What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is the ISO standard for archiving PDFs so they look and read the same decades from now. Drop a file for a free structural scorecard — no signup.
ISO 19005 · validated as part of Preflight's Print & Archive module (the deterministic, determinable subset — not full veraPDF parity).
PDF/A (ISO 19005) is a restricted profile of PDF for long-term preservation: every dependency travels inside the file. Fonts must be embedded, color must be device-independent, and JavaScript, audio, video, and encryption are prohibited; standards-based XMP metadata is mandatory. There are four parts — PDF/A-1 (PDF 1.4), PDF/A-2 and -3 (PDF 1.7), and PDF/A-4 (PDF 2.0) — and, for parts 1–3, conformance levels B (visual), U (Unicode), and A (tagged).
How to make a PDF/A-compliant file
- Pick the right part and level — most workflows target PDF/A-2b; choose Level A only when you need full tagging, or PDF/A-3 when you must embed source files.
- Embed every font — export with full or subset embedding so no glyph depends on the reader’s system.
- Convert color to a device-independent space — tag an output intent / ICC profile so colors are reproducible.
- Strip forbidden content and add XMP — remove JavaScript, encryption, and multimedia; write the mandatory PDF/A XMP identification.
- Validate against the spec — run a deterministic PDF/A check and fix each finding by its ISO 19005 condition before you archive.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDF/A the same as PDF?
No. PDF/A is a constrained subset of PDF that forbids anything non-self-contained (external fonts, JavaScript, encryption) so the file stays renderable long-term.
What’s the difference between PDF/A-1, -2, -3, and -4?
Different base PDF versions and capabilities: A-1 (PDF 1.4), A-2 (PDF 1.7, adds transparency and JPEG2000), A-3 (PDF 1.7, embed any file), A-4 (PDF 2.0).
What do Level A, B, and U mean?
Level B is basic visual fidelity, U adds reliable Unicode text, and A adds full logical structure and tagging. PDF/A-4 replaces these with the 4e (engineering) and 4f (embedded-files) profiles.
Does PDF/A make a document accessible?
Not automatically. Level A requires tagging, but full accessibility is defined by PDF/UA (ISO 14289). The two are often combined — Preflight validates PDF/UA in its Accessibility module.
How do I check if a file is PDF/A?
Preflight validates the determinable PDF/A conditions (fonts embedded, device-independent color, forbidden content, the XMP identification, version-vs-part) as part of the Print & Archive module — turn on a PDF/A target in your Print settings. It is a pragmatic, deterministic subset, not full veraPDF-parity validation.