PDF Tool

PDF to PDF/A Online Free

Convert any PDF to ISO-compliant PDF/A format for guaranteed long-term preservation. Choose PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b — no software needed.

No signup required Files deleted in 24h Up to 50 MB free ISO 19005 compliant

Drop your PDF file here

or click to browse — .PDF supported

Choose PDF File

PDF · Max 50 MB free · Up to 200 MB with Pro

Unlock Pro — batch convert, compliance report, files up to 200 MB

PDF/A-1a / 2a / 3a · Validation report · ZUGFeRD / XRechnung

Upgrade — $19/mo

How It Works

Convert to archival PDF in three steps

STEP 1

Upload Your PDF

Upload any PDF up to 50 MB. Any PDF version from 1.0 through 2.0 is accepted, including scanned and form-based documents.

STEP 2

Choose Conformance Level

Select PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b depending on your archival requirements and the PDF viewer compatibility you need.

STEP 3

Download PDF/A

The converter embeds all fonts, color profiles, and metadata required by the ISO standard. Download a fully compliant PDF/A file.

PDF/A Conversion Features

Archival-grade compliance built in

All Three Conformance Levels

PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1), PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2), and PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3) — choose the right level for your archival requirements.

Font Embedding

All fonts used in the document are embedded in the output file, guaranteeing the document renders identically on any system forever.

Color Profile Embedding

sRGB, CMYK, or Grayscale ICC color profiles are embedded to ensure accurate color reproduction across different output devices.

XMP Metadata

Required XMP metadata (title, author, creation date, conformance level) is automatically added or updated to meet the ISO 19005 standard.

Compliance Validation

The output is automatically validated against the chosen ISO standard before download. Pro users receive a detailed compliance report.

100% Private & Secure

Files are encrypted in transit, processed in isolated containers, and deleted within 24 hours. We never read or share your documents.

Conformance Level Comparison

FeaturePDF/A-1bPDF/A-2bPDF/A-3b
Font embedding
Transparency layers
JPEG 2000 images
Embedded attachments

Frequently Asked Questions

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized subset of PDF designed for long-term archiving. It ensures the document will look exactly the same decades from now by embedding all fonts, colors, and metadata. It is required by government agencies, legal firms, and many institutions for permanent record keeping.

PDF/A-1b is the safest choice for maximum compatibility and simple text documents. PDF/A-2b is recommended for most modern documents — it supports transparency and JPEG 2000 images. PDF/A-3b is best when you need to embed attachments like XML invoices (ZUGFeRD, XRechnung).

In most cases no. PDF/A conversion may remove JavaScript, encryption, and audio/video embeds (which are not allowed in the standard). Fonts and colors are preserved by embedding them. Visual appearance should remain identical.