PDF to PDF/A

Online PDF to PDF/A Converter

Does an archive, university, or tender platform ask for your document in PDF/A? Upload a regular PDF and the service converts it to PDF/A-2b according to ISO 19005-2. Fonts are embedded, colors are tied to an ICC profile, and external dependencies, encryption, and JavaScript are removed. The resulting document will look the same years from now on any device. The PDF to PDF/A conversion runs online on our server — free, with no registration and no watermarks. You can additionally verify compliance with the free veraPDF validator.

When You Need PDF/A

• Long-term archiving — PDF/A was designed so documents render identically decades from now.
• Electronic document workflows — many document management systems and digital archives recommend or require PDF/A.
• Tenders and courts — some platforms and court e-filing systems accept only PDF/A — check the recipient's requirements.
• Theses and dissertations — universities and libraries often ask for an archival format for their repositories.

Benefits of Our PDF to PDF/A Converter

• PDF/A-2b standard — the modern ISO 19005-2 version with support for transparency and layers.
• Embedded fonts — the document looks the same even on a computer without the original fonts.
• Device-independent color — colors are defined through an RGB ICC profile and do not depend on the device.
• No software to install — no Adobe Acrobat Pro needed, the conversion works in the browser.
• Free and private — no registration or watermarks, and files are deleted from the server within 48 hours.

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A

1. Upload a PDF to the upload area on the page.
2. Click Convert to PDF/A — processing runs in the background.
3. Download the finished PDF/A file from the link when the task completes.
4. Optionally verify compliance with the free veraPDF validator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert PDF to PDF/A online for free?

Upload a PDF, click Convert to PDF/A, and wait for background processing to finish. Then download the finished file from the link. No registration needed.

Which PDF/A version does the service create?

PDF/A-2b according to ISO 19005-2. The letter b stands for basic conformance, which guarantees reliable visual reproduction of the document.

How is PDF/A different from a regular PDF?

PDF/A requires embedded fonts and ICC-based colors, and forbids encryption, JavaScript, and links to external resources. This makes the file self-contained for long-term storage.

Is PDF/A mandatory for submissions?

Requirements vary. PDF/A is often required by archives, some courts, tender platforms, and universities. Check the rules of the organization receiving your document before sending.

How can I check that a file is PDF/A compliant?

Use the free veraPDF validator. It shows whether the file meets the chosen PDF/A level and lists any violations found.

What happens to passwords and digital signatures?

PDF/A does not allow encryption, so a password-protected file must be unlocked first. A digital signature becomes invalid after any conversion — sign the finished PDF/A instead.

Will a scanned document become searchable?

No, this tool has no OCR. A scan stays an image inside the PDF/A. For text recognition, try our PDF reader with OCR, currently in beta.

Are files deleted after conversion?

Yes. The source PDF and the resulting PDF/A are automatically deleted from the server within 48 hours and are never published.