Will my PDF pass strict 1A validation?

Probably not unless the source had a proper structure tree. veraPDF will flag the missing tagged structure. For practical "good-enough" archive submissions to less-strict review, the metadata claim is often accepted.

How do I get a real PDF/A-1a?

Re-author the source with a tagging-aware tool, then convert. Word + Acrobat Pro's Make Accessible action is the gold-standard workflow.

PDF to PDF/A-1a

Apply best-effort PDF/A-1a metadata — the strictest accessibility-aware archival profile, requiring tagged structure (best-effort claim).

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

1. Upload your file

How does the PDF to PDF/A-1a work?

Apply best-effort PDF/A-1a metadata to a PDF — the strictest accessibility-aware archival profile. Where PDF/A-1b only requires reproducible visual fidelity, 1A additionally requires a tagged structure tree (heading levels, reading order, alt-text on images, table semantics) so screen readers can navigate the archive faithfully. Honest about scope: this tool sets the document-level flags (MarkInfo /Marked = true, /Lang, XMP pdfaid:part=1, conformance=A) but does NOT author a structure tree from scratch — that requires re-authoring the source document with a tagging-aware tool (Word "Save as PDF" with accessibility on, LibreOffice Tagged PDF). For PDF/A-1b (visual-only) use the multi-level PDF/A Converter; for genuine 1A certification use Adobe Acrobat's Make Accessible workflow + veraPDF validation.

🔒 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

The general converter handles 1B / 2B / 3B (the visual-fidelity profiles). This tool is slug-specific for "PDF to PDF/A-1a" search queries and emphasises the accessibility-tagging requirement that 1A adds.