Convert PDF to PDF/A
Turn a PDF into the long-term archival standard PDF/A: embed every font into the file and drop all dependence on outside software, so it still opens correctly 20 years from now.
What is PDF/A and why do you need it?
PDF/A is a variant of PDF standardized specifically for long-term archiving (ISO 19005). The core difference: a PDF/A file must contain everything needed to display correctly.
PDF/A requires
- • Embedding every font into the file, never borrowing fonts from the viewer's machine.
- • Recording color information so it prints in the right color on any device.
- • Including standardized document metadata.
PDF/A forbids
- • JavaScript code and any self-running behavior in the file.
- • Audio, video and non-standard attachments.
- • Encryption, passwords and links to content outside the file.
That is why PDF/A is usually required when filing legal documents with a court, archiving government records, submitting a thesis to a university library, keeping accounting vouchers or any document that must stay readable for many years. In return, a PDF/A file is often larger than the original because it has to embed extra fonts and color data.
Not every file can be converted — and that is normal
The PDF/A standard is very strict. Some files cannot be converted because they use fonts that do not allow embedding, or a color space PDF/A does not accept. In that case the tool reports the converter's exact error instead of producing a file that claims to be PDF/A but does not actually meet the standard — because such a file would be rejected by the receiving office.
Also, password-protected files cannot be processed, because PDF/A itself forbids encryption.
1. Choose a PDF file
Drag and drop a PDF here
or click to pick from your device — one file at a time, up to 40 MB
The conversion runs on the server
Embedding fonts and converting color spaces to the PDF/A standard requires Ghostscript, so it runs on the server — the browser cannot do it. Your file is processed on the server and deleted immediately after processing, never stored. The server only receives the file, converts it and returns the result — it does not read the content or make backups.
Exact message from the converter
The most common cause is a font that does not allow embedding, or a color space outside the standard. To fix it: open the file in its original software (Word, Excel, design software) and re-export the PDF with the embed-fonts option, then try again. For scans, re-scan in RGB or grayscale.
Original size
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PDF/A version
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Change
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📦 The file gets larger
This is normal, not an error. PDF/A must embed the whole font set and color data into the file so it does not depend on the viewer's machine, so a PDF/A file is usually bigger than the original. That is the price of staying readable for years.
📄 Content stays intact
Text stays as text, so it is still selectable, copyable and searchable; layout, page size and images are kept. Only the components PDF/A forbids (JavaScript, video, audio) are removed.
🔒 Where does your file go?
The file is uploaded to the server for conversion and deleted immediately after processing, never stored — the temporary folder is wiped in every case, including when the conversion fails.
FAQ
Do digital signatures stay valid after conversion? No. Any digital signature is invalidated because the file is rewritten from scratch. Convert to PDF/A first, then sign the PDF/A version.
What is the difference between PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2, PDF/A-3? These are versions of the standard. The tool produces PDF/A-2, the most widely accepted version today. If the recipient specifically requires PDF/A-1, check with them before submitting.
How do I know the result really meets the standard? The tool runs in strict mode: it stops and reports an error on any non-compliant element instead of producing a half-baked file. For important records, you should still verify with a dedicated PDF/A validator such as veraPDF.
Can a scanned document be converted to PDF/A? Yes, because a scan contains only images, so there is no font problem. Note that PDF/A does not add text search to a scan — text in an image is still an image.
Can I convert PDF/A back to a regular PDF? No need. A PDF/A file is still a valid PDF and opens normally in any PDF reader.
Convert PDF to PDF/A
PDF/A is the variant of PDF standardised specifically for long-term archiving under ISO 19005. The core rule is that a PDF/A file must be self-contained: it embeds every font and records its colour information, borrowing nothing from the viewer machine. That is why the standard is required for legal filings, government records, thesis submissions to a university library and accounting documents.
Unlike most PDF tools on VSM, this conversion has to run on a server, because embedding fonts and converting colour spaces needs Ghostscript. Your file is uploaded for processing and deleted immediately once it is done. The tool runs in strict mode: anything non-compliant stops the job and the raw error is shown, rather than producing a file that claims to be PDF/A and gets rejected by whoever receives it. One file at a time, up to 40 MB.
How to convert a PDF to PDF/A
- Drag or choose the PDF, one file at a time and up to 40 MB.
- The tool reads the page count locally to confirm the file opens.
- Click convert — the file goes to the server and Ghostscript embeds the fonts and rewrites it as PDF/A-2.
- Compare the original and PDF/A file sizes, then download
-pdfa.pdf.
Key features
- Produces PDF/A-2, the version most widely accepted today.
- Embeds all fonts and colour data so the file depends on no outside software.
- Strict mode: non-compliant content raises an error instead of yielding a half-valid file.
- Shows the raw converter message together with concrete advice on how to fix it.
- Three tiles comparing the original size, the PDF/A size and the percentage change.
- Password-protected files are identified up front with an explanation of why they cannot be processed.
FAQ
Is my file uploaded to a server? Yes. Embedding fonts and converting colour spaces to the PDF/A standard needs Ghostscript, which a browser cannot do. The file is processed on the server and deleted immediately afterwards, with the temporary folder cleaned even when the conversion fails.
Why is the PDF/A file larger than the original? That is expected, not a fault. PDF/A must embed complete fonts and colour data so the file does not depend on the viewer machine — that is the price of still being readable in twenty years.
Do digital signatures survive the conversion? No. All digital signatures are invalidated because the file is rewritten from scratch. Convert to PDF/A first, then sign the PDF/A version.
Why do some files fail to convert? The standard is strict. Files using fonts that forbid embedding, or colour spaces outside the standard, are rejected. The fix is to open the file in its original application and export again with font embedding enabled; for scans, rescan in RGB or greyscale.
Can scanned documents be converted? Yes, since a scan contains only images and has no font issues. Note that PDF/A does not add text searchability to a scan — the text in the image is still an image.
What about password-protected files? They cannot be processed, because the PDF/A standard forbids encryption. Remove the password first.
How do I know the result really complies? The tool runs in strict mode so it never produces a half-valid file. For important submissions, verify it with a dedicated PDF/A validator such as veraPDF before filing.