PDF → PDF/A · Server processing
PDF to PDF/A
Convert a PDF to the PDF/A archival format for long-term storage compliance.
The instrument
Convert with intent.
Drop a file and set your options. Review the result before downloading.
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Accepts .pdf — max 70 MB
Allowed formats: .pdf. Maximum file size: 70 MB.
Before you convert
Archival conversion may drop unsupported features such as JavaScript, encryption, or external references.
Make a PDF suitable for long-term archiving
PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed for long-term preservation. It requires fonts to be embedded and forbids features that make documents depend on external software — such as JavaScript, encryption, and linked media.
Choose the archival level: PDF/A-1b for maximum compatibility, PDF/A-2b for modern documents with transparency and JPEG2000, or PDF/A-3b when embedding arbitrary attachments is acceptable.
Useful situations
- Prepare records for an archive that requires PDF/A compliance.
- Submit documents to courts, governments, or institutions with format mandates.
- Freeze a document so future readers render it identically.
How to use PDF to PDF/A
- Select a PDF within the size limit.
- Pick an archival level — PDF/A-2b suits most modern documents.
- Convert and verify the output with your archive’s validator.
What to expect
- Features forbidden by the standard — scripts, encryption, external links to media — are dropped during conversion.
- Conversion does not cryptographically guarantee compliance; run a PDF/A validator for formal requirements.
- The document keeps its visual appearance; PDF/A changes the packaging rules, not the content.
Frequently asked questions
Which PDF/A level should I choose?
PDF/A-2b is the common recommendation: it handles transparency and modern compression well. Use 1b when a recipient demands the strictest, oldest baseline.
Is PDF/A the same as a password-protected PDF?
No — encryption is actually forbidden in PDF/A, because archives must render without secrets. The format is about self-containment, not access control.
Will converting to PDF/A change how my document looks?
It should not — the goal is identical rendering over time. Rare features like transparency flattening or font substitution can cause small visual differences.