PDF to PDF/A Converter – Convert to PDF/A Free

Prepare a PDF for archival: remove JavaScript, actions, attachments and XFA, then stamp PDF/A metadata at your chosen level.

Processed on your deviceNo signup required100% free
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Preview

Preview will be available after you upload the PDF

How to Use

  1. Upload the PDF to convert.
  2. Choose the conformance level: 1b, 2b or 3b.
  3. Click Convert to PDF/A.
  4. Review the summary and download the result.

Common Use Cases

  • Submitting documents to a court or government archive that requires PDF/A
  • Preparing compliance records for long-term retention
  • Removing active content (JavaScript, launch actions) before publishing
  • Converting a document for a PDF/A-validating digital preservation system
  • Cleaning a PDF of attachments and dynamic form layers for filing
  • Standardizing document versions before archival export

Helpful Information

What PDF/A is

PDF/A is an ISO standard (19005) for self-contained, archivable PDFs: no external fonts, no JavaScript, no interactive dependencies — everything needed to render the document must live inside the file. PDF/A-1b is based on PDF 1.4, PDF/A-2b and 3b on PDF 1.7.

What this converter changes

The tool strips the constructs PDF/A forbids — document and page JavaScript, OpenAction and annotation actions, embedded file attachments and XFA layers — writes an XMP metadata packet carrying pdfaid:part and pdfaid:conformance (mirroring the document's title, author and keywords from the Info dictionary), and stamps the matching PDF header version.

What it cannot change

Font embedding is the most common reason a document fails PDF/A validation, and it cannot be repaired without the original font files. The tool reports how many fonts are not embedded so you know the gap. For certified archival workflows, always run the result through a validator such as veraPDF or Acrobat Preflight.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the output guaranteed to be PDF/A compliant?
No — this is best-effort archival preparation. It fixes the structural issues it can (actions, JavaScript, XFA, metadata, version) but cannot embed missing fonts. Validate the result with veraPDF or Acrobat Preflight before archiving.
Which level should I choose?
PDF/A-2b (PDF 1.7) is the recommended default for most archives. PDF/A-1b is the oldest, most conservative profile; PDF/A-3b is for modern documents that may need embedded attachments elsewhere.
Why are attachments removed even for PDF/A-3b?
PDF/A-3 allows attachments but requires each one to carry valid relationship metadata. Stripping them is always safe; re-adding them correctly is not something this tool attempts.
PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b — which do I pick?
PDF/A-2b is the recommended default. Choose 1b when an archive explicitly requires the original 2005 profile, 3b only when the archive accepts the 2016 profile.
Does converting to PDF/A change how the document looks?
No. The pages, text and images are left untouched — only metadata and forbidden active structures are changed.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser with pdf-lib. The file never leaves your device.