RGAA (France)
Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité
Introduction
The RGAA is France’s official accessibility framework for digital services. It defines how organizations evaluate and implement accessibility across websites, mobile applications, and digital interfaces.
Accessibility requirements in France are grounded in Law 2005-102 (2005), which established the legal foundation for equal access to digital services. The RGAA translates these obligations into a structured framework used to assess accessibility.
The framework aligns with European standards and supports the implementation of the European Accessibility Act, particularly as accessibility requirements expand to private sector services.
What is the RGAA?
The RGAA (Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité) provides a structured framework for evaluating accessibility.
It includes:
a defined set of 106 accessibility criteria (closely related to WCAG)
a standardised evaluation methodology
clear compliance indicators
The RGAA is structured into the following 13 thematic areas, covering the main components of digital services:
Images: alternative text and decorative images
Frames: embedded content and iframes
Colours: contrast ratios and use of colour
Multimedia: captions, transcripts, audio descriptions
Tables: structure and headers of data tables
Links: clarity and purpose of links
Scripts: interactive components and dynamic behaviour
Mandatory elements: page title, language, technical requirements
Information structure: headings, lists, semantic structure
Presentation of information: layout, resizing, spacing
Forms: labels, validation, error handling
Navigation: menus, consistency, orientation
Consultation: reading order, time limits, user interaction
Each area contains specific criteria and associated tests, which must be evaluated during an audit.
The RGAA focuses on objective evaluation, ensuring that accessibility is assessed in a consistent and repeatable way across teams, platforms, and projects.
Which organizations must comply with RGAA?
Accessibility obligations apply to:
Public sector
state administrations
local and regional authorities
public institutions (including healthcare and education)
These organizations must ensure that all relevant digital services are accessible.
Private sector
Accessibility requirements also apply to:
organizations providing public services
companies with annual turnover exceeding €250 million in France
In addition, organizations may be subject to accessibility requirements under the European Accessibility Act, regardless of RGAA thresholds.
What is the legal basis for accessibility in France?
Accessibility obligations are defined by law, not by RGAA itself.
The main legal texts include:
Law 2005-102 (Article 47) - establishes the obligation for digital accessibility
Law 2016-1321 (Digital Republic Act) - extends scope and introduces enforcement
Decree 2019-768 - designates RGAA as the official technical standard
more recent updates, including Law 171/2023 and its implementing measures (the law that implements EAA)
These define:
which organizations are in scope
which digital services must be accessible
which compliance and reporting obligations apply
The RGAA defines how accessibility is tested and demonstrated in practice.
What services are covered?
Accessibility requirements apply to a wide range of digital assets, including:
public websites and web applications
mobile applications (iOS and Android)
intranets and extranets
downloadable documents (PDF, Word, spreadsheets)
multimedia content (audio and video)
The requirement applies to the entire service, including all pages, features, and user interactions.
Are there exemptions?
Disproportionate burden
A disproportionate burden may be claimed only for specific requirements or components.
It must:
be assessed on a case-by-case basis
consider cost, resources, and user impact
be formally documented
It cannot be used to justify inaccessibility of the entire service.
Pre-existing content
Some content may be exempt if:
it was published before accessibility requirements applied
it is not updated
no accessible alternative is required
All exemptions must be clearly disclosed in the accessibility statement.
What documentation is required?
Organizations must provide and maintain the following:
Accessibility statement
This must include:
the level of compliance
identified accessibility issues
any exemptions applied
a contact mechanism for users
The statement must be kept up to date and reflect the current status of the service.
Accessibility page
A publicly accessible page where the accessibility statement is published.
Multi-year accessibility plan
A structured plan (typically covering three years) that defines:
accessibility objectives
planned actions
allocated resources
How is compliance measured?
RGAA compliance is measured as a percentage of applicable criteria met.
Typical classification:
100% → fully compliant
75% or more → partially compliant
below 50% → non-compliant
Results must be based on the official RGAA testing methodology.
How is accessibility tested?
RGAA defines a formal and reproducible testing methodology, ensuring that accessibility is evaluated consistently across services.
Testing includes:
manual verification of criteria against defined test procedures
expert testing using assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard navigation
validation of user interaction, behaviour, and complete user flows
Automated tools can help identify certain issues and support initial analysis. However, they cannot detect all accessibility barriers, nor can they evaluate usability, interaction, or assistive technology behaviour. Full compliance requires expert-led testing and real user interaction.
What happens if you do not comply?
Failure to meet accessibility obligations may result in:
financial penalties
regulatory enforcement
mandatory remediation actions
Failure to publish or maintain an accessibility statement is itself a violation. Users (individuals or advocacy groups) can report accessibility issues, which may trigger formal review.
How Accessiway supports RGAA compliance
Accessiway supports organizations implementing RGAA requirements through:
accessibility audits aligned with RGAA criteria
automated accessibility monitoring
remediation guidance for design and development teams
accessibility training
continuous compliance monitoring
creating an accessibility statement
Learn more about how we support accessibility on our solutions page.
Accessibility becomes easier to maintain when it is integrated into everyday digital processes.