PDF to PDF/A
Convert to PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b for long-term archiving. Fonts are embedded and external dependencies removed so the file stays readable.
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About This Tool
PDF/A is the ISO standard for documents that must still open correctly decades from now. Its rules exist to remove anything that depends on the outside world: fonts must be embedded rather than referenced, colour must be defined unambiguously, and JavaScript, external links and encryption are prohibited.
The result is a file that renders identically on any conforming viewer, now or in thirty years - which is why courts, government archives, libraries and regulated industries mandate it.
Three conformance levels are available. PDF/A-1b is the strictest and most widely required. 2b permits JPEG 2000 compression and transparency. 3b additionally allows embedded source files, which is useful when the original spreadsheet must be archived alongside the document.
How to Use
Add your PDFs
Drop in up to 10 files.
Choose the conformance level
1b for the strictest and most commonly mandated, 2b for modern compression, 3b to keep embedded source files.
Convert
Fonts are embedded, colour spaces defined, and prohibited features removed.
Download
Save the PDF/A-compliant file.
Use Cases
Court and regulatory filing
Many jurisdictions require PDF/A for electronic submissions.
Institutional archives
Libraries and government archives specify PDF/A as the preservation format.
Long-term business records
Documents that must remain readable well beyond the life of current software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which level should I choose?
1b unless you have been told otherwise - it is the strictest and the most widely mandated. Check the specification you are filing against.
What gets removed in conversion?
JavaScript, embedded multimedia, encryption and external font references. All of these would compromise long-term readability.
Will the document look different?
Visually it should be identical. Embedding fonts can increase the file size noticeably.
Can I convert PDF/A back to a normal PDF?
It already is a normal PDF - just one that follows extra rules. Any reader opens it.