What is PDF/A and why should I use it?

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF specialized for long-term document preservation and archival. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A embeds all fonts, color profiles, and resources needed to display the document identically for decades. It's required for legal documents, government records, and corporate archives.

What's the difference between PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b?

PDF/A-1b: Based on PDF 1.4, most restrictive but widest compatibility (basic conformance). PDF/A-2b: Based on PDF 1.7, supports JPEG 2000 compression, layers, and transparency (recommended for most users). PDF/A-3b: Allows embedded file attachments like invoices, source data, or XML (useful for ZUGFeRD invoicing).

Should I choose RGB or CMYK color space?

RGB: Recommended for digital archival and screen viewing (smaller file size, device-independent sRGB profile). CMYK: Use for documents intended for professional printing (subtractive color model). Most archives prefer RGB as it's device-independent and future-proof.

Is document metadata required for PDF/A?

No, metadata (title, author, keywords) is optional but highly recommended for archival purposes. It helps with document discovery, cataloging, and compliance. Many organizations require specific metadata for their archival systems.

Is PDF/A conversion safe?

Yes, completely safe. All processing happens in your browser using WebAssembly. No files are uploaded to servers. Original files are never modified. The conversion creates new PDF/A-compliant files without affecting originals. All fonts and color profiles are embedded for guaranteed preservation.

PDFyogi

PDF to PDF/A - Convert PDF for Archiving

Convert PDF to PDF/A for Archiving

or Drag & drop files here

Max 20 files•Max file size: 100MB

Supported formats: .pdf, application/pdf

Free PDF to PDF/A Converter Online - Archival PDF Format

Convert PDFs to ISO-standardized PDF/A format for long-term document preservation and regulatory compliance. Our free online converter supports PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, and PDF/A-3b standards with automatic ICC color profile embedding, complete font embedding, and XMP metadata. Perfect for legal documents, government archives, corporate records, and any documents requiring guaranteed readability for decades. All processing happens in your browser—no file uploads required.

100% free PDF to PDF/A converter with ISO 19005 compliance. Create archival-quality PDFs directly in your browser with embedded fonts, ICC profiles, and XMP metadata for guaranteed long-term preservation.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Convert PDF to PDF/A Online

Create ISO-compliant archival PDFs in 4 simple steps

Upload your PDF files

Drag and drop PDF files or click to browse. Batch process up to 20 files at once, each up to 100 MB in size.

Select PDF/A compliance level

Choose PDF/A-1b for maximum compatibility, PDF/A-2b for modern features (recommended), or PDF/A-3b if you need file attachments.

Configure color space and metadata

Select RGB for digital archives or CMYK for print archives. Add optional metadata (title, author, keywords) for cataloging.

Download archival PDFs

Download individual PDF/A files or get all converted documents in a convenient ZIP archive.

Why PDFyogi

Why Choose PDFyogi for PDF to PDF/A Conversion?

The most reliable free tool for creating ISO-compliant archival PDFs

Full PDF/A Standard Support

Convert to PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b standards. Each level meets ISO 19005 specifications for long-term document preservation with varying features and compatibility.

Complete Font Embedding

All fonts are automatically embedded into the PDF/A document, ensuring your text displays identically regardless of what fonts are installed on the viewing system—even decades from now.

ICC Color Profile Embedding

Embeds device-independent ICC color profiles (sRGB or CMYK) so colors appear consistent on any device, monitor, or printer—essential for archival accuracy.

XMP Metadata Support

Add standardized XMP metadata including title, author, and keywords. This information is embedded in the file itself for document discovery and archival cataloging.

100% Browser-Based Privacy

All conversion happens locally using Ghostscript WebAssembly. Your documents never leave your device—critical for confidential legal, government, and corporate records.

Batch Processing Support

Convert up to 20 PDFs to PDF/A simultaneously with consistent settings. Perfect for archiving entire document sets, case files, or record collections.

Use Cases

PDF to PDF/A Use Cases

See how professionals use our PDF/A converter for document archival

Legal Document Archival

Courts and law firms require PDF/A format for long-term preservation of legal documents, contracts, and case files that must remain readable for decades.

Example: A law firm converts 10 years of client contracts to PDF/A-2b for permanent archival storage in their document management system.

Government Records Compliance

Government agencies mandate PDF/A for official records to ensure public documents remain accessible long into the future regardless of software changes.

Example: A city clerk converts municipal records to PDF/A-1b to meet state archival requirements and FOIA compliance.

Corporate Document Retention

Companies archive financial reports, board minutes, and compliance documents in PDF/A format to meet regulatory retention requirements.

Example: A financial services company converts quarterly reports to PDF/A-2b for 7-year SEC compliance retention.

Healthcare Records Preservation

Medical institutions archive patient records, research data, and clinical trial documentation in PDF/A for long-term medical record requirements.

Example: A hospital converts patient discharge summaries to PDF/A-1b for permanent medical record archival.

