PDF to PDF/A

PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b with the sRGB profile embedded and the XMP identification written in. Built in your browser, free and with nothing stamped on it.

Open in PDF ARENA

Click to upload PDF

PDF files only

Long-term preservation

PDF/A is built for archiving documents that have to open decades from now.

ISO standard

The format is defined by ISO 19005, so it does not depend on us being around.

100% Private

All processing happens in your browser. No files are uploaded to any server.

Check the result yourself

veraPDF is the free reference validator for PDF/A, and it is not ours. Their online demo takes the file this tool gave you and tells you whether it really conforms.

Open the veraPDF demo →

PDF to PDF/A: Achieve Long-Term Document Compliance

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format (PDF) specialized for use in the archiving and long-term preservation of electronic documents. TotalPDF Kit makes it easy to convert your standard PDFs into PDF/A format, ensuring your files remain readable and compliant with international standards for years to come.

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A

1

Upload your PDF

Select the standard PDF document you want to archive.

2

Choose PDF/A Level

Select the desired PDF/A conformance level (e.g., PDF/A-1b, 2b).

3

Start Conversion

Our engine processes your file to ensure it meets all archiving requirements.

4

Download PDF/A

Secure your archived document, ready for long-term storage.

Why use PDF/A?

PDF/A is not a rival format. It is PDF with a list of things taken away, and the list is written down in ISO 19005: part 1 (2005) sits on PDF 1.4, part 2 (2011) on PDF 1.7, part 3 (2012) adds the ability to carry the source file inside, part 4 (2020) moves to PDF 2.0. The letter after the number is the conformance level, and it decides what a reader in 2060 will be able to do. Level b, for basic, promises only that the pages will look the same: every font embedded, every colour bound to a profile. Level u keeps that promise and adds Unicode mapping for the text, so a search for a word still finds it. Level a adds the tagged structure on top: reading order, headings marked as headings, alternative text on images, which is what a screen reader needs. In practice PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-2b are what registries and courts ask for, PDF/A-2u is the one to pick when the text must stay searchable, and 1a or 2a is an accessibility grade that usually means re-authoring the original document rather than converting it. Two rules cause most of the failures. Fonts have to be embedded, subset included, because a file that borrows Arial from the operating system changes when the operating system does. And a short list of features is banned outright: encryption, JavaScript, launch and multimedia actions, references to external files, transparency in part 1, LZW compression. The reason is identical in every case. A PDF/A has to open in software nobody has written yet, and a password, a script or a link to something outside the file all depend on machinery that will not be there. This tool works with pdf-lib in your browser. It writes the XMP identification, pdfaid:part and pdfaid:conformance, that makes a reader treat the file as PDF/A, embeds the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile as an OutputIntent, strips the transparency groups from the pages, embeds a standard font and saves without object streams so part 1 readers cope. The levels on offer are PDF/A-1b, 2b and 3b. Nothing is uploaded, so a contract can be prepared for filing without leaving your machine.

Future-Proof Your Documents

ISO Standard: Fully compliant with international archiving regulations.

Self-Contained: Everything needed to view the file is embedded inside.

Total Reliability: Readable on any future system without missing fonts.

PDF to PDF/A FAQs

Understand the requirements for digital archiving.

What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?
PDF/A is a subset of PDF that eliminates features unsuitable for long-term archiving, like external font links or executable content.
Will my PDF look different after conversion?
In most cases, no. The visual representation remains the same, but the internal structure is hardened for archival stability.
Why is my PDF/A larger in size?
Because all the fonts and color profiles have been embedded inside the file. This slight increase in size is the price of eternal reading security.
Is it mandatory for lawyers and notaries?
In many countries, the electronic submission of court documents requires the PDF/A format to ensure that the file is unalterable and durable.
Are bookmarks and indexes maintained?
Yes, all internal navigation is maintained and optimized according to the rules of the ISO standard.
Will the converted file pass a strict PDF/A validator?
Not always, and no honest tool can promise otherwise. The conversion writes the PDF/A identification, embeds the sRGB output intent, removes the page transparency groups and saves in a structure part 1 readers accept. What it cannot do is invent a font that was never embedded in your original, or undo a construction the standard forbids. Check the result with veraPDF, which is the free reference validator. If it reports a missing embedded font, the fix is upstream: export the source document again with font embedding turned on, then convert that.

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