PDF to PDF/A
Convert PDF to archival PDF/A format
or drop here
Max file size: 50 MB
Drag to reorder · ↻ to rotate · × to delete
All pages removed — at least one must remain.
Dashed boxes mark text detected on this page — click one to edit it. Edited text covers the original when you save.
Page / — drag your signature to move it, use the corner handles to resize, the top handle to rotate · applies to all pages · applies to this page only
pages · Red dot shows where the number will appear
pages · Dot shows watermark position
Converting URL to PDF:
Upload exactly 2 PDFs: the first is the original, the second is the modified version.
PDF to PDF/A done!
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How to use PDF to PDF/A
Upload
Select or drag & drop your file into the upload area above.
Configure
Adjust any settings shown in the options panel.
Download
Click the process button and download your file instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
About PDF to PDF/A
PDF/A is an ISO-standardized archival format (ISO 19005) designed for the long-term, reliable preservation of electronic documents. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A files are fully self-contained — all fonts, color profiles, and resources needed to render the document identically decades from now are embedded within the file. External font references, hyperlinks to online resources, JavaScript, encryption, and certain annotation types are all prohibited by the standard.
PDF/A is required or strongly recommended for court document submissions in many jurisdictions (including EU member states), government archive systems, ISO 9001 compliant document management, and institutional libraries and records offices. Converting to PDF/A ensures that your document will render identically in any compliant viewer today, in 10 years, or in 50 years — regardless of which fonts or color systems are available on the future system.
Key Features
- Choose PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b conformance levels — 2b is the recommended default
- All required fonts embedded within the file for future-proof rendering
- Removes external dependencies, JavaScript, and encryption (prohibited by PDF/A)
- Adds mandatory XMP metadata required by the PDF/A standard
- Output passes standard PDF/A conformance validators
Tips for Best Results
- 1 Verify the output file's conformance using Adobe Acrobat's Preflight tool or a free online PDF/A validator before submitting to an archive system.
- 2 Remove any password protection from your PDF before converting — encryption is prohibited in PDF/A and must be removed first.
- 3 Use our PDF Metadata tool to add correct Title and Author fields before converting, as these are captured in the XMP metadata embedded in the PDF/A document.
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