PDF to PDF/A Converter Online – PDF/A-1b, 2b, 3b Free

How to Convert a PDF to PDF/A

Choose your PDF.
Keep PDF/A-2b unless the place you submit to asks for another version.
Click "Convert to PDF/A". The file is converted and downloaded, and a short report shows what had to be changed.

What is PDF/A?

PDF/A is the ISO standard for PDF files that must still open and look the same in many years. Everything needed to display the file is stored inside it, and anything that depends on outside resources or can change is not allowed. Courts, public authorities, universities and archives often ask for it.

All fonts are embedded, so the text looks the same on any computer.
Colours are tied to a colour profile, so they are shown the same way everywhere.
JavaScript, encryption and content loaded from outside the file are not allowed.
The file says in its metadata which PDF/A version it follows.

Which version should I choose?

PDF/A-2b – The best choice for most documents. It allows transparency and layers, so pages stay as they are and text stays selectable.
PDF/A-1b – The oldest version, still required by some older systems. It does not allow transparency, so pages with transparent elements, such as highlights or shadows, are turned into images.
PDF/A-3b – Like PDF/A-2b, but files of any type can be attached, for example the XML data of an e-invoice.

The letter b ("basic") means the pages will look the same in the future. The stricter levels a and u also require tagged structure for accessibility and are not created by this tool.

What changes in the file

Form fields become part of the page and can no longer be filled in. Comments and links are kept.
Attachments are removed for PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-2b, and JavaScript is always removed. The report lists what was removed.
Small files often get bigger, because the fonts are now stored inside the file.
Accessibility tags are not carried over.
Scanned pages stay images: this tool does not recognise text. To get a searchable PDF/A, use OCR PDF and tick "PDF/A for archiving".
Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first with Unlock PDF. A digital signature becomes invalid after conversion.

PDF to PDF/A – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a PDF to PDF/A?

Choose the PDF, keep PDF/A-2b selected and click "Convert to PDF/A". The converted file is downloaded automatically.

What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?

A PDF/A file is a normal PDF with extra rules: fonts and colour profiles are stored inside it, and features that may not work in the future, such as JavaScript or encryption, are not allowed. Any PDF reader can open it.

Can I still edit a PDF/A file?

You can open it in any PDF editor, but saving changes may remove the PDF/A conformance. Make your changes first and convert at the end.

Is the converted file checked?

The file is written by Ghostscript in PDF/A mode, and the report tells you if the converter could not confirm the result. If an authority requires a validation report, check the file with a validator such as veraPDF.

Will the text stay searchable?

Yes, text that can be selected in the original stays selectable with PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b. With PDF/A-1b, pages with transparency become images.

Is my file safe?

The file is processed on our server only for the conversion and deleted right after you download the result, or after one hour at the latest.

Is it free?

Yes – no sign-up and no watermark.

Related tools: OCR PDF to make scans searchable, Word to PDF with a PDF/A option, and Flatten PDF to make form fields part of the page.

Explore the full collection of tools in the Convert PDF.

PDF to PDF/A Converter – Archive-Ready PDF

PDF/A version

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