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PDF to PDF/A

Convert to PDF/A for long-term archiving, verified compliant by veraPDF

Files up to 50 MB. Your file is uploaded to our conversion service for processing — see below for what that means.

Click or drop a PDF here

About PDF to PDF/A

PDF to PDF/A converts your document into the ISO-standardized PDF/A archival format using Ghostscript, then validates the result with veraPDF — the industry-reference validator built for the PDF Association's own conformance testing. This is the core guarantee: you only get a file back if it's verified compliant. If Ghostscript's conversion doesn't pass validation, you get an explicit error naming which PDF/A rule failed and how many times, not a file that merely claims to be PDF/A. Unlike almost every other tool on this site, this one really does send your file to a server: it's uploaded securely over HTTPS to our conversion service, and deleted immediately after processing — never stored, logged, or kept around.

How to use PDF to PDF/A

  1. 1Click the upload area and select a PDF file, up to 50 MB.
  2. 2Choose a PDF/A conformance level (1b, 2b, or 3b — 2b is the most commonly required for archiving).
  3. 3Click 'Convert'. Your file uploads with a real progress bar; a working Cancel button is available the whole time.
  4. 4If the result passes veraPDF validation, download it. If not, you'll see exactly which rule failed instead of a silently non-compliant file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PDF to PDF/A free to use?

Yes, completely free with no signup required.

What does 'verified compliant' actually mean here?

After Ghostscript converts your file, veraPDF — the reference validator used for official PDF/A conformance testing — checks the result against the full PDF/A specification. Only a file that passes is returned to you.

What happens if my file doesn't pass?

You get an explicit error listing which PDF/A rule(s) failed and how many times, with no file delivered. This is deliberate: a PDF/A file that only partially complies isn't safe for archiving, so we don't hand one over labeled as compliant.

Is my file uploaded to a server?

Yes. This is one of the few tools on this site that actually sends your file to a server, because PDF/A conversion and validation genuinely need Ghostscript and veraPDF, which don't run in a browser. Your file is uploaded securely over HTTPS, processed, and deleted immediately afterward — it is never stored, logged, or kept.

Which conformance level should I pick?

PDF/A-2b is the most widely accepted for general archiving. PDF/A-1b is the oldest and most restrictive (no transparency). PDF/A-3b adds support for embedding non-PDF/A source files inside the archive.

Tips & Tricks

  • ✓PDF/A intentionally disallows some ordinary PDF features (transparency in 1b, JavaScript, external references, unembedded fonts) — a real conversion failure is often the source PDF using one of these.
  • ✓This is a one-way, lossy-safe conversion for archiving, not a general-purpose PDF editor — use PDF Editor first for organizing pages or adding content, then convert the result here.