Accessibility and reasonable adjustments

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. Access barriers are a separate problem from your residence status. They have their own legal duties, deadlines and complaint routes, so they get their own pages.

Start with "Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination". It shows you how to ask an employer or service provider to adapt, and when a refusal counts as discrimination. From there, move to the page that matches your next step: work, housing, travel, public buildings and websites, or making a complaint.

Key rules

• Employment reserve: Companies with 50 or more employees must reserve at least 2% of their workforce for workers with a recognised disability of 33% or more.
• Community works limit: An owners' community must carry out needed accessibility works when requested by a disabled owner or resident, or anyone over 70, if the cost after subsidies is no more than 12 monthly ordinary charges.
• Airport assistance: Ask for airport assistance through your airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before the flight.
• Train assistance: Ask for Renfe Atendo assistance at least 12 hours before departure.
• Duty to adapt: Employers, public bodies and businesses serving the public must make reasonable adjustments for people with a disability.
• Lawful refusal: Refusal is lawful only if the provider can prove the adjustment is a disproportionate burden.

Accessibility and reasonable adjustments: the whole process, step by step

• Ask for a reasonable adjustment from your employer or a service provider (Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination): First, before any complaint. Refusal without a disproportionate burden is discrimination.

• Check hiring support and the disability certificate for work (Employment support for disabled workers in Spain): Before you apply for jobs or ask for workplace support. Your certificate must show 33% or more.

• Use your housing rights over lifts, ramps and adaptations (Accessible housing and your rights over lifts, ramps and adaptations): When you look for a home or ask your owners' community for works.

• Book transport assistance (Accessible trains, metros, buses, taxis and airports and how to get help): At least 12 hours before departure for Renfe Atendo, and at least 48 hours before the flight for airport assistance.

• Know the standards for shops, public buildings, websites and apps (Accessibility in public buildings, shops, websites and apps): Existing buildings and shops had to comply by 4 December 2017. Public websites: 20 September 2020 for existing ones. Public mobile apps: 23 June 2021. European Accessibility Act rules: from 28 June 2025.

• Complain about the barrier (Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service): When the barrier is not fixed. Include who you are, who is responsible, a description, the location and date, evidence, the remedy you want, and your signature.

• Challenge a decision on your complaint: Act quickly: an appeal to the same administration is typically due within 1 month, and a court appeal within 2 months of notification.

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Proof of your identity and contact details — Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service

Income and work

• Job seeker registration with your regional employment service — Employment support for disabled workers in Spain
• Proof of a Social Security pension for permanent total — Employment support for disabled workers in Spain
• Declaration of exceptionality from the public employment service — Employment support for disabled workers in Spain

Payments and receipts

• Receipts — Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service

Other documents

• Disability certificate — Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination, Employment support for disabled workers in Spain
• Medical reports describing your limitation and the adaptation you need — Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination
• Your signed and dated complaint — Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service

Accessibility and reasonable adjustments: questions that cross several articles

Is refusing a reasonable adjustment always discrimination?

No, refusing an adjustment is discrimination unless it would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer or provider. That is judged case by case, looking at cost, the size and resources of the organisation, and any public aid available.

How do I ask my employer for an adjustment and what happens if they refuse?

You ask in writing, with proof of receipt, to HR or the prevention service, and attach your disability certificate and medical reports. If they refuse, you can go to worker representatives, Labour Inspection or the labour courts. Read Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination, then Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service.

Does my disability certificate count for the employment reserve if I am a foreign worker?

Generally you need a Spanish certificate of 33% or more, issued by the regional valuation centre once you are legally resident with work authorisation. A foreign certificate does not automatically count. Read Employment support for disabled workers in Spain.

Where do I get the disability certificate that employers and support schemes ask for?

The regional social services body issues it, through the autonomous community's valuation centre, or IMSERSO in Ceuta and Melilla. Some pensioners are treated as having 33% by law. Read Employment support for disabled workers in Spain, and Reasonable adjustments and when refusing to adapt is discrimination for how to use it.

What should I do if a shop or website is inaccessible?

First check which standards apply, then complain to the consumer or disability authority with photos, the exact location or web address, and the date. Read Accessibility in public buildings, shops, websites and apps, then Complaining about an inaccessible place, transport or service.