PDF/A Standard Explained: How to Archive Legal Documents for 50+ Years

# PDF/A Standard Explained: How to Archive Legal Documents for 50+ Years Standard PDF files can become unreadable or render differently over decades when external font dependencies change or audio/video plugins become obsolete. To solve this, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created **PDF/A (ISO 19005)**. --- ## 1. Core Rules of PDF/A Compliance * **100% Embedded Fonts:** All character glyphs must be stored internally. * **No Dynamic Scripts:** JavaScript, form calculations, and active macros are strictly prohibited. * **Device-Independent Color:** Color spaces must be defined with ICC profiles (such as sRGB or CMYK). * **No Encryption:** Password locks are prohibited to ensure future archivists can read the file without lost keys. --- ## 2. How to Convert to PDF/A on HoudiniPDF 1. Visit **[PDF to PDF/A](/pdf-to-pdfa)**. 2. Upload your standard PDF. 3. Click **Convert to PDF/A Standard**. 4. Download your ISO-compliant document ready for submission to government portals and long-term storage.