A regular PDF can rely on things that might not exist forever — external fonts, encryption, or features that get dropped from future software. PDF/A is an ISO-standardized format built specifically to avoid that: everything a page needs (fonts included) is embedded directly in the file, so it will still open and look correct decades from now.
MakeitPDF's PDF to PDF/A tool converts your file to the archival format, free and directly in your browser.
Key takeaways
- PDF/A is the ISO standard for long-term document archiving.
- All fonts and content are embedded so the file renders identically far into the future.
- Choose from standard conformance levels: PDF/A-1a, 1b, 2b, 2u and 3b.
- Convert multiple files at once, delivered individually or as a ZIP.
Table of contents
When you need PDF/A
- Legal and regulatory filings. Courts, government agencies and regulators often require or recommend PDF/A for submitted records.
- Institutional archives and libraries. Long-term digital preservation projects standardize on PDF/A specifically because it doesn't depend on external resources that could go missing.
- Company records retention. Contracts, invoices and official correspondence that must remain readable for years or decades.
Which conformance level should you pick?
PDF/A has several conformance levels, each with slightly different requirements:
- PDF/A-1b — the most basic and widely accepted level; guarantees visual appearance is preserved. A safe default if you're unsure.
- PDF/A-1a — everything in 1b, plus a tagged document structure that improves accessibility and text extraction.
- PDF/A-2b / PDF/A-2u — a newer revision with support for more modern PDF features (like transparency and layers); 2u additionally requires all text to be mapped to readable Unicode.
- PDF/A-3b — like 2b, but also allows arbitrary file attachments to be embedded, useful for archiving a document alongside its original source file.
If a specific level is required by whoever is receiving the file (a court, an agency, an internal policy), use that one. Otherwise, PDF/A-1b or PDF/A-2b are common, safe general-purpose choices.
How to convert PDF to PDF/A
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Open the PDF to PDF/A tool and upload your file (or up to several at once).
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Choose the conformance level you need.
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Click Convert and download the archival-ready PDF/A file, or a ZIP if you converted several.
Frequently asked questions
Will the PDF/A file look different from the original?
No — PDF/A is designed specifically to preserve the exact visual appearance of the original document. What changes is under the hood: fonts get embedded and certain features not permitted by the standard are adjusted.
Can I convert a scanned PDF to PDF/A?
Yes. If you also want the scanned text to be searchable in the archive, run it through OCR PDF first, then convert the result to PDF/A.
Does PDF/A support interactive forms or encryption?
PDF/A restricts certain features (including encryption) that could prevent the file from opening reliably in the future. If your source file is encrypted, remove the password before converting.
How many files can I convert at once?
You can upload multiple files in one batch; if you convert more than one, they're delivered together in a ZIP.
