Convert PDF to PDF/A
Courts, public administrations and universities often ask for documents in PDF/A, the ISO format designed to look the same in 50 years. Convert yours in a few seconds.
Drop the PDF you want to convert to PDF/A
or pick a file from your device
- Open your PDF.
- Choose the level: PDF/A-2b unless you were asked for another one.
- Press Convert to PDF/A and download the file.
What changes in a PDF/A
PDF/A (ISO 19005) forbids everything that depends on the outside world: every font must be inside the file, colors must refer to an embedded color profile, and there can be no encryption, JavaScript or external links to content. It also requires XMP metadata that declares the PDF/A level.
CLEKARA rewrites the document with Ghostscript compiled to WebAssembly (the same engine as Compress PDF): it embeds or substitutes the fonts, adds the sRGB profile as the output intent and writes the metadata. Photos in JPEG pass through untouched and everything else is stored losslessly.
Worth knowing
The file declares PDF/A conformance, but no browser tool can certify it: if an institution requires official validation, check it with a validator such as veraPDF.
Encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first. PDF/A-1 does not allow transparency; for documents with transparent elements choose PDF/A-2b.
Frequently asked questions
Which PDF/A level should I choose?
PDF/A-2b, unless your institution asks for PDF/A-1b (older systems) or PDF/A-3b (when attachments are needed).
Will my document look different?
It should look the same. Fonts that were not embedded are embedded or replaced by metric-compatible ones, which can slightly change their shape.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The conversion runs inside your browser.