile screens support zoom, orientation, and large touch targets
- Authentication flows are accessible
- Reports include standard references and remediation guidance
Ready to Meet EU Accessibility Requirements?
Whether you are based in the EU or serve EU customers from anywhere in the world, our certified specialists will identify every real accessibility barrier and hand your team a prioritized, developer-ready roadmap, plus the documentation your accessibility statement requires. Quick audits start at $500, complete audits at $2,000.
Request an Accessibility Auditget in touch
Know where you stand. Know what to work on next.
Tell us what you’re working on and where you need support. Our accessibility specialists can help with audits, remediation, VPAT/ACR, accessible development, and ongoing compliance.
Let’s find the barriers before your users do
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EU Accessibility Audit Services (European Accessibility Act) FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about EU Accessibility Audit Services (European Accessibility Act).
Does the EAA apply to businesses outside the EU?
Yes. Any business selling digital products or services to customers in the EU must comply with the EAA, regardless of where the business itself is based, including companies in the US, India, or elsewhere.
What is the EAA compliance deadline?
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) has applied to all new products and services since June 28, 2025. Existing services already on the market before that date have until June 28, 2030 to reach full compliance.
Is my business exempt from the EAA?
Only service businesses with fewer than 10 employees and under two million euros in annual turnover or balance sheet qualify for the microenterprise exemption. Product manufacturers must comply regardless of size. The definitions are in Articles 3(23) and 4(5) of the Directive. Separately, a business can claim a disproportionate burden for a specific requirement, but it must document that assessment.
What standard does the EAA require?
The EAA sets functional accessibility requirements in Annex I of Directive (EU) 2019/882. Meeting a harmonised standard cited in the Official Journal gives a presumption of conformity, and in practice EN 301 549 v3.2.1, whose web chapter incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA, is the reference most businesses use. EN 301 549 v4.1.1, published in September 2026, adopts WCAG 2.2 and adds an annex that maps to the EAA, but AccessibleEU notes it is not yet the legal reference until the Commission cites it. We audit to WCAG 2.2 AA so your evidence works for both versions; see our EN 301 549 v4.1.1 explainer.
What happens if I do not comply?
Penalties vary by EU member state and can be severe. Hungary’s implementing decree allows fines of up to 5% of annual net turnover, capped at HUF 500 million, for larger operators that do not fix problems by the deadline the authority sets, and Spain allows up to 1,000,000 euros for very serious infringements, with several countries also permitting daily penalties for ongoing violations. These figures are statutory maximums, not fines that regulators have already imposed; the WCAG Auditor EAA enforcement tracker follows national rules and cases.
Do I need an accessibility statement for the EU?
Yes. Service providers must publish information on how their service meets the accessibility requirements, which in practice is a published, up-to-date accessibility statement. Some countries, such as France, also apply separate national rules that penalise organisations without a compliant accessibility statement.
How much does an EAA accessibility audit cost?
HalfAccessible offers a $500 Quick Accessibility Audit for smaller sites and a $2,000 Complete Audit for full-site or application coverage, plus custom enterprise pricing for larger platforms. See our pricing page for details.