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PDF/A Validator

Upload PDF files to check if they are PDF/A compliant. Free service, no account required.

or drag and drop PDF files here

Maximum 10 files

Want to learn more about PDF/A? Read our comprehensive article about the different versions and when to use which.

Read the blog

Why use PDF/A?

PDF/A is the international standard for reliably and future-proof archiving of digital documents.

Long-term preservation

PDF/A guarantees that your documents will look exactly the same in 10, 50 or 100 years as they do today.

Legal compliance

Meet legal archiving requirements for government, judiciary and the financial sector.

Self-contained format

All fonts, colours and metadata are embedded. No more external dependencies.

ISO certified

PDF/A is an international ISO standard (ISO 19005) that is recognised worldwide.

PDF/A versions at a glance

Each version is designed for specific use cases. Choose the version that best fits your archiving needs.

PDF/A-1b

Basic archiving

  • Based on PDF 1.4
  • Visual appearance is guaranteed
  • Most widely supported version
Recommended

PDF/A-2b

Modern archiving

  • Based on PDF 1.7 (ISO 32000-1)
  • JPEG2000 compression for smaller files
  • Support for transparency and layers

PDF/A-3b

Archiving with attachments

  • All benefits of PDF/A-2b
  • Any file attachments allowed
  • Ideal for e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD / XRechnung)

PDF/A-4

Latest standard

  • Based on PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2)
  • Simplified conformance levels
  • Future-proof for new workflows

How does the PDF/A validator work?

1

Upload your PDF

Select one or more PDF files or drag them into the upload area. Maximum 10 files at a time.

2

Automatic analysis

Our engine checks your file against all PDF/A requirements: fonts, colour spaces, metadata and more.

3

View the results

You immediately see the PDF/A version, page count and whether the file complies. Not compliant? Convert with one click.

Frequently asked questions about PDF/A

What exactly is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an ISO-standardised version of PDF specifically designed for digital archiving of documents. It differs from regular PDF in that all required information (fonts, colour profiles, metadata) is embedded in the file itself, so the document always looks the same regardless of which software or operating system you use.
Why should I validate my PDF?
A PDF that looks visually correct is not necessarily PDF/A compliant. Validation checks against hundreds of technical requirements from the ISO 19005 standard, such as embedded fonts, correct colour spaces and valid metadata. Without validation, you risk your archive becoming unreadable over time or being rejected by government agencies.
Is this validator free to use?
Yes, the PDFen PDF/A validator is completely free to use. You do not need to create an account and there is no limit on the number of validations. Your files are automatically deleted after validation.
Which PDF/A versions are supported?
Our validator supports all common PDF/A versions: PDF/A-1a, PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2a, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-2u, PDF/A-3a, PDF/A-3b, PDF/A-3u and PDF/A-4. The system automatically detects which version your file claims to be and validates against that specific standard.
What if my PDF is not PDF/A compliant?
If validation shows errors, you can convert your PDF to PDF/A with our conversion tool. It automatically embeds fonts, corrects colour spaces and adds the required metadata. This makes your document suitable for long-term archiving.
Are my files safe?
Absolutely. All files are uploaded via an encrypted HTTPS connection and automatically deleted from our servers after validation. We do not store copies and have no access to the content of your documents.

Ready to validate your PDF files?

Validate your PDF Convert your file to PDF/A