PDF/A Convert

Convert PDF documents to a self-declared PDF/A archival profile with zero external dependencies

Pure pdf-lib conversion: embeds PDF/A XMP metadata and strips incompatible features. Soft conversion — no ICC colour management.

Example Results

1 examples

Convert a PDF to a self-declared PDF/A-2b

Strip incompatible features and embed the PDF/A-2b XMP declaration.

sample-multipage-pdfa.pdf View File
View input parameters
{ "pdfFile": "/public/samples/pdf/sample-multipage.pdf", "profile": "pdfa-2b" }

Click to upload file or drag and drop file here

Maximum file size: 100MB Supported formats: application/pdf

Key Facts

Category
Documents & PDF
Input Types
file, select
Output Type
file
Sample Coverage
4
API Ready
Yes

Overview

Convert your standard PDF documents into self-declared PDF/A archival profiles directly in your browser. This tool strips incompatible PDF features and embeds PDF/A XMP metadata using a pure client-side conversion process, ensuring long-term preservation without relying on external dependencies or ICC color management.

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.

Examples

1. Archiving Legal Contracts

Legal Compliance Officer
Background
A compliance officer needs to archive signed contracts in a format that guarantees long-term readability and meets regulatory standards.
Problem
Standard PDFs contain interactive elements and lack the required XMP metadata for archival systems.
How to Use
Upload the contract PDF, select the 'PDF/A-1b' profile for maximum compatibility, and run the conversion.
Example Config
Profile: pdfa-1b
Outcome
A self-declared PDF/A-1b file with embedded XMP metadata, ready for long-term storage.

2. Converting Technical Reports with Images

Technical Writer
Background
A writer has a technical manual containing JPEG2000 images that needs to be archived.
Problem
Older PDF/A profiles do not support JPEG2000 compression, which is used in the manual's diagrams.
How to Use
Upload the manual PDF, select the 'PDF/A-2b' profile to allow JPEG2000 support, and download the output.
Example Config
Profile: pdfa-2b
Outcome
The document is converted to PDF/A-2b, preserving the JPEG2000 images while embedding the correct archival metadata.

Try with Samples

pdf, file
PDF Samples
Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10
title token pdf
pdf
Markdown Slide Deck Samples
Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts
preferred input family pdf
pdf
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
matched family file
file
ASS Subtitle Samples
Sample ASS subtitle files from simple to complex for style-aware subtitle parsing, translation, conversion, and localization QA
matched family file
file

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FAQ

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.

API Documentation

Request Endpoint

POST /en/api/tools/pdf-a-convert

Request Parameters

Parameter Name Type Required Description
pdfFile file (Upload required) Yes -
profile select No -

File type parameters need to be uploaded first via POST /upload/pdf-a-convert to get filePath, then pass filePath to the corresponding file field.

Response Format

{
  "filePath": "/public/processing/randomid.ext",
  "fileName": "output.ext",
  "contentType": "application/octet-stream",
  "size": 1024,
  "metadata": {
    "key": "value"
  },
  "error": "Error message (optional)",
  "message": "Notification message (optional)"
}
File: File

AI MCP Documentation

Add this tool to your MCP server configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elysiatools-pdf-a-convert": {
      "name": "pdf-a-convert",
      "description": "Convert PDF documents to a self-declared PDF/A archival profile with zero external dependencies",
      "baseUrl": "https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=pdf-a-convert",
      "command": "",
      "args": [],
      "env": {},
      "isActive": true,
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}

You can chain multiple tools, e.g.: `https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=png-to-webp,jpg-to-webp,gif-to-webp`, max 20 tools.

Supports URL file links or Base64 encoding for file parameters.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected]