Is PDF/A bigger than a normal PDF?

Slightly, because fonts and a color profile are embedded.

Can a PDF/A be edited?

Yes, but any change should be followed by a new conversion to stay compliant.

Is my document uploaded?

No. The conversion happens in your browser.

What is PDF/A and when do you need it?

PDF/A in one sentence

PDF/A is an ISO standard (ISO 19005) that guarantees a document will look exactly the same in 10, 20 or 50 years, on any computer.

What makes a PDF “PDF/A”?

Fonts embedded: the text displays correctly even if the font is not installed.
Colors defined: a color profile is included in the file.
No external content: no links to missing resources, no scripts, no audio or video.
No encryption: an archive must remain readable without a password.
Metadata: title and conformance level are written in the file.

Who asks for PDF/A?

Courts and electronic filing systems, tax and public administrations, universities for theses, notaries, archives and many companies for their records. The most common level is PDF/A-2b, which Helpdf produces.

Convert a PDF to PDF/A

Open PDF to PDF/A and select your file.
Keep the Automatic mode: text is kept whenever possible.
Download the PDF/A file.

PDF to PDF/AConvert your PDF to the PDF/A archiving format.

Open the free tool

Good practices

Compress first if a size limit applies, then convert to PDF/A: Compress PDF.
Do not add a password: it would break PDF/A compliance.
Damaged file? Run Repair PDF before converting.