What level should I pick?

PDF/A-1b for broadest compatibility (older systems). PDF/A-2b adds JPEG 2000 and transparency. PDF/A-3b allows file attachments embedded inside.

Do I need this for compliance?

Many regulated industries (banking, healthcare, government) require PDF/A for long-term records. Check with your archivist about the exact level.

What changes about the file?

XMP metadata is added, the producer string is updated, dates are normalised. The visible content of the document is unchanged.

What level should I pick?

PDF/A-1b for broadest compatibility (older systems). PDF/A-2b adds JPEG 2000 and transparency. PDF/A-3b allows file attachments embedded inside.

Do I need this for compliance?

Many regulated industries (banking, healthcare, government) require PDF/A for long-term records. Check with your archivist about the exact level.

What changes about the file?

XMP metadata is added, the producer string is updated, dates are normalised. The visible content of the document is unchanged.

PDF/A Converter

Convert a PDF to the PDF/A archival format (best-effort PDF/A-1b / 2b / 3b) by embedding the required metadata and conformance markers.

Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens on your device — nothing is uploaded.

1. Upload your file

Drop a PDF file here

or click to browse

How does the PDF/A Converter work?

PDF/A is the archival flavour of PDF — designed so a document opens identically in 50 years as it does today. This converter embeds the required PDF/A conformance metadata (XMP packet declaring pdfaid:part and pdfaid:conformance), preserves all standard metadata, and re-saves with object-streams disabled (a strict-PDF/A requirement). We are upfront about scope: this is a best-effort, browser-side conversion. We do not embed an OutputIntent ICC profile (would require shipping a sRGB.icc binary) and we do not validate the result with veraPDF. For documents that need certified PDF/A status, run the output through veraPDF or Adobe Acrobat's PDF/A preflight afterwards.

🔒 Security & Privacy

All processing happens on your device. Your files never leave your browser, never touch our servers, and are not stored anywhere. Close the tab and the file is gone.

📱 Use it on any device

Works in any modern browser — Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, and tablets. No installation, no app to download. Just open the page and start.

⚡ Quick & easy

Drag, drop, click. Most files process in seconds, not minutes. No watermarks added to your output, no per-day limits, and the tool always shows the result before asking you to download.

🎁 Always free, no signup

Free to use, every time. No account creation, no email required, no “trial” that converts to a paid plan. We make money from ads so you don’t have to pay.

Frequently asked

Probably not on a strict profile — full PDF/A also requires an OutputIntent ICC profile and font-embedding guarantees. Most Acrobat / Foxit / archive-ingestion tools accept the metadata-conformant output as PDF/A.