How can I get a French disabled parking badge?

Reader Question: I read your article last week about UK blue badges not always being accepted in France. As my main home is now in France, how do I get a French disabled parking badge? 

To allow you to park in disabled bays in France, you will need a French disabled parking card, called a carte mobilité inclusion (CMI) stationnement. 

These are only available to residents of France and not visitors or second-home owners, and must be placed in the dashboard of your car to show you are allowed to park in any public disabled space for free.

Private car parks can still charge you to park, however.

Local authorities can set limits on how long you can remain in a space, but must allow your vehicle to remain there for at least 12 hours. 

How do I get a disabled parking card in France?

To obtain a CMI stationnement, you must complete the Formulaire 15692*01 form. 

It is only available in French and is free to fill out. 

There are multiple sections, depending on whether the person applying is a child (and therefore has their parent completing the form for them), a student, etc. 

You will also need to provide a number of additional documents, which are: 

• Medical certificate from your French médecin traitant (GP) or other doctor, less than 12 months old

• Photocopy (both sides) of proof of identity. This can be a valid identity or residence card or any other document authorising residence in France, including a carte de séjour for non-citizens

• Photocopy of proof of address, or for people staying with a third party: proof of address and a statement from the person providing accommodation (attestation sur l'honneur de l'hébergeant)

• Certificate of legal protection if you are under legal protection (protection juridique)

• A passport-style photo

More information on the form, including a link to download it and a video on how to complete it is available here, from the service public website.

The form along with the other necessary documents must be posted to your local Maison départementale des personnes handicappées (MDPH). There is one of these per department. 

It is recommended to send via registered letter (Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception en France). 

It takes a maximum of four months to receive the badge – if by this time you have not received it, then your request has been rejected. You should contact the MPDH for further information. 

You can find the address and more information about your local MDPH on the service’s official website.

The card should be removed from your windscreen when not specifically using it to park in a disabled bay.

It is valid to park in disabled bays in all other EU countries. 

More information about other carte mobilité, which provides other benefits for disabled people, can be found below. 

Read more: Does France’s disability badge always allow parking in disabled bays?