PDF to PDF/A
Turn an ordinary PDF into PDF/A, the ISO archival format that guarantees a document will open and look the same decades from now. Choose the conformance level a portal asks for, or check whether your file already passes.
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
Upload the PDF
Add up to 20 PDFs, each up to 95 MB. Remove any password first; PDF/A does not allow encryption.
- 2
Choose the PDF/A level
Leave Convert to on PDF/A-2b unless the recipient names another level. Under Advanced settings, set the color profile, OCR for scans, or Check only to validate without changing the file.
- 3
Convert and submit
Press Convert to and the level. Download the PDF/A file and upload it to the archive, court or invoicing system.
Why archives, courts and e-invoices require PDF/A
An ordinary PDF can depend on its surroundings. It may use a font that is installed on your computer but not embedded, link to an image on a server, run a script when opened, or rely on the viewer to guess colors. Any of those can make a document look different, or not open at all, years later on different software. PDF/A forbids those dependencies so the file contains everything needed to render it exactly.
That is why the format shows up wherever records must stay readable for decades. National archives accept or prefer PDF/A for the transfer of permanent electronic records, many courts and land registries ask for it in electronic filing, and the German ZUGFeRD and French Factur-X e-invoice formats are built on PDF/A-3, which carries the machine-readable XML invoice inside a human-readable PDF.
The format is checked, not just declared. The open-source veraPDF validator, backed by the PDF Association, tests files against each part of ISO 19005, and archives commonly run it or a similar tool on every upload. If you are converting from Word or images, create the PDF first with convert to PDF or your office app, then convert it here.
PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2 and PDF/A-3 in order
2005
PDF/A-1
ISO 19005-1, based on PDF 1.4. No transparency, layers or JPEG 2000. Levels a and b.
2011
PDF/A-2
ISO 19005-2, based on PDF 1.7 (ISO 32000-1). Adds transparency, layers, JPEG 2000 and embedded PDF/A files; levels a, b and u.
2012
PDF/A-3
ISO 19005-3. Same as PDF/A-2 but any file type may be embedded, which e-invoicing standards use for XML data.
2020
PDF/A-4
ISO 19005-4, based on PDF 2.0. Not yet required by most portals, which still name parts 1 to 3.
PDF/A conformance levels you can convert to
| Level | Standard | Guarantees | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF/A-1b | ISO 19005-1:2005 | Visual appearance | Older archive systems that name part 1 explicitly |
| PDF/A-2b (default) | ISO 19005-2:2011 | Visual appearance | Court filings, tax returns, general archiving |
| PDF/A-2u | ISO 19005-2:2011 | Appearance plus Unicode text | Records that must be searchable and copyable |
| PDF/A-3b | ISO 19005-3:2012 | Appearance, embedded files allowed | ZUGFeRD and Factur-X e-invoices, documents with source data |
- Output intent (color profile)OutputIntent · ICC profile
- Every PDF/A file embeds one ICC profile that defines how its colors should be reproduced. Color profile offers sRGB for screen documents, CMYK FOGRA39 for European print shops, CMYK SWOP for US printers, and Gray gamma 2.2 for monochrome files.
PDF/A conversion problems and fixes
The file is encrypted
PDF/A forbids encryption. Remove the password with unlock PDF, using the password you have, then convert.
A font cannot be embedded
Keep Rasterise problem pages on so the affected page becomes an image, or re-export the PDF from the source document with a different font.
PDF/A-2u fails on scanned pages
Scans have no text to map to Unicode. Turn on Make scans searchable and pick the Scan language.
Attachments are rejected
Only PDF/A-3 allows arbitrary embedded files. Choose PDF/A-3b, or set Embedded files to Remove if the recipient does not need them.
Colors shift after conversion
The wrong output profile was used. Choose sRGB for on-screen documents and a CMYK profile only for files going to print.
PDF/A questions
Which PDF/A level should I choose?
PDF/A-2b, the default, unless your instructions say otherwise. It is accepted by most archives, courts and tax offices. Use PDF/A-1b only when a system explicitly asks for it, PDF/A-2u when text must be searchable and extractable, and PDF/A-3b when files have to be embedded, as in ZUGFeRD and Factur-X e-invoices.
What is the difference between PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-2u?
Both guarantee the pages look the same in the future. The u level adds that every character can be mapped to Unicode, so text can be searched and copied reliably. Scanned pages need a text layer for that, so turn on Make scans searchable when you choose PDF/A-2u.
Why does my PDF fail PDF/A conversion?
Common causes are fonts that cannot be embedded because of their license or damage, encryption, embedded audio or video, JavaScript and links to external content. With Rasterise problem pages on, pages that cannot be fixed are rendered as images so the file still conforms; run Check only first to see the list of problems.
Can a PDF/A file be edited later?
It can be opened in editors like any PDF, but saving changes usually breaks conformance, and many viewers show a banner asking to enable editing. The intended workflow is to edit the source document, export a new PDF and convert again.
How can I tell whether a PDF is already PDF/A?
Turn on Check only and press convert: you get a report against the chosen level without any change to the file. Acrobat also shows a PDF/A banner when a file claims conformance, but the claim in the metadata is not the same as passing validation.
Do I need to flatten forms before converting to PDF/A?
It is a good idea. PDF/A requires every visible field to have a fixed appearance, and many archives want filed documents to be final. Run flatten PDF first, then convert the flattened copy here.
Is PDF/A bigger than a normal PDF?
Often slightly, because every font must be embedded and a color profile is added. Rasterized pages add more. If a portal also caps the size, compress the original before conversion, since compressing afterwards can break conformance.
| PDF to PDF/A | PDF/A converter | Flatten PDF |
| Compress PDF | PDF to Grayscale | Merge PDF |
All PDF to PDF/A tools
Pick the exact target you were asked for. Every page below is the same tool with different defaults.
- PDF/A Converter for Filing and ArchivingMake PDF/A files that court e-filing, archive transfer and thesis repositories accept: PDF/A-1b, 2b, 2u or 3b, searchable scans, up to 20 files per batch.
- PDF to PDF/A ConverterConvert PDF to PDF/A-1b, 2b, 2u or 3b: fonts embedded, color profile attached, JavaScript and encryption removed. Check conformance, then verify with veraPDF.