PDF/A Validator

Validate PDF files against PDF/A archival standards. Check compliance with PDF/A-1b, 2b, 3b and more. Get detailed validation reports with issue explanations.

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What is PDF/A?

PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed for long-term archiving of electronic documents. Unlike regular PDFs, PDF/A files are self-contained—all fonts, images, and metadata are embedded within the file itself, ensuring the document looks identical decades from now.

PDF/A prohibits features that could affect long-term preservation: JavaScript, audio/video content, encryption, and external file references. This makes PDF/A the standard choice for legal documents, government records, medical files, and corporate archives.

PDF/A Versions Explained

PDF/A-1 (ISO 19005-1:2005) is based on PDF 1.4. It comes in two conformance levels: PDF/A-1a requires tagged structure and Unicode mapping (accessibility), while PDF/A-1b only ensures visual preservation. Most validators check against PDF/A-1b as the baseline.

PDF/A-2 (ISO 19005-2:2011) adds JPEG2000 compression, transparency, layers, and PDF/A attachments. PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3:2012) allows embedding any file format as attachments, useful for invoices (embed original data) or technical drawings (embed CAD sources).

Why Validate PDF/A Compliance?

Many organizations require PDF/A for submitted documents. Government agencies, courts, and archives often reject non-compliant files. Validating before submission saves time and prevents rejected filings.

Converting a document to PDF/A doesn't guarantee compliance. Conversion tools may fail silently on embedded fonts or color profiles. Validation reveals exactly which requirements are unmet, so you can fix issues or reconvert with proper settings.

Common Validation Issues

Font embedding problems cause most failures. PDF/A requires all fonts to be embedded; system font references aren't allowed. Check if your PDF creation software has a "embed all fonts" option.

Color space errors occur when images use device-dependent colors (like raw RGB) without an ICC color profile. PDF/A requires all colors to be device-independent for consistent rendering across systems.

Metadata requirements include XMP metadata with document information. Missing or invalid creation dates, titles, or PDF/A version identifiers will fail validation.

Validator Features

  • Validates against PDF/A-1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2u, 3a, 3b, 3u, 4 standards
  • Auto-detects PDF/A version from document metadata
  • Detailed error reports with ISO clause references
  • Powered by veraPDF, the industry-standard open-source validator
  • Shows pass/fail counts and specific rule violations

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PDF/A Validation FAQ

What's the difference between PDF and PDF/A?

PDF is a general-purpose format that can include dynamic content, scripts, and external references. PDF/A is a restricted subset designed for archiving—it requires all resources (fonts, images, color profiles) to be embedded and prohibits features like JavaScript, encryption, and multimedia that could break over time.

Which PDF/A version should I use?

PDF/A-1b is the most widely accepted baseline for archiving. Use PDF/A-2b if you need JPEG2000 compression or transparency. Choose PDF/A-3b if you need to embed original source files (like Excel spreadsheets in an invoice PDF). When in doubt, check with the receiving organization.

My PDF says it's PDF/A but fails validation. Why?

A document can claim PDF/A compliance in its metadata without actually meeting all requirements. This happens when conversion software adds the PDF/A marker but doesn't properly embed fonts or convert color spaces. Validation checks the actual content against the ISO specification.

How do I fix PDF/A validation errors?

Most errors require reconverting the source document with proper settings. Enable "embed all fonts" and use PDF/A output mode in your PDF creator. For existing PDFs, use professional tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro's Preflight feature or dedicated PDF/A converters to fix compliance issues.

Is the file uploaded to your server?

Yes, PDF/A validation requires analyzing the full document structure, which can only be done server-side. Files are processed by veraPDF and deleted immediately after validation. We don't store your documents.

What validation engine do you use?

We use veraPDF, the industry-reference open-source PDF/A validator developed by the PDF Association and the Open Preservation Foundation. It's used by national archives and libraries worldwide and is considered the gold standard for PDF/A validation.

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