Convert PDF to PDF/A Online
Create a self-contained PDF using the profile requested by your archive, court, or records workflow. Conversion is not a substitute for independent conformance validation.
- Multiple output profiles PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-3b, plus print-oriented PDF/X.
- Archive-focused conversion The engine embeds fonts and normalises colour for the selected profile where conversion permits.
- Premium feature Included with a subscription — no credits consumed per file.
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Max file size: 50 MB · Files deleted immediately after processing
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Archival Format
Pick the profile your recipient requires.
What changes
- • Fonts are embedded so text renders identically anywhere.
- • Colour is converted to a device-independent space.
- • Encryption and external references are removed — both are forbidden in PDF/A.
- • File size usually grows; that is the cost of self-containment.
Conversion usually takes 5–30 seconds depending on page count and images.
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How to convert a PDF to PDF/A online
- Upload the PDF that needs to go into an archive or filing system.
- Select the profile your recipient named — PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-1, PDF/A-3b or PDF/X.
- Press Convert to PDF/A and download the converted file.
Why convert to PDF/A for archiving
An ordinary PDF can depend on things that will not be there in ten years: fonts installed on the author's machine, a colour profile, a linked external resource. PDF/A exists to remove that dependency by making the file self-contained, which is why courts, land registries, tender portals and records-retention policies ask for it by name. If a submission has been rejected for not being PDF/A, this is the conversion that answers it.
About profiles and conformance
Pick the profile you were told to use rather than the newest one. PDF/A-2b is the common default, PDF/A-1 is the oldest and strictest and is still named explicitly by some registries, and PDF/A-3b additionally permits embedded attachments, which is why e-invoicing formats rely on it. PDF/X is a print-production standard and is not an archival profile at all. Two honest caveats: conversion embeds fonts and normalises colour, so the file usually grows and forbidden features such as encryption and external references are stripped, and while we ask the engine for the profile you chose, we do not run an independent validator or issue a conformance certificate. If a regulator requires proof, check the output with their approved tool. Conversion can also invalidate an existing digital signature.
Frequently asked questions
- Which PDF/A profile should I choose for archival conversion?
- For PDF/A archival conversion, use the exact profile requested by the receiving organisation. PDF/A-2b is a common choice, PDF/A-1 supports older workflows, and PDF/A-3b permits attachments. PDF/X is for print production, not archival PDF/A.
- Does conversion guarantee certified PDF/A conformance?
- No. The conversion engine is asked to produce the selected profile, but PDFDW does not run or provide an independent conformance certificate. If a court, archive, or regulator requires strict validation, check the output with its approved validator before submission.
- Why can the converted file become larger or lose features?
- Archival conversion aims to make the document self-contained by embedding resources and normalising colour. It can increase file size, and PDF/A disallows features such as encryption and external references. Conversion can also invalidate digital signatures.
- Does PDF/A conversion use credits?
- No credits are consumed, but the tool requires premium access. The PDF is uploaded to the server for conversion and the converted result is returned for download.