PDF to PDF/A
Convert PDF to the archival PDF/A-2b standard
How to convert PDF to PDF/A
Upload your PDF document
Click the upload area below or drag and drop your PDF file onto the converter.
Click "Convert to PDF/A"
The conversion runs instantly in the cloud at high quality. No software installation required.
Download your PDF/A file
Click the Download button to save your converted PDF/A document directly to your device.
Drop a PDF here
Convert to the archival PDF/A-2b standard
Max 50 MB
What is PDF to PDF/A conversion?
PDF/A is an ISO-standardised subset of PDF (ISO 19005) designed for long-term digital archiving. The conversion is performed by Ghostscript, which re-processes the PDF to embed all referenced fonts as subsets, flatten transparency, remove JavaScript and multimedia content, strip encryption, and inject an XMP metadata stream with the PDF/A conformance level. The output is a self-contained file with no external dependencies, guaranteeing it will render identically on any compliant viewer decades from now. Regulatory frameworks across multiple industries mandate PDF/A for archival. Courts and law firms use it for case file preservation. Government agencies require it for public records and Freedom of Information Act responses. Healthcare institutions archive patient records in PDF/A for HIPAA-compliant long-term storage. Financial auditors store workpapers in PDF/A to satisfy retention requirements from regulators like the SEC and PCAOB. In the European Union, the e-invoicing directive references PDF/A-3 for machine-readable invoice attachments. This tool produces PDF/A-2b, the most widely accepted conformance level. The "2" denotes the second part of the ISO 19005 standard, which adds support for JPEG2000 compression, transparency, and optional content layers — features not allowed in the older PDF/A-1b. The "b" stands for basic conformance, which ensures visual reproducibility without requiring full Unicode mapping of every glyph. If your source PDF already embeds all fonts and contains no prohibited features, the visual appearance will be virtually identical. Documents with non-embedded fonts will have those fonts embedded during conversion, which may slightly increase file size.
Why convert PDF to PDF/A?
- Required for legal, government, and regulatory document archiving
- Embeds all fonts to guarantee identical rendering on future systems
- Removes JavaScript, encryption, and external links that could break over time
- ISO 19005 compliance for long-term digital preservation
What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?
The table below compares PDF vs PDF/A across key format characteristics.
| Feature | PDF/A | |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .pdf (PDF/A) | |
| Editability | Fixed layout | Fixed layout (archival) |
| Formatting preservation | Exact everywhere | Exact everywhere |
| File size | Compact | Larger |
| Platform support | Universal | Universal |
| Best use case | Sharing, archival | Long-term archival |
| ISO archival standard | No | Yes |
Use standard PDF for everyday sharing; convert to PDF/A for long-term regulatory archival.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?
PDF/A is a restricted subset of PDF that prohibits features that could prevent future rendering: external font references, JavaScript, audio/video, and encryption. This guarantees the document is self-contained and viewable indefinitely.
Which PDF/A version does this tool produce?
PDF/A-2b, which is the most widely accepted version. It supports JPEG2000 compression, transparency, and layers while maintaining strict archival compliance.
Will converting to PDF/A change how my document looks?
In most cases, no. The visual appearance is preserved. The conversion embeds missing fonts and removes prohibited features like JavaScript, but the page content and layout remain unchanged.
What is the difference between PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b?
PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1) is the original standard based on PDF 1.4 — it prohibits transparency, JPEG2000, and layers. PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2), which this tool produces, is based on PDF 1.7 and adds support for transparency, JPEG2000 compression, and optional content groups. PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3) extends PDF/A-2b by allowing embedded file attachments of any format, commonly used for e-invoicing (embedding XML data inside the PDF). For most archival needs, PDF/A-2b is the best balance of compatibility and feature support.
Will the conversion strip password protection from my PDF?
Yes. PDF/A prohibits encryption because it could prevent future access to the document. If your PDF has a password, it is removed during conversion to ensure the archived file remains accessible. Use Unlock PDF first if you need to provide the password for a restricted document.
Why is my PDF/A file larger than the original PDF?
PDF/A requires all fonts to be embedded as subsets within the file. If your original PDF referenced system fonts without embedding them, the conversion adds the necessary font data, which increases file size. Documents that already embed all fonts will see little or no size increase. The tradeoff is worthwhile — embedded fonts guarantee the document renders correctly on any system, indefinitely.