Since 28 June 2025, the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) applies in Germany. It implements the European Accessibility Act and requires certain products and services to be accessible.
Who may be affected
For websites it is mainly about offers where consumers conclude a contract online, such as online shops or bookings with payment. There is an exemption for micro-enterprises providing services. Whether and how your offer is affected should be checked case by case.
What every website should do
- Sufficient contrast between text and background.
- Descriptive alternative text for images that carry content.
- Usable with the keyboard, with a visible focus.
- A clear heading structure and meaningful link text.
- Forms with labels and understandable error messages.
- Text that can be enlarged without anything being cut off.
More than an obligation
An accessible website is more pleasant for everyone: for older people, for visitors on a small screen in the sun and for anyone in a hurry. The easiest way is to plan for accessibility from the start rather than retrofit it later.
The key points at a glance
- Sufficient contrast between text and background.
- Descriptive alternative text for meaningful images.
- Usable without a mouse, with the keyboard only, with a visible focus.
- A clean heading structure so screen readers can navigate the page.
- Labelled form fields and understandable error messages.
- Text that can be enlarged without breaking the page.
- Captions or a text version for videos with important content.
Getting a first impression yourself
- Use your website with the Tab key only: can you reach all links and buttons, and can you see where you are?
- Zoom the page to 200 percent in your browser: does everything stay readable and usable?
- Run an automatic check, for example Lighthouse in Chrome. It doesn’t find everything, but many typical errors.
Automatic checks don’t replace testing with real people. But they quickly show where the biggest gaps are.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Please check with a professional whether the BFSG applies to your business.
