Convert PDF to PDF/A Online Free
Convert any PDF to PDF/A archival format. Embeds all fonts and resources for long-term preservation. Free, no signup.
🔒 Your file is processed securely and never stored on our servers.
How to Convert PDF to PDF/A
- 1
Upload your PDF
Click the upload zone or drag and drop a PDF file up to 50 MB. The file is sent securely to our server for conversion.
- 2
Convert to PDF/A
Click "Convert to PDF/A". LibreOffice processes the file, embedding all fonts and converting colour spaces to conform to the PDF/A-1b standard.
- 3
Download the archival PDF
Download your PDF/A file. Verify compliance using a PDF/A validator tool if required by your institution.
PDF/A (PDF for Archiving) is a subset of the PDF standard defined by ISO 19005. It was created specifically for documents that need to be preserved reliably over long periods — decades or even centuries. Government agencies, legal firms, hospitals, and universities commonly require PDF/A for submissions and records.
What makes PDF/A different: A regular PDF can reference external fonts, embed JavaScript, use encryption, or link to external resources — all of which can break rendering if the referenced assets disappear. PDF/A eliminates these risks by embedding every font and colour profile used in the document, and by prohibiting JavaScript, encryption, and external links.
PDF/A-1b compliance: This tool produces PDF/A-1b (Level B conformance), which focuses on reliable visual reproduction. It is the most widely accepted variant for archiving and is accepted by the US federal courts (PACER), the European Union, and most national archives.
Conversion engine: The tool uses LibreOffice running on our server with the flag SelectPdfVersion=1 (PDF/A-1b) and EmbedStandardFonts=true. LibreOffice is an open-source office suite used by governments and enterprises worldwide.