Convert PDF to PDF/A for archiving and e-filing
The PDF to PDF/A converter turns an ordinary PDF into PDF/A, the ISO 19005 format for documents that must still open and look exactly the same in decades. A PDF/A file carries everything it needs inside itself: every font is embedded, colours are tied to an embedded ICC profile, metadata is stored in a standard XMP packet, and anything that depends on the outside world — passwords, JavaScript, launch actions, links to external content — is not allowed.
Archives and records offices use PDF/A for long-term storage, many court and government e-filing portals and tenders ask for it, universities often require it for theses, and the ZUGFeRD and Factur-X e-invoice formats are PDF/A-3 files with the invoice XML attached. The tool runs a preflight first — what it found, what it will fix, what it cannot — and re-checks the new file against the same rules.
Everything happens in your browser. Contracts, statements and filings are never uploaded.
How to convert a PDF to PDF/A
- Drop your PDF onto the upload area. If it is password-protected, type the password — PDF/A files cannot be encrypted, so the copy is saved without it.
- Choose the standard: PDF/A-2b for most purposes, PDF/A-3b to keep attachments such as invoice XML, or PDF/A-1b only when a portal asks for it.
- Read the preflight checklist. Keep “Keep text and vectors” unless it says the file needs the guaranteed method (page images + searchable text).
- Check the document title and press “Convert to PDF/A”.
- Review the before-and-after checklist and download the PDF/A file. Keep your original as the editable source.
PDF to PDF/A Converter features
Preflight before you convert
Fonts, colour, output intent, metadata, actions, attachments, annotations, forms, transparency, layers and filters are checked and explained in plain language.
Repairs the file itself
Removes JavaScript and forbidden actions, gives comments a print flag and an appearance, recompresses LZW streams and writes synchronised XMP and document information.
Embeds missing standard fonts
Helvetica, Arial, Times, Courier, Symbol and Zapf Dingbats that were never embedded are replaced by metric-compatible fonts (the Foxit fonts from PDFium, BSD licence), so line breaks stay where they were.
A method that works for any PDF
The guaranteed method renders each page as an image and adds an invisible, searchable text layer, plus the original links and bookmarks — for files with fonts that cannot be embedded or with damaged content.
PDF/A-3b keeps attachments
Embedded files stay in the document and are declared as associated files with a relationship (Source, Data, Alternative or Supplement) and a MIME type.
Validated with veraPDF
Output of both methods was checked with veraPDF, the free reference validator, for Word, Chrome, jsPDF and pdf-lib files, forms, scans and encrypted PDFs.
PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b?
The “b” (basic) level guarantees the visual appearance. The “a” (accessible) and “u” (Unicode) levels additionally require a tagged structure and Unicode mappings for all text; this tool produces level b. To make a scan searchable before archiving, run Make PDF Searchable first.
| Level | Standard | What it allows | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF/A-1b | ISO 19005-1 (2005), PDF 1.4 | No transparency, no layers, no JPEG 2000, no attachments | A portal or archive explicitly asks for PDF/A-1 |
| PDF/A-2b | ISO 19005-2 (2011), PDF 1.7 | Transparency, layers, JPEG 2000; attachments only if they are PDF/A themselves | Most archiving, court and e-filing uses — the default |
| PDF/A-3b | ISO 19005-3 (2012), PDF 1.7 | Like 2b, plus any attached file (XML, spreadsheets, originals) | E-invoices (ZUGFeRD, Factur-X) or keeping source files with the PDF |
Keep text and vectors, or the guaranteed method?
“Keep text and vectors” changes only what PDF/A forbids, so text stays sharp, selectable and small. It needs every font to be embedded or replaceable: standard fonts are swapped for metric-compatible embedded versions, but a font such as Calibri that was never embedded cannot be recreated, and PDF/A-1b cannot keep transparency. In those cases the checklist marks the problem and asks for the guaranteed method.
The guaranteed method rebuilds every page as a JPEG image at 150, 200 or 300 DPI with an invisible text layer from the original text, so the file still searches and copies. It works for any PDF, but the file is usually larger and text is no longer vector. Scans without text stay image-only unless you add OCR first.
Limits worth knowing
- The checks cover the main PDF/A rules, not every clause of the standard. For a formal conformance report, open the result in veraPDF.
- Colour is defined by an sRGB output intent; CMYK content gets an ICC-based default CMYK space (a compact CGATS TR 001 profile, CC0) or the file’s own CMYK profile.
- Comments become printable and get a simple appearance where they had none; hidden annotations and attachments not allowed by the chosen level are removed.
- JPEG 2000 images and font programs are not inspected in depth; the PDF Validator and PDF Font Extractor help investigate a file a validator still rejects.
- Credits: pdf-lib (MIT), pdf.js (Apache-2.0), qpdf WebAssembly (Apache-2.0), Foxit fonts from PDFium (BSD), sRGB profile by Graeme Gill (ArgyllCMS, public domain).
PDF to PDF/A Converter FAQ
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is the ISO 19005 family of PDF versions for long-term archiving. A PDF/A file embeds its fonts and colour profile, stores metadata as XMP, and may not use encryption, JavaScript or external content, so it renders the same way on any future viewer.
Why does my file need the guaranteed method?
Usually because a font was never embedded and is not one of the standard fonts that can be replaced, or because PDF/A-1b does not allow transparency. The guaranteed method avoids both by rendering each page as an image with a searchable text layer.
Is the converted file really PDF/A compliant?
The tool re-checks the output against its PDF/A rules, and its output was tested with veraPDF during development. If an archive or court portal requires a formal report, validate the file with veraPDF, which is free.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF to PDF/A?
Yes, if you know the password. PDF/A forbids encryption, so the tool removes it with qpdf in your browser and the PDF/A copy has no password. Files that only restrict printing or copying are unlocked without a password.
Which PDF/A version should I choose for court or government filing?
Follow the portal’s instructions. When it just says “PDF/A”, PDF/A-2b is the usual safe choice; choose PDF/A-1b only if version 1 is named, and PDF/A-3b when attachments must stay inside the file.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The checks and the conversion run in your browser. Only the program libraries and replacement fonts are downloaded; your document never leaves your device.