In England, Scotland and Wales you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK, and your local council decides if you are eligible. Councils usually decide within 12 weeks. In Northern Ireland you apply through nidirect, online or by post, and should be told the outcome within six to eight weeks.
Key points
✓On GOV.UK you need a recent head and shoulders digital photo, proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of benefits if you get any.
✓It costs up to £10 in England, £20 in Scotland, free in Wales, and £10 in Northern Ireland.
✓Your council cannot start assessing your application until it has all the necessary evidence.
✓If you are refused in England, Scotland or Wales, your council must give you the grounds of refusal, and you can ask it to reconsider your case.
What you'll need before you start
On GOV.UK, which covers England, Scotland and Wales, you will need to provide:
Proof of identity (such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence)
Proof of address (such as a Council Tax bill or a government letter)
A recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders
Your National Insurance number, if you have one, and the details of your current Blue Badge if you are reapplying
Your contact details: phone number, email and postal address
If you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP): three pages of your DWP award letter, the front page showing entitlement, the second to last page showing your assessment scores and the last page showing your mobility scores
If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA): the most recent DWP letter, which clearly shows your mobility rating, the certificate of entitlement to DLA and the date of the letter
If you cannot walk, find walking difficult or have a non-visible condition: details of any relevant medication, treatments and healthcare professionals
You will be asked if you want to upload supporting documents, such as prescriptions, diagnosis letters or correspondence between the professionals who treat your condition. You can choose not to upload documents when you apply, but then you will need to supply copies to your local council.
In Northern Ireland you must send one recent photograph, either a colour passport-type photograph (head and shoulders) or any suitable photograph cut down to 45mm in height and 35mm in width. If you apply under section B of the application form, you must include one of: your PIP Statement of Entitlement detailing the points awarded, your DLA letter of award, your War Pension Mobility Supplement letter of entitlement, your Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme letter of confirmation from SPVA, or your registered blind certificate or letter from a Health and Social Care Trust. This applies to new applicants, and to renewals where your renewal letter reference does not end NFR.
Start on GOV.UK in England, Scotland or Wales, or on nidirect in Northern Ireland.
2
Say who it's for
You can apply for yourself, someone else or an organisation. In Scotland, if you are applying for someone because they are at risk in traffic, you must contact your local council because you cannot apply online.
3
Describe the impact
If you cannot walk or find walking difficult, you will be asked how your condition affects your walking. If you have a non-visible condition, you will be asked how journeys between your vehicle and your destination are affected.
4
Upload your documents
You can upload a photo or scan of your proof of benefit, proof of address, proof of identity and any supporting documents, and a recent digital photo. Make sure the photos or scans are good quality and include all of the relevant information.
5
Pay the fee
How you pay depends on your local council. In Wales there is no charge, and the Welsh Government says websites that charge to apply for a Blue Badge are not genuine providers and should be avoided. In Northern Ireland the fee is £10: online you must pay by credit or debit card, and by post you send a cheque or postal order made payable to the Department for Infrastructure, not cash.
6
Submit and wait
Your local council usually decides within 12 weeks. In Scotland most councils take around 12 weeks but it can take longer, so check your council's current waiting times, and if you have a terminal illness and a BASRiS or DS1500 form your council will look at your application more quickly. In Northern Ireland you should be told the outcome within six to eight weeks, and it may take longer if more information is needed, such as a referral to your GP.
7
Get the decision
In Northern Ireland a successful application brings a blue badge pack with a letter of issue, your badge, a time clock and guidance notes outlining your rights and responsibilities.
How applying differs by nation
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Where to apply
GOV.UK
GOV.UK, or ask your council for a paper form
GOV.UK, or directly through your local authority
nidirect, online or by post
Fee
Up to £10
£20
Free
£10
How long
Usually within 12 weeks
Around 12 weeks, can take longer
Usually within 12 weeks
Six to eight weeks
Writing a strong assessed application
If you apply without one of the qualifying benefits, your council assesses your application. In England, the Department for Transport says you may be eligible if one or more of these applies:
✓Yes: You cannot walk at all
✓Yes: You cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids
✓Yes: You find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
✓Yes: Walking is dangerous to your health and safety
For non-visible conditions, see our Blue Badge eligibility guide. If you cannot walk, find walking difficult or have a non-visible condition, the online service asks for details of any relevant medication, treatments and healthcare professionals, so have them to hand.
In Scotland, if you do not automatically qualify, your council may ask you to give documents about your condition or to have a mobility assessment. In Wales, for substantial impairment to mobility, the Welsh Government says applicants should speak to the local authority first and not ask their GP for a letter.
Your local council cannot start assessing your application until it has all the necessary evidence, and it may take 12 weeks or longer to assess it.
If your application is refused
The options differ by nation:
England, Scotland and Wales: your council should tell you why you are not eligible for a Blue Badge
England, Scotland and Wales: a council that refuses a badge must give you the grounds of refusal in its notice of determination
England, Scotland and Wales: you can ask the council to reconsider your case if you do not think all the important information you provided was taken into account
England, Scotland and Wales: you can reapply if your mobility problems become more serious
England: there is no legal requirement for a council to have an appeals procedure, although the Department for Transport strongly recommends that councils set up an internal one
Wales: the local authority's decision on eligibility is final and there is no appeals process, but if you have additional evidence you can ask it to reconsider your application
Northern Ireland: you will be told the reason in writing, your fee will be refunded, you can ask for your application to be reassessed if you do not think all the information you gave was taken into account, and you can reapply if your mobility problems become more serious or you become automatically entitled
If you think your council handled your application unfairly, our council complaints guide explains how to complain.
In England, Scotland and Wales you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK, and your local council decides if you are eligible. In Wales you can also apply directly through your local authority. In Scotland you can ask your local council for a paper form. In Northern Ireland you apply through nidirect, online or by post.
How long does a Blue Badge application take?
Councils usually decide within 12 weeks. Your council cannot start assessing your application until it has all the necessary evidence, and it may take 12 weeks or longer. In Northern Ireland you should be told the outcome within six to eight weeks. You must reapply before your current badge expires, and in Scotland mygov.scot says to reapply at least 12 weeks before the expiry date.
Where do I apply for a Blue Badge?
In England, Scotland and Wales you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK, and your local council decides if you are eligible. In Northern Ireland you apply through nidirect, online or by post, and you can ask the Blue Badge Unit for an application form. For questions about the scheme, GOV.UK says to contact your local council.
What evidence do I need for a Blue Badge?
On GOV.UK you need a recent head and shoulders digital photo, proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of benefits if you get any. If you get PIP, you are asked for three pages of your DWP award letter showing your entitlement, assessment scores and mobility scores. If you cannot walk, find walking difficult or have a non-visible condition, you are asked about medication, treatments and healthcare professionals.
What can I do if my Blue Badge application is refused?
In England, Scotland and Wales your council should tell you why you are not eligible, and you can ask it to reconsider your case if you do not think all the important information you provided was taken into account. You can reapply if your mobility problems become more serious. In England there is no legal requirement for a council to have an appeals procedure, and in Wales the decision on eligibility is final, but you can ask the local authority to reconsider if you have additional evidence.
Know Your Rights UK. "Blue Badge Application: Who Can Apply and What You Need." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/blue-badge/how-to-apply