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PDF to PDF/A

Prepare a PDF for long-term archiving as PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b — adds the colour profile and XMP metadata, removes scripts, and checks fonts honestly.

About PDF to PDF/A

PDF/A is the archival version of PDF required by many courts, e-filing portals and record-keeping systems. This tool prepares a PDF as PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b: it adds the colour profile, XMP metadata and document ID, removes scripts, attachments and multimedia, and fixes annotation flags.

It then checks fonts, colour and transparency and tells you plainly about anything a browser cannot fix, such as fonts that are not embedded. Pages with problems can be redrawn as images so they pass those checks. Conversion is best effort, so validate important files with a PDF/A validator. Your file is processed in your browser, never uploaded.

How to use PDF to PDF/A

  1. Drop a PDF or try the sample.
  2. Choose the PDF/A level your portal asks for (PDF/A-2b if unsure).
  3. Decide whether pages with missing fonts or CMYK colour should be converted to images.
  4. Convert, read the check list, download — then validate with veraPDF for official submissions.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is opened and converted entirely inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, so it is safe for confidential documents such as bank statements and contracts.

Is the output guaranteed to pass validation?

No, and we say so plainly. The tool does everything a browser can — colour profile, XMP metadata, document ID, removing scripts, attachments and multimedia, fixing annotation flags — and then checks fonts, colour and transparency. If fonts are not embedded it tells you, because a browser cannot add font files. Always validate important files with the free veraPDF validator.

Which level should I choose?

PDF/A-2b suits most uses (e-filing, archives) and allows transparency and layers. PDF/A-1b is the strictest and oldest. PDF/A-3b is like 2b but also allows attached files such as e-invoice XML.

What does “convert pages with problems to images” do?

Pages that use fonts which are not embedded, or CMYK colour, are redrawn as high-resolution images, which always passes those checks. The text on those pages stops being selectable, so run OCR PDF afterwards if you need it searchable.

What is PDF/A?

PDF/A is an ISO standard version of PDF for long-term archiving. It requires fonts and colour information to be embedded and forbids things like scripts, so the file looks the same years later.

How do I convert a PDF to PDF/A?

Drop the PDF, choose the level your portal asks for (PDF/A-2b if unsure), decide how to handle pages with problems, convert and read the check list before downloading.

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