PDF/A Converter for Filing and Archiving
When a court, an archive or a graduate school says “PDF/A only”, this converter produces the file they mean, makes scanned pages searchable on the way, and helps you pick the level their rules name.
PDF to PDF/A
or drop PDF files here ·
Max 95 MB per file· Up to 20 files· Deleted after 30 minutes
Files are processed on our servers and deleted after 30 minutes.
The language printed in the scanned pages.
PDF/A embeds one output profile. sRGB is right for documents viewed on screen; FOGRA39 or SWOP for files sent to a European or US print shop.
PDF/A-3 allows attachments such as the XML part of a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice.
How to use this tool
- 1
Gather the final files
Upload up to 20 finished PDFs of up to 95 MB each, such as a brief with its exhibits. Unlock any password-protected file first.
- 2
Match the level to the rules
This page uses PDF/A-2b with Make scans searchable on. Switch Convert to to 1b if the rules name it, and set Scan language for scans that are not in English.
- 3
Convert and leave it untouched
Press Convert to PDF/A-2b, download, and upload the file exactly as it is. Re-saving it in another editor can undo conformance.
Who requires a PDF/A converter, and why
ISO published PDF/A in 2005 as ISO 19005-1, with archivists and courts in mind: an institution that must keep a filing for decades cannot depend on a font being installed or a script behaving the same in some future viewer. Requirements turn up in archive transfer rules, court e-filing rules and thesis deposit guides, each worded a little differently. Rules change and many are set locally, so check the current text.
| Organisation | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US National Archives (NARA) | Lists PDF/A among preferred formats for transferring permanent electronic records | archives.gov |
| Library of Congress | Its Recommended Formats Statement prefers PDF/A for textual works | loc.gov |
| US federal courts (CM/ECF) | PDF/A accepted; some districts encourage or require it in local rules | uscourts.gov |
| eCourts e-filing, India | Guidance asks for text-searchable PDF/A documents; check the court's current rules | ecourts.gov.in |
| University thesis repositories | Many ask for PDF/A for the deposit copy, ETH Zurich's among them | — |
| ZUGFeRD and Factur-X e-invoices | PDF/A-3 with the invoice XML embedded | — |
PDF/A for court e-filing and university thesis submission
Court rules tend to bundle PDF/A with other conditions: text-searchable, no password, fonts embedded, a size cap per file, sometimes bookmarks for exhibits. Because a filing rejected for format can miss a deadline, read the local rules or the clerk's e-filing guide rather than a general list, and convert the final version only.
Universities usually want PDF/A for the copy that goes into the institutional repository or a national library, not the draft you email to your committee. Graduate schools also tend to forbid security settings, and some validate the file on upload. A thesis written in LaTeX or Word converts cleanly; the trouble spots are figures with transparency and appendices built from scanned pages, which is why this page turns on Make scans searchable. For what the conversion itself changes inside the file, see PDF to PDF/A.
Before you upload to a court or repository portal
- Make every edit first and convert to PDF/A last.
- Flatten filled forms so typed answers are fixed in the page; see how to flatten a PDF.
- Remove passwords and permission restrictions, since PDF/A forbids encryption.
- Check the portal's size cap per file and split oversized exhibits.
- Use the file names the portal asks for; some reject spaces or long names.
- Run Check only or a validator on the exact file you will upload.
PDF/A converter questions
Which PDF/A level do US federal courts accept?
The federal CM/ECF system accepts PDF/A, but each district and bankruptcy court sets its own local rules, and some are more specific than others. If the rules name no level, ask the clerk's office, or use PDF/A-1b, which every PDF/A-aware system accepts.
Does my thesis need PDF/A-1b or PDF/A-2b?
Follow your graduate school's guide; many accept either and some name one. PDF/A-1b cannot keep transparency, so charts with shaded areas get flattened, while PDF/A-2b keeps them as drawn. If the guide just says PDF/A, 2b suits modern figures better.
Can I convert every exhibit of a filing in one batch?
Yes, up to 20 PDFs per batch at up to 95 MB each, all converted to the same level, so exhibit names and numbering stay as you set them.
Why did the portal reject my PDF/A file?
Usually the file was changed after conversion, by a re-save, a stamp or a signing tool that is not PDF/A-aware, or the portal checks a stricter level than the one you chose. Convert again from the final version and run Check only before uploading.
Is a PDF/A-3 file accepted where PDF/A is required?
Not always. PDF/A-3 allows any file type as an attachment, and some archives refuse it because an attachment may not be archival itself. Unless you are filing a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X e-invoice, use 2b.
| PDF to PDF/A | Flatten PDF online | OCR PDF |
| Merge PDF | Unlock PDF | Compress PDF to 5 MB |