MergevantaMergevanta

Convert a PDF to PDF/A for long-term archiving

Turn any PDF into an archive-ready PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b file — free, with no watermark and no sign-up. Fonts are embedded, colors tagged as sRGB, scripts and passwords removed, and every change is listed so you know exactly what happened.

No watermarkFree, no sign-upFiles never storedAccepts .pdf
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Quick answer

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

Add the PDF to Mergevanta's PDF to PDF/A tool, pick PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b and press Convert to PDF/A. The server embeds missing fonts, tags colors as sRGB, removes scripts and encryption and writes PDF/A metadata, then checks the result for common problems. It's free, with no watermark and no sign-up.

Price
Free
Watermark
None
Sign-up
Not required
Accepts
.pdf
You get
An archive-ready PDF/A .pdf
Processing
Encrypted and converted on our server, for files up to 4 MB
Files stored
Never
Works on
Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android

Updated

What you get

Why use Mergevanta to convert PDF to PDF/A

Fonts embedded, layout kept

Fonts the file only refers to, such as Helvetica or Arial, are embedded as metric-compatible open fonts, so every line stays exactly where it was.

Every change listed

The result says what was removed or fixed — scripts, attachments, hidden notes, CMYK colors — and a self-check flags anything that may still not comply.

PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b

Choose PDF/A-2b for most archives and e-filing, or PDF/A-3b when attached files such as e-invoice XML must stay inside.

Private by design

Your PDF is encrypted before upload, converted in memory and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.

Step by step

How to convert PDF to PDF/A with Mergevanta

  1. 1

    Press Choose PDF, or drop a PDF onto the page.

  2. 2

    If the PDF has a password, enter it so the protection can be removed.

  3. 3

    Under Standard, keep PDF/A-2b (recommended) or pick PDF/A-3b.

  4. 4

    Press Convert to PDF/A and read the list of changes.

  5. 5

    Press Download to save the archive-ready PDF.

FAQ

PDF to PDF/A questions

PDF/A is the ISO standard for archiving documents. Everything needed to show the file — fonts, color information and metadata — is stored inside it, and features that could change how it looks later, such as scripts or encryption, aren't allowed.

Mergevanta aims for PDF/A-2b (or 3b) and checks the result for the common violations, listing anything it couldn't fix. For strict archival or legal requirements, also check the file with a validator such as veraPDF.

PDF/A-2b suits most archives, courts and agencies. Choose PDF/A-3b only when attached files must stay inside the PDF, as with ZUGFeRD or Factur-X e-invoices — PDF/A-2b removes attachments.

PDF/A conversion runs on Mergevanta's server. Files up to 4 MB are encrypted in your browser, converted in memory and deleted as soon as the result is sent back. For a bigger file, shrink it first with Compress PDF.

Yes. Enter the password when asked; it travels encrypted with the file. PDF/A doesn't allow encryption, so the converted file has no password.

Normally not. Missing fonts are replaced by metric-compatible ones at the same positions and CMYK colors are converted to matching RGB. Pages that can't be fixed in place become images with an invisible, searchable text layer, and the result says which.

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