Convert PDF to PDF/A Online
Easily make your PDFs archivable with our free PDF/A converter.
PDF to PDF/A
Convert your PDF to a format suitable for long-term archiving.
Online PDF to PDF/A Converter
Why Use Our PDF to PDF/A Converter?
Ensure your important documents stand the test of time. Our pdf to pdf a converter transforms your standard PDFs into the PDF/A format, an ISO standard specifically designed for the long-term archiving of electronic documents. Preserve your files with confidence, knowing they will be readable for years to come.
ISO-Standard Compliance
PDF/A is an internationally recognized standard (ISO 19005) for digital preservation. When you convert pdf to pdf a, you create a file that is compliant with archiving requirements for legal, academic, and governmental institutions.
Guaranteed Future Readability
A standard PDF can rely on external fonts and resources that may not exist in the future. The PDF/A format is 100% self-contained by embedding all necessary information, such as fonts and color profiles, directly within the file. This guarantees that your document will look exactly the same decades from now.
Perfect for Official Documents
This tool is essential for preserving theses, dissertations, legal contracts, official records, scientific papers, and any other document that must be retained in its original form for the long term.
Secure and Accessible
Your documents are processed securely with SSL encryption and are deleted from our servers after one hour. As a fully online tool, our pdf to pdf a converter requires no installation and works on any device.
How to Convert PDF to PDF/A
Upload
Click the 'Click to upload' button or drag and drop your PDF file into the upload area.
Convert
Click the "Convert to PDF/A" button to begin the conversion process.
Download
Your new, archivable PDF/A file will be ready to download in moments.
Understanding the "Digital Rot" Problem
Have you ever tried to open an old document from 10 or 15 years ago, only to find it's a garbled mess? Fonts are missing, images are broken, and the layout is completely wrong. This is "digital rot," and it's a serious problem for long-term document storage.
A standard PDF is a fantastic format for day-to-day use, but it's not built to last forever. It often relies on external resources to render correctly:
- Fonts: The PDF might use a font installed on your computer. If you open that PDF on a new computer (or a computer 20 years from now) that doesn't have that exact font, the system will substitute it, and your entire layout will break.
- External Links: It might link to external images, videos, or audio. When those links die, the content inside your PDF vanishes.
- Scripts & Media: Standard PDFs can contain JavaScript, audio, and video, which can become unplayable or even pose security risks as technology changes.
A PDF/A file is the solution to digital rot. It is a 100% self-contained "digital time capsule." When you convert PDF to PDF/A, the file goes through a strict process:
- All fonts are embedded directly into the file.
- All content (like images) is embedded.
- All "risky" elements (like audio, video, and scripts) are removed.
This ensures that the document you see today is the exact same document that someone will see 50 years from now, no matter what device or software they're using.
Who Actually Needs to Convert to PDF/A?
This tool is more than just a converter; it's a compliance requirement for many industries. You likely need this tool if you fall into one of these groups:
- Students & Academics: This is the most common use. Most universities, libraries, and academic journals (like ProQuest) require that all thesis and dissertation submissions be in PDF/A format. If you submit a standard PDF, it will be rejected.
- Legal Professionals: Law firms and courts require that all digitally-filed evidence, contracts, and case files be saved in PDF/A format. This guarantees the document is "final" and cannot be altered, ensuring its long-term integrity as a legal record.
- Government & Public Institutions: Any official public record (like land deeds, birth certificates, or financial reports) is required by law in many countries to be archived in PDF/A for permanent access.
- Businesses (for Compliance): Companies that need to archive financial records, invoices, or employee data for many years (e.g., 7-10 years for tax purposes) use PDF/A to ensure they comply with data retention laws.
If you just need to send a simple invoice, a standard PDF is fine. If you need to preserve a document for the future, PDF/A is the only choice.
About the PDF/A Format
So, what is PDF/A? Think of it as a time capsule for your digital documents. While a regular PDF is fine for daily use, PDF/A is a specialized version created for long-term archiving. When you convert pdf to pdf a, you are removing elements that are not conducive to long-term preservation (like audio, video, and external links) and embedding all necessary resources. This ensures the visual appearance of the document remains unchanged over time, regardless of future software or technology.