PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF specialized for long-term archival. It requires self-contained files (embedded fonts, no external content) and prohibits features that hinder future rendering.

Why convert to PDF/A?

Converting to PDF/A ensures documents remain viewable and reproducible in the long term — ideal for legal, government, and archival use.

Which PDF/A levels are supported?

Common conformance levels include PDF/A-1a, PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2a, PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b. Our tool supports converting to common levels and offers validation reports.

Convert files — fast, private, mobile-first

Convert images, documents and PDFs between formats directly in your browser or via our API.

No signup • Privacy-first • Works on desktop and mobile

How it works

Upload file(s) or drag & drop into the converter.
Our servers process the conversion securely and quickly.
Preview the result (where supported) and download your file.

For heavy usage, check pricing and enterprise options.

Convert to

Page mode controls available target options.

1Upload your file

Drag & drop or click to browse from your device.

Choose file

You can drag & drop files or click to open dialog.

Allowed: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, .xlsx, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .txt

Supported types: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, .xlsx, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .txt

2Convert

3Name & download

File name (without extension)

We'll save it as joypdfs-pdf-to-pdfa.pdf

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Mobile tips

Use the mobile camera uploader for quick scanning and prefer WebP or JPG for smaller uploads. On slow networks, convert fewer pages at a time for smoother performance.

What is PDF/A and why it matters

PDF/A is a specialized PDF profile designed for long-term archiving. PDF/A files must be self-contained — all fonts and resources embedded, no active content or external references — so documents can be reproduced exactly in the future.

When to use PDF/A

Legal and compliance records that must be preserved unchanged.
Government and institutional archives.
Library and research deposits.
Any document that must be preserved for long-term access.

Conversion options

Conformance levels: Choose PDF/A-1a/1b/2a/2b/3b depending on archival requirements.
Font embedding: Embed missing fonts automatically to meet PDF/A constraints.
Color/profile handling: Convert colorspaces or embed ICC profiles as required.
Validation: Get a validation report indicating whether the output meets selected PDF/A level.

How to convert PDF → PDF/A

Upload your PDF file.
Select the PDF/A conformance level you need (e.g., PDF/A-1b for basic archival).
Enable font embedding or let the tool embed missing fonts automatically.
Click Convert and download the PDF/A file along with a validation report (if available).

Tips for best results

If possible, provide the source fonts used in the document to improve fidelity.
For scanned documents, run OCR first to create searchable text before converting to PDF/A.
Use PDF/A-2 or -3 if you need more modern features (like JPEG2000 or embedding other file formats in PDF/A-3).
Check the validation report for any remaining non-conforming elements and re-run conversion if necessary.

Common questions

What is the difference between PDF/A-1a and PDF/A-1b?

PDF/A-1b ensures reliable visual reproduction (basic conformance). PDF/A-1a adds additional requirements for structural and semantic tagging (useful for accessibility and reflow).

Will my PDF lose visual quality when converting?

The conversion preserves visual fidelity. If missing fonts are substituted, differences may occur — embed fonts when possible to avoid substitutions.

Do you provide a validation report?

Yes — after conversion the tool can produce a simple validation report showing compliance status and any issues found.

PDF to PDF/A — Convert PDFs for Long-Term Archival