If you need a PDF to still open and look identical decades from now — for legal filing, government submission, or records retention — a regular PDF isn't enough. PDF/A is the ISO standard built for exactly this. You can convert a normal PDF into a compliant PDF/A entirely in your browser, without uploading the document.
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an archival-focused version of PDF standardised by ISO. To guarantee the file renders the same way in the future, it:
- Embeds all fonts so nothing depends on the reader's installed fonts
- Tags color with a defined output intent (an embedded sRGB profile)
- Forbids risky features like external links, JavaScript, audio, and encryption
The result is a self-contained, deterministic document — the gold standard for long-term storage.
Why convert to PDF/A?
- Legal and government requirements: Many courts and agencies mandate PDF/A
- Records retention: Guarantees readability years or decades later
- Compliance: Meets archiving policies for regulated industries
- Peace of mind: The file won't render differently as software changes
Choosing a conformance level
| Level | Best for |
|---|---|
| PDF/A-1b | Strictest and oldest — often required by courts and government |
| PDF/A-2b | The common default for most modern archiving |
| PDF/A-3b | Like 2b, but also allows embedded source files |
When in doubt, PDF/A-2b is a safe, widely accepted choice. If a specific authority requires PDF/A-1b, use that.
How browser-based PDF/A conversion works
The PDF to PDF/A Converter runs a WebAssembly build of Ghostscript — the same engine used in professional PDF pipelines — directly in your browser. It embeds fonts, converts colors to an sRGB output intent, and rewrites the file to meet the PDF/A standard. Because it's all local, your document never touches a server.
The engine is about 16 MB and loads the first time you use the tool; after that it's cached for the session.
How to convert PDF to PDF/A free
- Go to PDF to PDF/A Converter
- Drop your PDF file
- Choose a conformance level (PDF/A-1b, 2b, or 3b)
- Click Convert to PDF/A and download
No file is uploaded to any server. Conversion runs entirely in your browser with Ghostscript WebAssembly.
Before you convert
- Remove passwords first: Encrypted PDFs can't be converted to PDF/A. Unlock them with the PDF Password tool, then convert.
- Validate if required: For high-stakes submissions, run the output through a PDF/A validator (such as veraPDF) to confirm conformance against your target authority's requirements.
Related tools
- PDF Compressor — reduce file size before archiving
- PDF Merger — combine documents into one archive
- PDF Password — unlock encrypted PDFs first