PDF to PDF/A Converter

Make an archival PDF/A-2b copy of your document for courts, universities and government portals. Metadata, a colour profile and the standard fonts are added for you, all inside your browser.

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PDF file · read on your device, never uploaded

Makes a PDF/A-2b copy for archiving. Fonts, colours and details are added so it looks the same for years. Your file never leaves your device.

Processed entirely on your device. Nothing was uploaded.

How to Make a PDF/A File From Any PDF

Some offices will not accept an ordinary PDF. E-filing systems for courts, thesis repositories, tender portals and records departments often ask for PDF/A, a form of the format designed to look exactly the same decades from now, on software that does not exist yet.

This converter rewrites your PDF as PDF/A-2b. It adds the XMP metadata block that declares the file as PDF/A, an sRGB colour profile so colours have a fixed meaning, and a unique file identifier. It embeds the common standard fonts using metric-compatible Liberation fonts, so no line of text moves, and it strips out things an archive may not contain, such as scripts and attached files.

Files made this way have passed the veraPDF validator, the industry reference checker. If your original uses some other font that it never embedded, the tool tells you, because that is the one thing a converter cannot invent.

No software to install Free Works on any device

Steps to Produce an Archival PDF/A Copy

There are no settings to puzzle over. The converter makes the choices an archive expects.

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1. Load the document

Pick the PDF you have been asked to submit in PDF/A form. Text PDFs and scanned PDFs are both fine.
Before you start:
- A document you cannot even open without its password must go through Unlock PDF beforehand.
- Files that only restrict printing or copying open without help.
- The file is processed on your device only.
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2. Press Convert to PDF/A

The converter adds the archive metadata, the colour profile and the file identifier, embeds the standard fonts, and removes anything PDF/A forbids.
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3. Read the result message

A short note confirms the file was saved as PDF/A-2b and gives its size. If some fonts were missing from your original, it says how many.
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4. Save the archival copy

The new file downloads with "-pdfa" added to its name, so it never overwrites your original.
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5. Submit or file it

Upload the PDF/A copy to the portal that asked for it, or store it in your records system. Keep the original too, in case you need to edit it later.

No .pdf file to hand? Download a sample PDF file (6.3 KB) and try it.

Try it now

What Is PDF/A?

PDF/A is an ISO standard, ISO 19005, for PDFs meant to be kept for the long term. It bans anything that relies on the outside world, such as fonts that are not inside the file, web links to scripts, encryption and embedded video, and it demands metadata that describes the file.

There are several levels. The "b" level, meaning basic, guarantees the pages will look the same in future. The "a" level also requires the file to be tagged for accessibility, and "u" requires searchable Unicode text. PDF/A-2 is the second part of the standard, which allows features such as transparency and JPEG 2000 images.

Archival PDF

.PDF

A PDF/A-2b file: self-contained, with metadata, a colour profile and embedded standard fonts.

Where PDF/A is asked for

Court e-filing and legal records
Thesis and dissertation repositories
Government tenders and applications
Invoices kept for tax audits
Company records management
Libraries and digital archives
Contracts that must be kept for years

Why Save Documents as PDF/A?

An ordinary PDF can quietly depend on fonts on your computer, scripts, or links. Years later those may be gone. PDF/A packs everything the page needs into the file itself.

“An archive is only as good as the oldest file you can still open.”

Pages look identical in any reader
Colours tied to a known profile
Metadata that describes the document
Built to be readable for decades

Standard fonts carried inside the file
No scripts or hidden actions
Accepted by portals that demand PDF/A
Meets legal and records rules

Common Reasons to Create PDF/A

Most people need PDF/A because a system or a rule asks for it. These are the usual ones.

Court filings Many e-courts ask for PDF/A so filed pleadings stay readable for the life of the case and after.
Thesis submission Universities and national thesis repositories often require the final copy in PDF/A.
Tender documents Government procurement portals may reject bids that are not in an archival format.
Invoice archiving Businesses store invoices as PDF/A so they can be produced years later during an audit.
HR records Offer letters, appraisals and exit papers go into long-term personnel files.
Signed contracts Keep a final, self-contained copy of an agreement once everyone has signed.
Library deposits Reports and papers deposited with libraries and institutional archives.
Certificates Degree and training certificates kept as permanent digital records.

What the PDF/A Converter Adds

Each of these is something the PDF/A standard requires.

Metadata

XMP identification

An XMP packet declares the file as PDF/A-2b, and its title, dates and producer match the document information, as the standard insists.

Colour

sRGB output intent

A compact sRGB colour profile is embedded, so device colours in the file have a defined meaning.