Academic and Research Archives

Universities and research institutions preserve dissertations, publications, and research data in PDF/A for institutional repositories.

Example: A university library converts PhD dissertations to PDF/A-2b for permanent digital thesis repository inclusion.

E-Invoicing with PDF/A-3b

Businesses using electronic invoicing standards like ZUGFeRD embed structured invoice data (XML) within PDF/A-3b documents.

Example: A European supplier creates ZUGFeRD-compliant invoices by embedding XML data in PDF/A-3b format.

Platform Guides

Convert PDF to PDF/A on Any Platform

Step-by-step guides for creating archival PDFs on your device

PDF to PDF/A on Windows

Create archival PDF/A documents on Windows 10 or 11 using any modern browser

Open Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your Windows PC
Navigate to PDFyogi's PDF to PDF/A converter
Upload your PDFs and select PDF/A compliance level
Download ISO-compliant archival PDFs

PDF to PDF/A on macOS

Convert PDFs to archival format on Mac with Safari, Chrome, or Firefox

Open Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on your Mac
Visit PDFyogi's PDF/A converter tool
Drop your PDF files and configure archival settings
Download your PDF/A-compliant documents

PDF to PDF/A on Linux

Create PDF/A archives on Ubuntu, Fedora, or any Linux distribution

Open Firefox or Chrome on your Linux system
Go to PDFyogi's PDF to PDF/A tool
Upload PDFs and select compliance level and color space
Download archival-ready PDF/A files

PDF to PDF/A on iPhone/iPad

Create archival PDFs on iOS devices without any app

Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
Visit PDFyogi's PDF/A converter
Upload your PDF and select archival settings
Save PDF/A to Files or share directly

PDF to PDF/A on Android

Convert PDFs to archival format on any Android device

Open Chrome or your preferred browser on Android
Navigate to PDFyogi's PDF/A conversion tool
Upload PDF and configure compliance settings
Download archival PDF/A to your device

Comparison

PDF to PDF/A Converter Comparison

See how PDFyogi compares to other PDF/A conversion tools

Feature	PDFyogi	Adobe Acrobat Pro	Online Converters
100% Free	✓	✗ ($23/mo)	Limited
No Upload Required	✓	✓	✗
PDF/A-1b Support	✓	✓	✓
PDF/A-2b Support	✓	✓	Limited
PDF/A-3b Support	✓	✓	✗
Font Embedding	✓	✓	Varies
ICC Profile Embedding	✓	✓	Varies
XMP Metadata	✓	✓	Limited
Batch Processing	✓ (20 files)	✓	Limited

PDFyogi offers comprehensive PDF/A conversion with all three compliance levels (1b, 2b, 3b)—completely free. Unlike Adobe Acrobat's subscription model, PDFyogi requires no payment. Compared to other online converters that upload your files, PDFyogi processes everything locally for complete document confidentiality.

Pro Tips

Advanced PDF to PDF/A Tips

Expert techniques for optimal archival conversion

Choose the Right PDF/A Level

Use PDF/A-1b for maximum compatibility with older systems. Use PDF/A-2b (recommended) for modern features like transparency and JPEG 2000. Use PDF/A-3b only if you need to embed file attachments like XML invoice data.

RGB vs CMYK for Archives

Choose RGB (sRGB profile) for most digital archives—it's device-independent and produces smaller files. Only use CMYK if your documents will be professionally printed and color accuracy for print is critical.

Add Comprehensive Metadata

Include title, author, and keywords for every archival document. This metadata is embedded in the PDF/A and helps with document discovery, cataloging, and compliance reporting.

Verify Compliance After Conversion

For critical archives, verify PDF/A compliance using validation tools like veraPDF or Adobe Preflight. While PDFyogi creates compliant files, validation provides documentation for audit trails.

Handle Problem Fonts Carefully

If conversion fails due to font issues, the original PDF may have fonts that can't be embedded due to licensing. Replace problematic fonts in the source document before conversion.

Plan Your Archival Strategy

For large archival projects, standardize on one PDF/A level across all documents. Create a metadata schema for consistent cataloging. Document your conversion process for compliance audits.

Technical Details

Technical Specifications

PDF to PDF/A converter capabilities and requirements

Processing EngineGhostscript WebAssembly

Maximum File Size100 MB per file

Maximum Batch Size20 files simultaneously

PDF/A Levels SupportedPDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-3b

ISO StandardISO 19005-1, 19005-2, 19005-3

Color SpacessRGB, CMYK (with ICC profiles)

Font HandlingComplete font embedding

Metadata FormatXMP (Extensible Metadata Platform)

Processing Location100% client-side (browser)

Browser CompatibilityChrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (modern)

FAQ

PDF to PDF/A Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about archival PDF conversion

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized (ISO 19005) version of PDF specifically designed for long-term document preservation. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A files embed all fonts, color profiles, and resources needed to display the document identically for decades. It's legally required for many government archives and court filings.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting PDF to PDF/A Conversion

Solutions to common PDF/A conversion issues