Convert PDF to the PDF/A Archival Format
Public tenders, e-archiving rules, court filings and university thesis submissions often require PDF/A. PDF/A is the ISO standard that guarantees a document still looks the SAME many years later: the fonts it uses are embedded in the file (so text stays intact even if the font is missing on the other computer), colours are defined device-independently, and external dependencies and encryption are removed. Upload your document, pick the conformance level your institution asks for (PDF/A-2b is enough in most cases) and download the archival file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PDF/A and how is it different?
PDF/A is the ISO format for long-term preservation. Unlike a regular PDF, fonts must be embedded, colours are defined device-independently, and external references and encryption are not allowed — so the document still looks the same years later.
Which level should I pick?
Unless your institution says otherwise, PDF/A-2b is a good default. PDF/A-1b is the strictest and most widely supported; PDF/A-3b additionally allows attached files (for example an XML invoice).
Will my document look different?
Layout and content are preserved. Because non-conformant elements (such as externally linked content) are dropped, there can rarely be small differences — it is worth checking the downloaded file once.
Can I convert an encrypted PDF?
PDF/A does not allow encryption. If you enter the password, the document is unlocked first and then converted.
Will the file get bigger?
It can grow somewhat because fonts are embedded. That is inherent to the format; it is what makes the document self-contained.
Can I get PDF/A-1a or 2u?
This tool produces the basic (b) conformance levels. Levels such as PDF/A-1a also require the document to be structurally tagged, which comes from how the document is authored rather than from conversion.