Fonts

Standard fonts embedded

Helvetica, Times and Courier, plus Arial, Times New Roman and Courier New, are embedded using Liberation fonts with identical letter widths.

Families covered:

Sans (Helvetica, Arial)
Serif (Times)
Mono (Courier)

Identity

File identifier

A unique ID is written into the file trailer, which archival systems use to tell documents apart.

Clean-up

Forbidden items removed

JavaScript, automatic actions, attached files and encryption are taken out, since PDF/A does not allow them.

Report

Missing fonts reported

Any other font your original did not include is counted and named in the result, so you know exactly what to fix.

Why Trust ToolXkit for PDF/A Conversion?

Validated output

Test files produced by this converter pass veraPDF, the open-source validator used by archives and the PDF Association.

Who Needs PDF/A Files?

Lawyers and clerks

Prepare pleadings and annexures for e-filing systems.

PhD and master’s students

Submit the final thesis in the format the repository demands.

Government contractors

Meet tender portal rules for archival documents.

Accountants

Keep invoices and ledgers audit-ready for years.

Records managers

Standardise documents before they enter the archive.

HR departments

Store employee files in a format that will not rot.

When to Use PDF/A

Convert to PDF/A when you are:

Filing documents with a court online
Submitting a thesis to a university
Uploading a bid to a tender portal
Archiving invoices for tax purposes
Keeping the final signed contract
Moving papers into a records system
Storing anything you must keep for years
Depositing a report with a library

Tips for Passing PDF/A Checks

If the result reports missing fonts, go back to Word or your design app and export again with "embed fonts" switched on, then convert that file.
Want proof? Open the output in the free veraPDF validator and choose the PDF/A-2B profile.
Keep your editable original. A PDF/A file is meant to be final, not reworked.
If a portal names PDF/A-1b specifically, check whether it also accepts PDF/A-2b. Most modern systems do, but some older ones do not.
Files attached inside the PDF are removed. Submit them separately if they matter.
Password protection cannot survive, because the standard bans encryption. Store the file somewhere secure instead.
Compress first if the portal has a size limit. Embedding fonts adds a little to the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about this tool.

How do I convert a normal PDF into PDF/A?

Load it above and press Convert to PDF/A. The converter writes a PDF/A-2b copy with the required metadata, colour profile and embedded standard fonts, and saves it with "-pdfa" at the end of the name.

Which PDF/A level does this tool make?

PDF/A-2b, the most widely accepted level for everyday archiving. It guarantees the pages will look the same in future. It does not add the accessibility tagging that PDF/A-2a requires.

Will converting to PDF/A change how my document looks?

No. The page content is left as it is. Standard fonts are embedded using Liberation fonts with the same letter widths, so text stays exactly where it was.

Has the output been validated?

Yes. Files produced by this converter pass the veraPDF validator for PDF/A-2b. The one exception is a PDF that uses a non-standard font the original never embedded, which the tool warns you about.

What does the missing fonts warning mean?

Your original PDF used a font without including it in the file. No converter can recreate that font from nothing, so a strict checker may still reject the result. Re-export the original with fonts embedded, then convert again.

Is a scanned document acceptable?

Yes. A scan is made of page images and usually has no font problems, so it tends to convert cleanly. Adding searchable text is a separate job for the OCR PDF tool.

What about password-protected PDFs?

Encryption is not allowed in PDF/A. A file that only restricts printing or copying is handled automatically. One that needs a password to open must be unlocked with Unlock PDF first.

What gets removed during conversion?

Anything the standard forbids: JavaScript, actions that run automatically, attached files and encryption. Comments and form fields are set to show and print, since hidden content is not allowed either.

Is PDF/A good for long-term storage?

Yes, that is exactly what it was designed for. National archives and libraries around the world recommend it because a PDF/A file carries everything it needs to display correctly.

Does it work on phones and tablets?

Yes. The converter runs in mobile browsers too. For large files with many fonts, a computer will be quicker because the work uses the device’s own memory.

Are my legal documents safe with this tool?

The conversion happens entirely inside your browser tab. Your PDF is never transmitted, stored or seen by anyone, which suits confidential court and HR papers.

Do I have to pay for archival conversion?

No. It costs nothing, asks for no login, stamps nothing on your pages and does not ration how many documents you process. Expensive desktop suites are not needed for this job.

Will PDF to PDF/A keep my tables and layout?

Text and simple tables usually come across cleanly. Pages with columns, sidebars or heavy design may need some tidying afterwards, because a PDF stores positions on the page rather than a structure. Always glance through the result.

Can a scanned PDF be converted?

A scan is a picture of text, so ordinary conversion finds little to copy. Run the scan through OCR PDF first to add a text layer, or use Scan to Word, then convert as usual.

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