PDF to PDF/A - Convert PDF for Archiving
Convert PDF to PDF/A for Archiving
or Drag & drop files here
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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 Specifications
PDF to PDF/A converter capabilities and requirements
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.
Upload your PDF to PDFyogi's converter, select your desired PDF/A level (1b, 2b, or 3b), choose RGB or CMYK color space, optionally add metadata, and click Convert. Download your ISO-compliant PDF/A file—completely free with no registration.
PDF/A-1b: Based on PDF 1.4, most restrictive but widest compatibility. PDF/A-2b: Based on PDF 1.7, adds JPEG 2000, transparency, and layers (recommended). PDF/A-3b: Same as 2b but allows embedded file attachments (useful for e-invoicing).
Many jurisdictions require or recommend PDF/A for court filings and legal archives. The US Courts, European courts, and many government agencies mandate PDF/A for official records. Check your specific requirements, but PDF/A is generally considered best practice for legal archival.
A properly converted PDF/A should look identical to the original. The main changes are internal: fonts are embedded, color profiles added, and certain interactive features (like JavaScript) are removed per the standard. Visual content remains unchanged.
PDF/A files can technically be edited, but this may break compliance. PDF/A is designed for archival—documents that shouldn't change. If you need to edit, work with the source document, then convert to PDF/A again.
PDF/A prohibits JavaScript and certain interactive features to ensure long-term readability. Forms are flattened (become static). If you need interactive PDFs, don't use PDF/A—it's specifically for static archival documents.
PDF/A is designed for indefinite preservation. By embedding all fonts and color profiles, the document is self-contained and doesn't depend on external resources that might become unavailable. Many archives plan for 100+ year retention.
No! PDFyogi processes all PDF/A conversions locally in your browser using Ghostscript WebAssembly. Your documents never leave your device—essential for confidential legal, government, and corporate records.
PDFyogi creates compliant PDF/A files, but for critical archives, you can verify using tools like veraPDF (free, open-source) or Adobe Acrobat's Preflight feature. Verification provides audit documentation for compliance requirements.
Troubleshooting PDF to PDF/A Conversion
Solutions to common PDF/A conversion issues