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PDF to PDF/A Converter

Turn a normal PDF into the archive format that courts, schools and records offices often ask for.

PDFPDF/A

or drop files here · PDF up to 100 MB

Processed on our server. A copy of your file is stored privately for 30 daysBy choosing a file you agree to our Terms of use and Privacy policy.

Convert PDF to PDF/A for electronic filing and archives

PDF to PDF/A conversion makes a document fit for long term storage. Some courts, government portals, universities and archives accept only PDF/A, because a file must still look the same in many years, with every font inside it.

FileKiwi converts your PDF to PDF/A 2b on our server with Ghostscript. Fonts and an sRGB color profile are embedded, and the file is marked as PDF/A in its metadata.

  • Output is PDF/A 2b, from the ISO 19005 part 2 archive standard
  • Fonts and an sRGB color profile embedded in the file
  • JavaScript and embedded media removed, as PDF/A requires
  • Several PDFs at once, up to 100 MB each

Why use FileKiwi for this

Fonts travel with the file

Fonts are embedded, so the document shows the same text on any computer, now and in the future.

Defined colors

An embedded sRGB color profile tells every viewer exactly how the colors should look.

Archive metadata

An XMP metadata block marks the file as PDF/A, which portals and validators look for.

No active content

JavaScript and embedded media are dropped, because the archive standard does not allow them.

How to use PDF to PDF/A

  1. 01

    Add your PDF

    Drag the PDF onto the page or tap to choose it. If it asks for a password to open, unlock it first.

  2. 02

    Convert to PDF/A

    FileKiwi rewrites the file as PDF/A 2b, embedding fonts and a color profile and adding PDF/A metadata.

  3. 03

    Check and submit

    Download the result. For a strict portal, run it through a validator such as veraPDF before you upload it.

What PDF to PDF/A conversion does, and what 2b means

PDF/A is a version of PDF made for archiving, published as the ISO 19005 standard. A PDF/A file must contain everything needed to display it: fonts, color information and images. Anything that could change or break over time, such as scripts or links to outside content, is not allowed.

The standard has several parts and levels:

  • Part 1, 2 and 3 are built on different PDF versions. Part 2 allows newer features such as transparency and layers.
  • Level b (basic) guarantees that the pages look the same when displayed. Levels a and u add rules for tagged structure and Unicode text.

FileKiwi creates PDF/A 2b, a widely used combination for everyday archiving.

Who asks for PDF/A documents

PDF/A requests usually come from places that keep records for a long time:

  • Courts and law offices that use electronic filing.
  • Government portals for permits, tenders and company records.
  • Universities collecting theses and dissertations.
  • Libraries, archives and companies storing contracts and invoices.

Read the instructions carefully. If a portal names a different part or level, such as PDF/A 1b or PDF/A 3, ask them whether PDF/A 2b is accepted, because FileKiwi creates only 2b.

Validation and a good order of work

Ghostscript writes PDF/A files but is not a formal validator. When a portal is strict, check the result with a validator such as veraPDF, which is free. If the portal rejects the file anyway, its error message usually names the rule that failed.

Finish other edits first. Join documents with Merge PDF or shrink them with Compress PDF, then convert to PDF/A last, because changing a PDF/A file later can break its compliance. A file with an open password must go through Unlock PDF first.

PDF to PDF/A: frequently asked questions

How do I convert PDF to PDF/A for free?

Add your PDF on this page and FileKiwi converts it to PDF/A 2b on our server. Download the result and, if the portal is strict, check it with a validator before you upload it.

Which PDF/A version does FileKiwi create?

PDF/A 2b, which is part 2, level B of the ISO 19005 standard. Fonts and an sRGB color profile are embedded and XMP metadata marks the file as PDF/A. Other parts and levels are not offered.

Is the result guaranteed to pass PDF/A validation?

Ghostscript is not a formal validator, so there is no guarantee for every file. Most documents convert well. When a court or portal is strict, test the result with a validator such as veraPDF first.

Can I convert a password protected PDF to PDF/A?

Not directly, because PDF/A does not allow encryption and the file must be read first. Unlock it with the password you know, then convert the unlocked copy.

Is my PDF uploaded or stored?

A copy of each PDF you add is uploaded over HTTPS and kept in a private folder on our server for 30 days, then deleted automatically. The conversion runs on the server with Ghostscript, and the PDF/A result is not stored.

Will my document look different as PDF/A?

Pages should look the same, since level B is about visual appearance. Interactive features that PDF/A does not allow, such as JavaScript and embedded media, are removed. If a font was missing from the original, a similar font may be used.

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Reviewed by Anna Lewiński, FileKiwi editor. Last updated October 5, 2026.