PDF/A TWG

Background

The PDF/A Technical Working Group (TWG) is a collaborative organization of developers leveraging the TWG’s resources to share their knowledge and experience of PDF/A technology in a vendor-neutral space. This community also oversees the ISO 16684 series of XMP standards, which play a crucial role in many PDF standards including PDF/A.

Why PDF/A?

Guaranteed access to content: PDF/A ensures that documents may be reproduced in the unforeseeable future.
All documents accepted: Electronic or paper source; it doesn’t matter. Almost any document can become PDF/A-compliant.
An International Standard: ISO 19005 (PDF/A) is managed by the international community in an open and democratic process.
Conformance may be validated: PDF/A conformance imposes stringent technical requirements. A wide variety of vendors produce tools for checking and correcting documents to ensure they meet PDF/A standards.
Better for business and the environment: As “electronic paper” PDF/A enables better document workflows, reduces waste and carbon emissions and improves overall efficiency.

Objective

The PDF/A TWG reviews and resolves questions regarding existing PDF/A standards while addressing novel subjects raised by its members.

Status

As of Q4 2025 key subjects currently under discussion include, but are not limited to:

Addressing issues related to PDF/A
Resolving disagreement between different PDF/A validators

Accomplishments

Published Best Practice Guide, “Conforming to both PDF/A and PDF/UA“
Published XMP Extension Schema Templates
Published “Understanding private data in PDF/A”
Clarified the requirements for Relax-NG schema in PDF/A-4
Assisted ISO/ TC 171/SC 2/WG 5 to prepare a new dated revision of ISO 19005-4

How to participate in the Working Group

It’s possible to participate in the Working Group without attending meetings!

The Working Group’s activities are centered on a private GitHub repository.
Working group members may attend the working group’s online meetings – currently once every month on the second Monday of the month, 1705–1800 CET / 1105–1200 ET / 0805–0900 PT, or review meeting notes and recordings of previous calls.

The PDF/A TWG is open to all PDF Association Individual, Division, Full, Partner and Institutional members.