Certifying mobility parking applications

Role of doctors and other medical professionals

Every application for a Mobility Parking Scheme permit must be certified by a registered medical doctor or specialist.

You need to ensure the permit is only issued to eligible people with a disability. Carers can also apply on behalf of someone in their care.

As a registered medical practitioner, your role is to:

• certify the eligibility of the person with a disability on their permit application (PDF 210.95KB)
• provide an assessment for fitness to drive if they’re a NSW licence holder.

You may also write a supporting letter for a photo exemption if there’s a valid reason.

Certifying eligibility for a parking permit

First, you need to determine if the applicant is an eligible person with disability.

This must be a disability affecting mobility or a significant visual impairment.

This includes checking if the applicant:

• is detrimentally affected as a result of walking 100m
• can't walk due to permanent or temporary loss of use of one or both legs
• can't walk due to another permanent medical or physical condition
• needs to use crutches, a walking frame, callipers, scooter, wheelchair or similar mobility aid
• is permanently blind, as defined by:
  • visual acuity on the Snellen Scale after correction by suitable lenses, must be less than 6/60 in both eyes, or
  • constriction to within 10 degrees of fixation in the better eye irrespective of corrected visual acuity, or
  • a combination of visual defects in the same degree of visual impairment as that occurring in points 1 or 2.

Applicants that have an intellectual, psychiatric or cognitive impairment must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria above. Where an applicant does not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you should not complete the medical certificate.

Is a medical certificate required?

A new certificate is not required when renewing a permit if we have already recorded a person's permanent disability, also known as a clinically recognised disability.

This includes neurodegenerative disorders, paraplegia and cerebral palsy.

A medical certificate is required if:

• this is a person's first application
• a person is reapplying for an individual permit and it’s 6 months since their last certification
• a person is reapplying for a temporary permit and it’s 3 months since their last certification.

Submitting applications

Where an applicant meets one or more of the eligibility criteria:

• complete the medical certificate section of the permit application form
• check below if you need to complete the Fitness to Drive section of the form
• add your provider number and sign it
• Signatures on application forms must be original(‘wet’ – i.e. signed with a pen and ink). Electronic (‘digital’) signatures including emailed, faxed, stamped,scanned or photocopied signatures are not permitted.
• remind the applicant to submit the form, along with proof of identity, to a service centre or online. 

When to assess fitness to drive

In addition to certifying eligibility for disability parking, you should also check if the applicant needs a Fitness to Drive assessment.

This is usually required for NSW driver licence holders as follows.

For temporary 6 month permits

People don't need a Fitness to Drive assessment if they're applying for a new temporary permit (even if their previous permit expired).

People do need a Fitness to Drive assessment if they're renewing their temporary permit as they’ll hold the permit more than 6 consecutive months.

For individual permits

People do need a Fitness to Drive assessment if they're not already subject to medical review and:

• they're applying for a new licence
• they’re applying for a new or renewed mobility parking permit, and they hold a NSW driver licence
• their licence does not have a D (uses a disability aid), R (medical) or V (vehicle modification) condition
• they already have a parking permit and they’re applying for the issue, reissue, renewal or replacement of a NSW licence (including interstate and overseas licence transfers).

Completing a Fitness to Drive assessment

1. Complete the medical report section on the applicant’s permit application form (PDF 210.95KB).
2. Do this in line with Assessing Fitness to Drive for the class of licence held. If you can’t determine medical fitness, refer the applicant to a specialist.
3. Return the application form to the applicant. They need to submit it to a service centre.

Providing a photo exemption letter for the permit

You can provide the applicant a photo exemption letter if required for their Mobility Parking Scheme permit. Examples include where the applicant has:

• a motor disability so severe it stops them attending a service centre
• facial disfigurement
• inadequate muscular control to meet photo requirements
• restricted mobility due to medical equipment.

In your letter, clearly state why the applicant needs to be exempt from providing a photo for their mobility parking permit application.

Give the applicant the letter to submit to Transport for NSW, along with their other required documentation.