Someone sends you a tax form, a job application or a rental contract as a PDF, and to your relief — you can click into the boxes and type. That's a fillable PDF: a regular PDF with interactive fields baked in, ready for you to complete on screen.
How they work
A fillable PDF has invisible 'form fields' overlaid on the page. Text boxes, tick boxes, drop-downs and signature fields all behave like a web form, but the layout still looks like the original paper version. When you save, your answers travel with the file. It's the digital equivalent of writing on a printed form — without the printer.
How to spot one
Open the PDF and hover over the spaces meant for answers. If your cursor changes to a text bar, it's fillable. If nothing happens, the PDF is flat — you'll need a tool that lets you type on top. Flint handles both: edit any PDF to add text wherever you like, or fill official fields when they're present.
Saving and sending
Always save the file after typing — some readers reset fields if you close without saving. Once filled, you can sign the PDF and email it back. If the form has been flattened, your answers become permanent and can't be changed by the next person, which is often what HR or legal teams want.
FAQ
Why won't a PDF let me type in the boxes?
The PDF probably isn't fillable — it's a flat scan or static export. Use a PDF editor to add text on top, or ask the sender for an interactive version with proper fields.
Will my typed answers print?
Yes. Once you've typed into the fields and saved, both the form and your answers print together. The fields look like normal text on paper.
Can I make a fillable PDF myself?
Yes. Most PDF editors let you draw form fields onto an existing page. It's how organisations turn their old paper forms into something people can complete on a laptop.
Got a form to fill in? Drop it into Flint and you can type, tick and sign — no printer needed.