PDF/A is a flavour of PDF designed to survive decades unchanged. Regular PDF is fine for most things and quietly relies on whoever is reading it in five years to have a compatible reader.
Here is when PDF/A matters and when it does not.
Regular PDF
What everyone uses by default. Can include scripts, external font references, dynamic content. Fine for contracts, invoices and almost all daily use.
PDF/A
Stripped-down variant designed for long-term preservation. Embeds all fonts. No external dependencies. No JavaScript. No encryption. Government archives, court submissions and regulated industries require it.
When you actually need PDF/A
Court filings in some jurisdictions. Tax records you must keep for 7+ years. Medical and legal long-term storage. Government tender submissions. If none of these apply, regular PDF is fine.
Best for…
Regular PDF for daily business. PDF/A for required archival. Acrobat Pro and similar tools convert between them; Flint focuses on day-to-day editing.
FAQ
Do I need PDF/A for tax records?
Some tax authorities prefer it for long retention. Check your local rules.
Can regular PDFs still be read in 10 years?
Almost certainly yes — PDF is widely supported. PDF/A is a stronger guarantee.
Does Flint output PDF/A?
Flint focuses on day-to-day editing. For dedicated PDF/A export, Acrobat Pro is the standard tool.
Daily PDFs: regular. Long-term archive that must survive decades: PDF/A.