What is PDF/A and when do you need it?
2026-10-27
You may see a submission rule like "documents must be uploaded in PDF/A format". PDF/A is a version of PDF made for long-term archiving. It's an international standard (ISO 19005) used by courts, libraries, universities and government archives.
Why PDF/A exists
A normal PDF can depend on things outside the file, like fonts installed on your computer, links to external content, or features that future software might not support. Years later, it might not display correctly. A PDF/A file is self-contained:
- All fonts are embedded, so the text looks the same forever.
- Colours are defined precisely.
- No encryption, JavaScript, audio or video, which could stop working.
When you need PDF/A
- Court and e-filing systems that require it
- Thesis and dissertation submissions to university repositories
- Government tenders and official archives
- Company records that must be kept for many years
If a portal doesn't mention PDF/A, a normal PDF is fine.
How to convert
- Open PDF to PDF/A.
- Select your PDF.
- Click Convert to PDF/A and download.
We create PDF/A-2, the most widely accepted version.
Things to check first
- Remove the password with Unlock PDF. Encrypted files can't be PDF/A.
- Scanned documents can be converted too. If the portal also wants searchable text, run OCR PDF first.
- File sizes can grow slightly because fonts are embedded. Use Compress PDF before converting if you have a strict limit, then check the size again.