What is the difference between PDF and PDF/A?

PDF/A is a restricted version of PDF designed for archiving. It requires: all fonts embedded, no encryption, no external content dependency, guaranteed identical future display.

When do I need PDF/A?

When submitting to government agencies, archiving legal or financial documents, preserving medical records, or any document that must be kept for many years.

What is the difference between PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-2b?

PDF/A-1b (2005) is basic and most widely compatible. PDF/A-2b (2011) supports additional features: transparency, JPEG2000, layers, other PDF/A attachments.

Does conversion affect file size?

Usually size increases slightly due to font embedding. The increase depends on number of fonts used — may be 5-20% larger.

Can I edit a PDF/A file?

Yes in some programs, but editing may break PDF/A compliance. If you edit the file, re-convert to PDF/A after editing.

convert

PDF to PDF/A

Convert PDF to PDF/A (ISO 19005) for long-term archiving online free. Embeds all fonts, ensures future readability. Required by courts and agencies.

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What is this tool?

Convert PDF files to PDF/A format — the international standard (ISO 19005) for long-term digital document archiving. PDF/A ensures the document will display exactly the same way years or decades after creation.

Many government agencies, financial institutions, and national archives require document submission in PDF/A format. Unlike regular PDF, PDF/A prohibits features that may prevent future display such as non-embedded fonts, encryption, and external content.

📊 Real Test: Archiving Government Documents

We converted 5 official government documents to PDF/A-2b for long-term archiving.

Files Converted5 files

StandardPDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2)

Size Increase+8-15% (due to font embedding)

Compliance✅ Passed Adobe Preflight check

How to Use

1Upload regular PDF file
2Choose PDF/A level (PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, etc.)
3Click "Convert" button
4Download the compliant PDF/A file

Key Features

ISO 19005 compliant

Embed all fonts

Remove external content

Support PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-2b

Compliance report

Long-term archiving

Tips & Best Practices

💡PDF/A-1b is most common and widely compatible — choose it if unsure.
💡PDF/A-2b supports additional features like transparency and layers — choose for modern documents.
💡Ensure all fonts are embedded in original file for best results.
💡After conversion: open file in Adobe Acrobat and check for the blue "PDF/A" bar.
💡PDF/A doesn't support encryption — if your file is protected, unlock first then convert.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's Next?

→Compress before archiving with Compress PDF.
→Secure archived files with Protect PDF.
→Repair broken files before conversion with Repair PDF.

Your files are safe and protected. All files are processed over an encrypted connection and automatically deleted from our servers within one hour.