Convert PDF to PDF/A for Archiving
Free & private · no signup · no watermarks · files deleted in 1 hour
Need to archive a PDF document in a format guaranteed to be readable decades from now? Our PDF to PDF/A converter transforms standard PDFs into ISO 19005-compliant PDF/A files — the internationally standardised archival format that embeds all fonts, colour profiles, and metadata within the file so it is completely self-contained and renderable without external dependencies.
PDF/A is required or strongly recommended for legal filings, government records, medical archives, academic repositories, and any organisation with long-term document retention obligations. Converting to PDF/A ensures the document will display consistently in any compliant PDF viewer regardless of what fonts, software, or operating systems exist in the future.
Key features: Creates ISO 19005-compliant PDF/A output • Embeds all fonts and colour profiles • Self-contained — no external dependencies • Suitable for legal, medical, and government archives • Supports PDFs up to 100MB • No watermarks or registration
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Step 1: Upload Your Files
Supports: PDF • Max file size: 100MB • Unlimited files
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How to PDF to PDF/A Online — Step by Step
Complete in under 2 minutes. No software, no registration, 100% free.
Upload your PDF
Select the PDF document you want to convert to the archival PDF/A standard.
Click Convert to PDF/A
The tool embeds all fonts, colour profiles, and metadata to create a fully self-contained PDF/A-1b file.
Archival conversion complete
Your document is now ISO 19005 compliant — suitable for legal filings, government archives, and long-term storage.
Download your PDF/A file
Save the archival PDF. It will render consistently in any compliant PDF reader, now and in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About PDF to PDF/A
Everything you need to know about our PDF to PDF/A tool
Yes, completely free. Our PDF to PDF/A tool has no hidden costs, no watermarks, and no registration requirement. You can process as many files as you need, each up to 100MB, at no charge. We believe professional PDF tools should be accessible to everyone — students, freelancers, and businesses alike.
Your files are fully protected. All uploads and downloads use 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption during transfer. Processing happens on our isolated Hetzner server infrastructure in Germany — your file is never shared, analysed for commercial purposes, or stored longer than necessary. Every uploaded and processed file is automatically and permanently deleted within one hour of processing.
Supported file types: This tool accepts PDF files up to 100MB each. For files larger than 100MB, use our Compress PDF tool first.
Portable Document Format
Yes — works on any device. The interface is fully responsive and tested on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Touch-friendly upload areas, drag-and-drop support on desktop, and mobile-optimised buttons mean you get the same experience whether you are on a MacBook, an iPad, or an Android phone. No app download is ever required — open your browser and go.
PDF/A is an ISO-standardised subset of PDF designed for long-term archiving. It requires all fonts to be embedded, disallows encrypted content, and bans external dependencies like linked content or JavaScript. Our converter produces PDF/A-1b output — the widely adopted "basic" level that ensures visual reproducibility. PDF/A-1b is accepted by courts, government agencies, national archives, and ISO 9001 document control systems globally.
Complete Your PDF Workflow
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Every upload and download uses HTTPS/TLS.
Files are wiped from our servers automatically.
Your file comes back exactly as expected.
No account and no email required, ever.
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Free, private, and done in seconds — no account, no watermark, no catch.
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