Convert PDF to PDF/A - Archival Format for Compliance

Convert standard PDFs to PDF/A format for long-term digital preservation and regulatory compliance. Ensures documents can be accurately reproduced decades from now.

Start 7-Day Free Trial

100% Private

Instant Processing

Browser-Based

Features

Convert any PDF to PDF/A format

PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b conformance levels

Automatic font embedding for self-contained documents

Preserves original document appearance

Meets regulatory archival requirements

Files encrypted during transfer, auto-deleted after processing

Included with your subscription

How It Looks

Before

After

How It Works

Upload your PDF document

Select the PDF/A conformance level (PDF/A-2b recommended)

Click Convert to PDF/A to process

Download your archival-compliant PDF/A file

Common Use Cases

Meeting government and legal archival requirements

Long-term preservation of business documents

Ensuring regulatory compliance for financial records

Preparing documents for digital archives

Converting contracts and agreements for permanent storage

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDF/A?

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized subset of PDF designed for long-term digital preservation. It requires all fonts to be embedded, prohibits encryption, and ensures the document is self-contained - meaning it can be accurately reproduced decades from now without external dependencies.

Which conformance level should I choose?

PDF/A-2b is recommended for most use cases. It supports JPEG 2000 compression and transparency, which PDF/A-1b does not. PDF/A-3b additionally allows embedding arbitrary files (like spreadsheets) within the PDF, which is useful for electronic invoicing (ZUGFeRD/Factur-X).

Will converting to PDF/A change how my document looks?

No. The visual appearance is preserved. PDF/A conversion primarily adds metadata, embeds fonts, and ensures the document is self-contained. The content and layout remain identical.

Does this use AI credits?

No. PDF/A conversion does not use AI and does not consume any credits.

What is the difference between PDF/A and regular PDF?

Regular PDFs can reference external fonts, use encryption, and contain features that may not render correctly in the future. PDF/A eliminates these dependencies by embedding all fonts, removing encryption, and ensuring every element needed to display the document is contained within the file itself.

Is my file processed securely?

Your files are processed securely by the PDFSub Engine - an isolated server with no internet access. Files are encrypted during transfer and auto-deleted after processing.