PDF to PDF/A

Free Tool

Convert PDF to PDF/A-1, A-2, A-3 · Resize Pages · Edit Metadata — All in Your Browser

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🔒 Your file never leaves your browser  ·  PDF files only  ·  No account needed

What is PDF/A Format?

PDF/A (Portable Document Format for Archiving) is an ISO-standardized subset of PDF specifically designed for long-term digital preservation of electronic documents. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A files are self-contained — all fonts, color profiles, and resources are embedded within the file, ensuring it renders identically years or even decades from now.

PDF/A is required by many governments, courts, libraries, and enterprises for document archiving. The most common variants are PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b.

Features of This Free PDF/A Converter

  • 📁
    3 PDF/A Standards

    Convert to PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1), PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2), or PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3).

  • 📐
    Page Size Conversion

    Resize output pages to A3, A4, A5, Letter, Legal, or Tabloid. Keep original size if preferred.

  • 🔄
    Orientation Control

    Switch between Portrait and Landscape orientation for the output document.

  • ✏️
    Metadata Editor

    Set document Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, and Creator for proper PDF/A compliance.

  • 📖
    Custom Page Range

    Convert all pages or specify a range like 1-3, 5, 8-10.

  • 🖨️
    DPI Quality Control

    Choose from Screen (72 DPI) to Print (216 DPI) for the perfect balance of quality and file size.

  • 👁
    Live Page Preview

    Preview every page before converting to ensure the output looks exactly right.

  • 🔒
    100% Private & Secure

    All processing runs in your browser. No files are uploaded. No data is stored.

PDF/A-1 vs PDF/A-2 vs PDF/A-3 — Which Standard Should You Use?

Feature PDF/A-1b PDF/A-2b PDF/A-3b
ISO Standard 19005-1 (2005) 19005-2 (2011) 19005-3 (2012)
Based on PDF Version PDF 1.4 PDF 1.7 PDF 1.7
Transparency support ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
JPEG 2000 ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Layers (Optional Content) ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Embedded files (any format) ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes
Best for Universal archiving Modern archiving Invoice/ZUGFeRD data

How to Convert a PDF to PDF/A — Step by Step

  1. Upload your PDF — drag and drop the file or click "Choose PDF File".
  2. Choose a standard — pick PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b based on your needs.
  3. Set page size & orientation — resize to A3, A4, Letter, or keep the original size.
  4. Edit metadata — optionally fill in Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords.
  5. Preview — click "Preview Pages" to check how each page will render.
  6. Download — click "Convert & Download" to get your PDF/A file.

When Do You Need a PDF/A File?

  • 🏛️ Government & Legal Submissions — courts, government agencies, and public records often require PDF/A.
  • 📚 Library & University Archives — institutions use PDF/A for long-term thesis and research preservation.
  • 💼 Enterprise Record Keeping — ISO 14641 and other standards mandate PDF/A for business records.
  • 🧾 Invoice Archiving — PDF/A-3b is used in e-invoicing formats like ZUGFeRD and Factur-X.
  • 🏥 Healthcare — medical records and HIPAA-compliant document retention often specify PDF/A.
  • 📐 Engineering & Technical Docs — large-format technical drawings converted to A3 or tabloid PDF/A for archiving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDF/A format?

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed for long-term archiving. It embeds all fonts, color profiles, and resources in the file so it renders identically in the future. Used by governments, courts, and archive institutions worldwide.

What is the difference between PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2, and PDF/A-3?

PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1) is the foundational standard based on PDF 1.4 — widest compatibility. PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2) adds transparency, JPEG 2000, and layers. PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3) additionally allows embedding any file format (like XML data for e-invoicing).

Can I convert a PDF to PDF/A for free?

Yes! This tool is completely free. You can convert any PDF to PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b without creating an account, with no watermarks, and no page limits.

Does my PDF get uploaded to a server?

No. All conversion happens entirely in your browser using PDF.js, Canvas, and jsPDF libraries. Your files never leave your device — ensuring complete privacy and data security.

Can I resize PDF pages to A3 or change orientation?

Yes. Select your desired output page size (A3, A4, A5, Letter, Legal, or Tabloid) and choose Portrait or Landscape orientation in the settings panel.

Can I edit the PDF metadata during conversion?

Yes. Use the built-in Metadata Editor to set the document Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, and Creator before downloading. Proper metadata is important for PDF/A compliance.

Will the tool work on mobile devices?

Yes. The tool is fully responsive and works on smartphones, tablets, and desktops using any modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

Can I convert only specific pages to PDF/A?

Yes. Select "Custom Range" in the Page Range setting and enter a range like 1-3, 5, 8-10. Only those pages will be included in the output file.