PDF to PDF/A
Convert a PDF into PDF/A — the ISO standard for long-term archiving — free.
Drop your file hereTap to add your file
or click to choose · sent securely, deleted right after
Private by design. Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, processed in an isolated sandbox with no internet access, then deleted the instant it’s done. We never store it or read it. How this works
PDF to PDF/A converts an ordinary PDF into PDF/A, the ISO-standardised format designed for long-term preservation. A PDF/A file is self-contained: every font is embedded, colour is defined so it looks the same in decades, and anything that could break over time — external links, JavaScript, encryption — is removed. It’s the format many archives, libraries, courts and government bodies require for documents that must stay readable far into the future.
Conversion runs on Ream’s hardened server: your file is sent over HTTPS, converted in an isolated sandbox, and deleted immediately afterwards. Free, no sign-up, no watermark.
How it works
Ream re-processes your PDF to meet the PDF/A rules: it embeds any fonts that were only referenced, tags the file with a colour profile (an OutputIntent) so colours are unambiguous, and strips features that aren’t allowed in an archival file. The visible document stays the same — what changes is that everything it needs to render correctly is now baked in.
How to PDF to PDF/A
Add your PDF
Drop the file onto the box above or click to browse.
Run PDF to PDF/A
Ream embeds fonts, sets the colour profile and removes disallowed features.
Download the PDF/A
Save the archival file — your upload is deleted from the server straight after.
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is a restricted version of PDF, standardised by ISO specifically for archiving. The “A” is for archival. The core idea is self-containment: the file must carry everything needed to reproduce it exactly, forever, without relying on anything outside itself. That means embedded fonts, defined colour, and no moving parts.
What changes in the file
| Requirement | What Ream does |
|---|---|
| Fonts | Embeds every font so text never falls back or shifts |
| Colour | Tags the file with a colour profile (sRGB OutputIntent) |
| Encryption | Removed — PDF/A files can’t be password-locked |
| JavaScript & external links | Removed — nothing that could break over time |
When you need PDF/A
- Submitting to a court, government portal or funding body that requires it.
- Depositing a thesis, report or record in an archive or repository.
- Keeping contracts, invoices or records readable for legal retention periods.
- Any document that must look identical years from now.
If you don’t specifically need archival compliance, a normal PDF (optionally compressed) is usually the simpler choice.
Why choose Ream
ISO archival standard
Produces a PDF/A file built for long-term preservation.
Fonts embedded, colour managed
Self-contained, so it renders the same far into the future.
Processed, then deleted
Sent over HTTPS, converted in an isolated sandbox, and deleted immediately after.
Free, no watermark
No account, no watermark, no limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is PDF/A used for?
Long-term archiving. It’s a self-contained PDF — fonts embedded, colour defined, no external dependencies — required by many archives, courts and government bodies.
How do I convert a PDF to PDF/A?
Add your PDF and click Run PDF to PDF/A. Ream embeds fonts, sets a colour profile and removes disallowed features, then gives you the archival file.
Does the document look different?
No — the visible pages stay the same. The change is that everything needed to render it is now embedded.
Can a PDF/A be password-protected?
No. PDF/A does not allow encryption, so any password is removed during conversion.
Which PDF/A version is produced?
A PDF/A-2 file with an sRGB output intent, which suits the great majority of everyday archival needs.
Is my file stored anywhere?
No. It is converted in an isolated sandbox and deleted immediately afterwards.