EN 301 549: the European ICT accessibility standard
The technical standard that spells out what “accessible” means for websites, documents, software and other digital products and services in Europe. What it is, which version counts today and what changes with the new one.
What it is
EN 301 549 is a harmonised European standard setting out accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) products and services. It is drawn up jointly by ETSI, CEN and CENELEC. In Spain, it is published as UNE-EN 301 549.
It is not a law, but laws rely on it. For web content, its requirements match the level A and AA success criteria of the WCAG guidelines.
Two versions side by side
| Version | Based on | Status as of 25 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| v3.2.1 | WCAG 2.1, level AA (50 success criteria) | Cited in the Official Journal of the EU. It is the official reference today. In Spain, it was published as UNE-EN 301 549:2022. |
| v4.1.1 | WCAG 2.2, level AA (55 success criteria) | Published by ETSI on 2 September 2026. Its citation in the Official Journal is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. |
Why citation in the Official Journal matters
When the reference of a harmonised standard is published in the Official Journal of the European Union, complying with that standard means you are presumed to meet the legal requirements it covers. This is known as the “presumption of conformity”.
That is why, until v4.1.1 is cited in the Official Journal, the official reference remains v3.2.1. Even so, it makes sense to prepare your website for v4.1.1 now: its web requirements are those of WCAG 2.2, and the difference from the previous version is small.
What changes for the web in v4.1.1
For web content, v4.1.1 moves from WCAG 2.1 to WCAG 2.2. It adds six level A and AA success criteria and removes one:
| Success criterion | Level | What it asks for, in brief |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) | AA | The element with focus must not be completely hidden, for example by a sticky header or a banner. |
| 2.5.7 Dragging Movements | AA | Anything done by dragging must also be possible with a single pointer, without dragging. |
| 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) | AA | Touch or click targets are at least 24 × 24 CSS pixels or have enough space around them. |
| 3.2.6 Consistent Help | A | If you offer help, such as a phone number or a chat, it appears in the same relative place on every page. |
| 3.3.7 Redundant Entry | A | The same information is not asked for twice in a process: it is filled in automatically or can be selected. |
| 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) | AA | Logging in does not require passing a cognitive function test, such as remembering or transcribing something, without an alternative. |
| 4.1.1 Parsing | A | Removed: today's browsers and assistive technologies already handle what it required. |
How the standard is organised
EN 301 549 is not only about websites. Its clauses cover different types of ICT. The most relevant ones for an organisation with a digital presence are:
- Clause 9: web. Web content, with the WCAG level A and AA success criteria. The numbering follows WCAG: requirement 9.1.1.1 corresponds to success criterion 1.1.1.
- Clause 10: non-web documents. For example, the PDFs that people download from your website.
- Clause 11: software. This includes mobile apps.
- Clause 12: documentation and support services. For example, your customer service and your product documentation.
The rest cover, among other things, generic requirements, two-way voice communication, video and hardware.
How we use it at SiteNorma
- Our compliance matrix can be shown against v3.2.1 or v4.1.1.
- Every rule in our engine is linked to its WCAG success criterion and its EN 301 549 clause.
- We cite clause numbers and explain the requirements in our own words: the text of the standard is protected by copyright.
- When v4.1.1 is cited in the Official Journal, we will update this page and the default version of the matrix.
Where to get the standard
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: 25 September 2026.
Start using SiteNorma
Create your account and start improving your website’s accessibility. The Free plan includes 10 scanned pages a month, with no card required.