Convert a PDF to PDF/A in the Browser

PDF/A is the archival profile of PDF. It is defined by ISO 19005, and the version this tool writes is profile 2B. If you need a file that opens the same way in ten years, that is the format you want.

The conversion happens in the browser. The document is not uploaded to any server. You select the file, the tool reads it on your device, and you save the result.

How to convert a PDF to PDF/A

1. Open the converter page. No account is needed and nothing is installed.
2. Select the PDF you want to convert, or drag it onto the page.
3. Start the conversion. The tool reads the file locally and writes a new PDF/A document.
4. Save the result to your device. The original file is left untouched.

The whole step takes one pass. There is no queue and no email link to wait for.

Do it now on TotalPDF KitPDF to PDF/A

What the conversion changes

PDF/A restricts what a PDF may contain. Fonts have to be embedded. Colour spaces have to be defined. Encryption is not allowed in the file. The tool applies those rules and writes a new document that follows the 2B profile.

Profile 2B keeps the visual appearance of the pages. It does not require the file to be tagged for accessibility, which is the difference from profile 2A. If your archive requires tagged output, this converter is not the right one and you should check the requirement before you start.

When to use it

• You are filing a document with an office, a court or a records system that asks for PDF/A.
• You are archiving contracts, invoices or reports and want a format that does not depend on the software that made the original.
• You have a scanned document and need the archival profile before it goes into long-term storage.
• You are working with a file that contains personal or client data and you would rather not send it anywhere.

When not to use it

• The receiving system asks for PDF/A-1a or PDF/A-3. This tool writes 2B, and those are different profiles.
• You need a tagged, accessible PDF. Profile 2B does not carry the tagging structure that 2A requires.
• The file is already PDF/A and passes validation. Converting it again adds nothing.
• You need a digital signature that survives the conversion. Signing after the conversion is the order that works.

Checking the result

A PDF/A file is not valid just because it has the right extension. Validation is a separate step, and it is the step that tells you whether a records office will accept the file. The converter writes the profile; it does not hand you a validation report. Run the output through a validator before you submit it, especially if the destination has its own checklist.

If you have more than one file

PDF ARENA is the workspace for that case. You load the files once, edit them on the same canvas, and export once. The converter also runs there, so you do not select the same document again to change its profile.

Frequently asked questions

Does my file leave my computer? No. The conversion runs in the browser on your device. The document is not sent to a server, and nothing is stored after you close the tab.

Can I use it without creating an account? Yes. The tool is free and needs no registration. There are 27 PDF tools on the site, and none of them asks you to sign up before you use it.

Which profile does the output use? PDF/A-2B, under ISO 19005. If your destination requires a different profile, check that first, because the converter does not offer a choice of profile.