Validate PDF/A
Check a PDF against PDF/A and get a report.
or drop files here
Free: files up to 50 MB · up to 3 files · up to 50 pages per task · 15 of 15 free tasks left today. See plans
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted after 2 hours. You can delete them sooner.
Validate PDF/A checks a file against the PDF/A standard (PDF/A-1, 2 or 3) and gives you a report of the main problems if it does not comply.
How to validate a PDF/A file in 3 steps
- 1
Choose your PDF files, or drop them anywhere on the page.
- 2
Keep PDF/A-2b, or pick the version to check against under More options.
- 3
Start the check and download the PDF report. Your file is not changed.
What can Validate PDF/A do?
- Check against PDF/A-1b, 1a, 2b, 2u, 2a, 3b, 3u and 3a.
- Validation with veraPDF, the open-source reference validator.
- A PDF report that says whether the file complies and lists the main problems.
- Your original file is not changed.
- Convert the file to PDF/A in the same tool if it does not pass.
How do I validate a PDF/A file?
To validate a PDF/A file, add it to Validate PDF/A and start the check; veraPDF tests it against the PDF/A version you choose and you get a PDF report. If the file complies you see Validated as PDF/A with its level. If not, the report lists the main problems so you know what to fix.
Why check PDF/A compliance?
Archives, courts and tax offices that ask for PDF/A may reject files that do not meet it. A file saved as PDF/A by some software can still break the rules, for example with a missing font or a colour without a profile. Checking before you submit tells you in advance.
How do I fix a file that is not compliant?
Convert it with PDF to PDF/A, which embeds fonts, ties colours to an sRGB profile and validates the result. Encrypted files must be unlocked first with Unlock PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a PDF is PDF/A compliant?
Add the file to Validate PDF/A, choose the PDF/A version to check against and start the check. You get a message such as Validated as PDF/A-2b, or Not compliant, plus a PDF report listing the main problems.
What does a PDF/A validator check?
It checks the file against the rules of the PDF/A version you pick, such as embedded fonts, defined colours and no encryption or scripts. Validate PDF/A uses veraPDF, the open-source reference validator.
Which PDF/A version should I validate against?
Use the version your archive, court or authority asks for. PDF/A-2b is the default and suits most archives.
What can I do if my file fails validation?
Convert it with PDF to PDF/A, which embeds fonts and validates the result again. The report tells you what failed, so you can see what needs fixing.
Does validation change my PDF?
No. The check only reads your file and returns a separate PDF report; nothing in the original is changed.
Is it safe to validate a PDF online?
Yes. Files are processed on our servers, encrypted in transit and deleted automatically after 2 hours. The limits for your plan are shown on the page before you upload.
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Last updated October 23, 2026