Convert PDF to PDF/A

Many official procedures and archives ask for PDF/A. Drop your PDF and get a standards-based PDF/A file, created on your own device. Best for scanned documents.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
convert-to-pdfa

Every page is turned into an image and wrapped in a PDF/A file. That makes it self-contained, as the standard requires, but the text is no longer selectable or searchable. It suits scanned documents and forms that only need to be archived.

100% private — your PDFs are converted on your device and are never uploaded to any server.

Works with PDFs up to about 200 MB each. Password-protected PDFs cannot be converted. Higher resolution gives sharper pages and a larger file.

Next step

Keep going with your result in another tool. Nothing is uploaded.

How it works

Choose the version

PDF/A-2B is the most widely accepted today. Use PDF/A-1B only if a procedure asks for it.

Drop your PDFs

One or several. They are converted on your device and never uploaded.

Download

Each file is delivered as a PDF/A document, with a note on exactly what was done.

What PDF/A is and why procedures ask for it

PDF/A is a version of PDF designed for long-term archiving. A normal PDF can depend on things outside the file, such as fonts installed on your computer, and may contain elements that stop working over time. A PDF/A file must be completely self-contained: everything needed to display it exactly the same way in twenty years is inside it, and features that could break, such as encryption or scripts, are forbidden. Public administrations, courts, archives and some companies ask for it for that reason.

How this converter works

Producing PDF/A from an arbitrary PDF, with its text and fonts preserved, needs desktop software. What can be done reliably in a browser is this: every page is rendered as an image, and the result is wrapped in a file that meets the standard, with the required metadata, a defined color profile and a file identifier. Because pages contain images and no fonts, there is nothing external to embed, so the file is self-contained. It was checked against the veraPDF validator, the reference tool for the standard, while building this converter.

The trade-off you should know

Since pages become pictures, the text is no longer selectable or searchable. That is perfectly fine for scanned documents, which were images to begin with, and for forms and certificates that only need to be filed. If the procedure needs the text to stay searchable, use word-processing or PDF software that exports directly to PDF/A, such as LibreOffice or Adobe Acrobat.

PDF/A-2B or PDF/A-1B

The number is the version of the standard and the B means basic conformance, guaranteeing that the page looks the same. PDF/A-2B is more modern and the most widely accepted, so it is the default. Choose PDF/A-1B only when a specific procedure demands it.

File size

Images make the file heavier than the original if it was mostly text. A resolution of 200 dpi is a good balance of sharpness and size. If the destination has a size limit, run the result through reduce a PDF to an exact size. Keep in mind that shrinking a PDF/A changes it, so check that the destination still accepts it afterwards.

Signed documents

Converting changes the file, so a digital signature in the original will not be valid in the PDF/A copy. Keep the signed original if it is needed.

Frequently asked questions

What is PDF/A?
It is a version of the PDF format made for long-term archiving. The file is self-contained, with no external dependencies, so it can be displayed identically in the future.
Does the converted PDF keep its text?
No. Each page is turned into an image, so the text is not selectable or searchable. It is well suited to scans. If you need to keep the text, export to PDF/A from the program that created the document.
Which PDF/A version should I choose?
PDF/A-2B is the most widely accepted and the default. Choose PDF/A-1B only if a procedure specifically asks for it.
Is the result really PDF/A?
The converter builds the metadata, color profile and structure the standard requires, and its output was verified with veraPDF, the reference validator, during development. For a critical procedure, you can also validate your file with veraPDF yourself.
Are my PDFs uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion happens in your browser and your documents never leave your device.
Why is the converted file bigger?
Because pages are stored as images instead of compact text and vector data. Lower the resolution for a smaller file, or use the size reducer afterwards.
Can I convert several PDFs at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like and download them one by one or together in a ZIP.

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