# PDF/A Convert Convert PDF documents to a self-declared PDF/A archival profile with zero external dependencies > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-a-convert - **Category:** Document Tools - **Keywords:** pdf, pdf-a, pdfa, convert, archive, xmp ## Overview Pure pdf-lib conversion: embeds PDF/A XMP metadata and strips incompatible features. Soft conversion — no ICC colour management. ## Inputs - **PDF File** (file) - **PDF/A Profile** (select) ## When to use - When preparing digital documents for long-term archiving in compliance with institutional or legal standards. - When you need to strip incompatible interactive features and embed standard PDF/A XMP metadata into a PDF. - When you require a lightweight, client-side conversion to PDF/A without uploading sensitive documents to external servers. ## How it works - Upload the PDF document you want to convert. - Select your target PDF/A profile, such as PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-2u, or PDF/A-3b. - The tool processes the file using pdf-lib, stripping incompatible features and embedding the corresponding PDF/A XMP metadata. - Download the converted, self-declared PDF/A file directly to your device. ## Use cases - Preparing legal contracts and corporate records for long-term digital preservation. - Converting standard PDFs to PDF/A-2u to ensure Unicode character mapping compliance for searchability. - Stripping non-compliant interactive elements from PDFs before submitting them to government archives. ## Frequently asked questions ### What PDF/A profiles are supported? The tool supports PDF/A-1b (basic compatibility), PDF/A-2b (allows JPEG2000), PDF/A-2u (Unicode support), and PDF/A-3b (allows embedded files). ### Does this tool perform ICC color management? No, this tool performs a soft conversion that embeds XMP metadata and strips incompatible features without applying ICC color profiles. ### Are my files uploaded to an external server? No, the conversion is performed locally in your browser with zero external dependencies, keeping your documents private. ### What is the maximum file size I can convert? You can upload and convert PDF files up to 100 MB in size. ### What does 'self-declared PDF/A' mean? It means the tool embeds the necessary PDF/A XMP metadata tags to declare compliance, but does not perform full rasterization or color space conversion. ## Related tools - [Markdown to PDF Theme Pack](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/markdown-to-pdf-theme-pack): Convert Markdown to PDF with dark, light, or print-ready themes - [PDF to EPUB](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-to-epub): Convert PDF documents to EPUB e-book format with reflowable content - [PDF to Excel](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-to-excel): Extract tabular data from PDF files and convert to Excel spreadsheets with customizable parsing options - [PDF to PowerPoint](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-to-powerpoint): Extract text content from PDF files and convert to PowerPoint presentation slides - [PDF to Text Advanced](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-to-text-advanced): Advanced PDF to text converter with page selection, formatting options, and metadata extraction - [PDF to Word](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-to-word): Convert PDF files to editable Word documents (.docx) by extracting text and preserving basic formatting - [OCR PDF to Structured JSON Bridge](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/ocr-pdf-to-structured-json-bridge): Extract the PDF text layer with geometry (lines by y-position, tables by column gaps, headings by font size, colon key-value pairs), then fill a user-supplied JSON Schema field by field — labels matched by normalized keys, values coerced to declared types and validated with ajv. - [PDF Formula Extractor (LaTeX / MathML / MathJax) with AMS Equation-Number Preservation](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-latex-mathml-mathjax-formula-extractor-and-equation-number-preserver): Detect and reconstruct embedded math formulas from vector PDFs: math-font recognition (CMMI/CMSY/CMEX, STIX, Cambria Math), Unicode math, super/subscripts and stacked fractions, AMS equation numbers ((2a)/(2b) subequations) preserved; outputs copyable LaTeX, presentation MathML (MathJax/KaTeX-compatible) and a downloadable .tex bundle. ## Samples - [PDF Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pdf-samples): Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10 - [Markdown Slide Deck Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/md-slide-deck-to-pdf): Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts - [ISO Viewer Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/iso-viewer-samples): A ISO archive sample for in-browser preview - [Time Zone Workflow Scheduler ICS Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/time-zone-workflow-scheduler-ics-samples): ICS files generated in the same structure returned by the Time Zone Workflow Scheduler, with multiple VEVENT meeting candidates exported from overlap windows ## Related content - [PDF Archival, Accessibility, and Trust Review](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/pdf-archival-accessibility-trust): Clean scanned pages, add OCR, prepare PDF/A files, inspect accessibility structure, add bookmarks, and verify signatures before archival handoff.