You're saving an important document and your software offers 'PDF/A' as an option. It looks like a regular PDF — so what's the /A doing there? Short answer: it's the archive-grade version, designed to still open correctly in fifty years' time.
Built for the long haul
PDF/A is a stricter sub-format of PDF, defined in the ISO 19005 standard. The rules are simple: everything the document needs to display — fonts, colour profiles, images — must live inside the file itself. No external links, no fonts that might disappear. It's a self-contained time capsule, which is why national archives and courts insist on it.
What it can't include
PDF/A bans things that might break down the road: audio, video, JavaScript, and references to outside files. That's why you can't always save a fancy interactive form as PDF/A. The trade-off is reliability — by stripping the fragile bits, the file stays readable for decades. Regular PDFs are fine for everyday use; PDF/A is for keepsakes.
When you'll meet one
Government departments, hospitals and law firms often require PDF/A for records they must keep for years. If a portal asks for one and your PDF isn't compliant, you may need to re-export it. Once saved, you can still merge, sign or protect it like any other PDF.
FAQ
Is PDF/A different to open?
No — every PDF reader opens PDF/A files identically. The differences are under the bonnet: stricter rules about what the file is allowed to contain.
Can I convert a regular PDF to PDF/A?
Yes, most PDF editors offer a 'Save as PDF/A' option. The tool checks for forbidden content (like external links) and embeds anything missing, like fonts.
Do I need PDF/A for everyday files?
No. Use it when an organisation specifically asks, or when you're storing something for the long term — like a property deed, a thesis, or legal correspondence.
Got a PDF/A file in hand? Flint opens it like any other PDF and gives you the full toolkit without breaking compliance.