What is PDF/A and why would I need it?

PDF/A is an ISO standard for long-term document archiving — it requires all fonts to be embedded and disallows features (like external links to other files) that could break the document decades later. It's commonly required for legal, government, and institutional record-keeping.

Will the converted file look different from my original?

Visually, no — PDF/A conversion changes the file's internal structure for archival compliance, not its visible content or layout.

PDF to PDF/A

Pro

Convert to PDF/A — the ISO archival standard, required by many legal and institutional systems.

How it works

1
Upload the PDF you want to archive.
2
Documateo converts it to the PDF/A standard for long-term preservation.
3
The engine embeds fonts and normalizes the file structure as required by the standard.
4
Download the PDF/A-compliant file.

PDF to PDF/A — frequently asked questions

What is PDF/A and why would I need it?: PDF/A is an ISO standard for long-term document archiving — it requires all fonts to be embedded and disallows features (like external links to other files) that could break the document decades later. It's commonly required for legal, government, and institutional record-keeping.
Will the converted file look different from my original?: Visually, no — PDF/A conversion changes the file's internal structure for archival compliance, not its visible content or layout.