Convert PDF to PDF/A
Get an archive copy of a PDF in PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b that looks the same today and in twenty years.
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What it does
PDF to PDF/A, explained
PDF/A is the ISO 19005 version of PDF made for archiving. A PDF/A file has to carry everything it needs to display: its fonts, a colour profile, and metadata that says which PDF/A part it follows. Things that could change or break later, like JavaScript, links that launch programs, and encryption, are not allowed. Courts, public administrations, universities and records departments often ask for PDF/A when you file or hand over documents.
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PDF to PDF/A rewrites the file's structure, not its pages. Content streams, images and transparency stay exactly as they are; fonts that aren't embedded are replaced by metric-compatible ones (Liberation Sans, Serif and Mono for Helvetica/Arial, Times and Courier), so text keeps its position. Document JavaScript, script and launch actions, hidden annotations and comments without a fixed appearance are removed; the remaining annotations are set to print; an sRGB output intent and PDF/A identification metadata are added.
Choose PDF/A-2b for nearly everything. Choose PDF/A-3b when the PDF carries attached files that must stay with it, such as the XML of an e-invoice (ZUGFeRD, Factur-X): PDF/A-3 keeps attachments as associated files, while PDF/A-2b removes them.
Conversion runs on our processing servers with pikepdf and fontTools. After writing the file we re-open it and check the PDF/A markers and the rules we enforce: XMP identification, output intent, embedded fonts, device colour, no scripts, annotation flags. That is our own check, not an independent validation with veraPDF or Acrobat Preflight. If a portal requires a validation report, run the result through veraPDF.
How to do it
Convert PDF to PDF/A in 4 steps
1Your PDF
2Convert
3The new format
- 1
Upload the PDF
Password-protected PDFs open after you enter the password; the PDF/A copy has no password, because PDF/A doesn't allow encryption.
- 2
Pick the level
PDF/A-2b in most cases, PDF/A-3b if attachments must stay in the file.
- 3
Convert
The file is processed on our servers; you see what was changed, for example which fonts were embedded.
- 4
Download the PDF/A file
The download is named after your file with “-pdfa” added. Keep the original if you may need its scripts or attachments again.
Example
Before and after
A 12-page contract exported from a web app with non-embedded Helvetica, a “Print” JavaScript button and a CSV attachment.
A PDF/A-2b file with Liberation Sans embedded in place of Helvetica, the script removed, the attachment removed, an sRGB output intent and PDF/A-2b metadata; the pages look the same.
Settings & formats
What you can control
- Level
- PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2, visual appearance preserved; attachments removed) or PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3; attachments kept as associated files).
Input
Output
Good to know before you start
- Conformance is checked by PDFBetter's own tests of the PDF/A markers and rules, not independently validated with veraPDF or Acrobat Preflight.
- Only PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b are produced. PDF/A-1b (no transparency allowed) and the accessible “a” and Unicode “u” levels are not offered.
- Fonts that aren't embedded can be replaced only for Helvetica/Arial, Times/Times New Roman and Courier/Courier New. Any other missing font (Symbol, ZapfDingbats, CJK fonts) stops the conversion and names the font.
- PDFs that use CMYK colour without a CMYK colour profile, or that mix RGB and CMYK without profiles, are refused; colours are not converted.
- Digitally signed PDFs are refused, because rewriting the file would break the signature. Convert first, then sign.
- JavaScript, launch and script actions, hidden annotations, comments without a fixed appearance, XFA form layers and (in PDF/A-2b) attachments are removed from the copy.
If something goes wrong
If something goes wrong
- “These fonts aren't embedded” error
- Re-export the PDF from the source application with fonts embedded (in Word: Save as PDF with “ISO 19005-1 compliant (PDF/A)” or with font embedding on), then convert again.
- “CMYK colour without a colour profile” error
- The file was prepared for print. Export it again in RGB, or with a PDF/X output intent that carries the CMYK profile; PDFs that use only CMYK and include that profile convert.
- A portal still rejects the file
- Run the file through veraPDF (free) to see which rule fails, and tell us at support. Some portals also require PDF/A-1b, which we don't produce.
PDF to PDF/A: questions people ask
What is the difference between PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b?
Both guarantee that the pages look the same in the future. PDF/A-3b also allows attached files of any type, linked to the document as associated files, which e-invoice formats like ZUGFeRD and Factur-X rely on. PDF/A-2b doesn't allow attachments, so they are removed.
Will my PDF look different?
Normally no. Page content isn't redrawn. Text set in a non-embedded Helvetica, Times or Courier is shown with a metric-compatible replacement, so line breaks stay where they were; letter shapes differ slightly.
Is the result validated?
We re-open the file and check the PDF/A identification, output intent, embedded fonts, colour spaces, scripts and annotation flags. That is our own check; the file isn't validated with veraPDF or Acrobat Preflight, so use one of those if a report is required.
Can I convert a password-protected PDF?
Yes, after entering its password. PDF/A doesn't allow encryption, so the PDF/A copy has no password; protect the archive storage instead.
Why was my digitally signed PDF refused?
Any rewrite of a signed file invalidates the signature. Convert the unsigned document to PDF/A first, then sign the PDF/A file.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Yes. Scans are images, which PDF/A accepts as they are. Run OCR PDF first if the archive copy should be searchable.