Free PDF/A Preparation Tool
PDF to PDF/A converter online free
Prepare a PDF for long-term archiving with populated metadata and a PDF/A conformance declaration. Read the limitations in the FAQ before relying on this for strict compliance requirements.
Browser-based PDF/A preparation
Prepare a PDF for long-term archiving with populated metadata and a PDF/A conformance declaration. Read the FAQ below before relying on this for strict compliance requirements.
Your files are handled safely
✔ Processing happens in your browser
✔ Your file is never uploaded to a server
✔ Your files are not stored or saved anywhere
✔ No account or sign-up required
Why Use It
What this tool actually does
Populated document metadata
PDF/A validation typically fails on missing title, author, or date fields. This fills them in if they're empty.
PDF/A conformance declaration
Adds an XMP metadata packet declaring PDF/A-2b conformance, which archival systems look for.
A starting point for archiving
Useful for lightweight internal archiving where strict, validator-certified compliance isn't required.
How It Works
Simple 3-step workflow
1. Choose your PDF
Choose the PDF file you want to prepare.
2. Convert to PDF/A
Metadata is populated and a PDF/A conformance declaration is added.
3. Download the file
Save the prepared PDF to your device.
Read Before Relying On This
This is a best-effort tool, not a validator-certified converter
True PDF/A compliance (ISO 19005) requires every font to be fully embedded, no transparency effects, an embedded color profile, and no encryption or JavaScript in the file. This tool populates document metadata and adds a PDF/A conformance declaration, but it does not re-encode fonts, strip transparency, or run a full ISO 19005 check. Certain fonts or effects may not convert perfectly. If you have a legal or regulatory requirement for certified PDF/A output, use specialized archival software and validate the result with a tool like veraPDF before relying on it.
Trust & Privacy
Processed entirely in your browser
Your document never leaves your device. If the file is password-protected, unlock it first — PDF/A does not permit encryption.
FAQ
PDF to PDF/A questions
Does this produce a validator-certified PDF/A file?
Not guaranteed. This tool populates metadata and adds a PDF/A conformance declaration, but doesn't re-encode fonts or verify every ISO 19005 rule. For legally mandated compliance, use specialized software and validate the output with a tool like veraPDF.
What might not convert perfectly?
Fonts that aren't fully embedded in the source PDF, transparency effects, and encrypted PDFs can all cause a strict PDF/A validator to reject the file, even after this tool runs.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. Processing runs entirely in your browser. Your PDF is never uploaded to a server, and nothing is stored.