PDF Accessibility Services for Templates and In-use Documents

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a landmark piece of legislation adopted by the European Union (Directive (EU) 2019/882) aimed at improving the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities across the EU.

This includes not only websites and mobile apps, but also PDF documents, e-books, self-service terminals, ticketing systems, and customer-facing communications across sectors like banking, insurance, retail, and transportation.

Date: June 28, 2025. By this time, all covered digital content — including PDFs and office documents published online — must meet accessibility standards.

The key 2030 deadline under the European Accessibility Act refers to the end of the transitional period for legacy products and services.

ATMs and other self‑service terminals purchased and used before June 28, 2025 can remain in operation until the end of their economic life, but no later than 20 years from first use.

While most companies focus solely on website and app accessibility—making their UX/UI EAA-compliant—accessibility goes far beyond just the web. PDF documents, forms, and digital communications are equally in scope under the European Accessibility Act.

The easy answer? Every industry should be aware. But some sectors are under greater pressure, especially those providing essential, everyday services.

Banking, financial services and insurance companies should be particularly aware of the European Accessibility Act. Because they handle a massive volume of external communication, and much of it is in PDF format.

From account statements and loan agreements to policy documents and customer forms, these organizations generate thousands of PDFs, all of which must meet accessibility standards.

In sectors like utility, banking and insurance, PDFs are everywhere: from account statements and contracts to onboarding forms and claims documents. They’re the primary way we communicate with customers, not just files. If those documents are not accessible, the company is not compliant. Worse, we’re excluding customers who rely on assistive technologies to manage their finances independently.

When accessibility issues are found late, companies are forced into costly remediation:

These last-minute fixes cost more and deliver less than proactive planning.

These last-minute fixes cost more and deliver less than proactive planning.

PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) is the ISO standard for accessible PDFs, ensuring they are universally usable for all audiences, including individuals relying on assistive technologies like screen readers or Braille displays.