Archive-ready
PDF to PDF/A
Convert a PDF into the ISO archival format — fonts and colors embedded for long-term preservation.
📄
file.pdf
0 KB
Convert a PDF into the ISO archival format — fonts and colors embedded for long-term preservation.
This free tool converts a PDF into PDF/A, the ISO standard for long-term document archiving. Upload your PDF, choose a conformance level, and download a PDF/A file with the fonts, colors and everything needed to display it correctly embedded inside — no signup, no watermark.
PDF/A is a special, self-contained version of PDF designed so a document renders the same way decades from now, no matter what software is used to open it. That's why archives, courts, libraries and many businesses require it. This PDF/A converter supports both PDF/A-2b (the modern, recommended level) and PDF/A-1b (widely required by older systems), so you can create exactly the archival format you need. Files are processed securely and deleted automatically.
PDF/A is a version of PDF built for archiving. A normal PDF can depend on fonts or resources that live outside the file, which means it might display differently — or break — on another computer years later. PDF/A solves this by embedding everything the document needs to render correctly, so it looks the same far into the future. That reliability is why archives, courts, libraries and record-keeping systems often require PDF/A rather than a standard PDF.
To convert a PDF to PDF/A here, upload your file and pick a conformance level. PDF/A-2b is the modern, recommended choice — it supports newer features like JPEG2000 images and transparency while staying fully archival. PDF/A-1b is the older, stricter level that many long-standing systems and e-filing rules still specifically require. Choose the one your situation calls for; if you're not sure, PDF/A-2b is the safe default.
The conversion embeds the fonts and color profiles into the file and restructures it to meet the ISO PDF/A rules. Your pages, text and layout stay intact — the difference is that the result is now self-contained and preservation-ready. Because certain interactive elements aren't allowed in PDF/A, they may be flattened or removed as part of making the file compliant.
To use it, upload your PDF, choose PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-1b, convert, and download the archival file. It's free, needs no signup, and your files are processed securely and deleted automatically after a short time. It's a simple way to turn an everyday PDF into a proper ISO archival document for long-term storage or submission.
Upload your PDF, choose a conformance level (PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-1b), then convert and download the archival file. It's free, with no signup or watermark.
PDF/A is the ISO standard for archiving. It embeds fonts and colors so a document renders the same for years, no matter what software opens it. Archives, courts and record systems often require it for long-term storage.
PDF/A-1b is the older, stricter level required by many long-standing systems. PDF/A-2b is the modern level that adds support for features like JPEG2000 and transparency. If you're unsure, PDF/A-2b is the recommended default.
Yes. Your pages, text and layout stay intact. The conversion embeds fonts and colors so the document displays consistently; some restricted interactive features may be flattened to meet the standard.
Often slightly, because PDF/A embeds all fonts and assets into the file so nothing is missing later. The size increase is usually modest and is what makes the file preservation-ready.
Yes. Files are processed securely and deleted automatically after a short time. Nothing is stored long-term or shared with third parties.
Yes. Converting a PDF to PDF/A here is completely free, with no signup and no watermark, on desktop and mobile.