PDF Ready

When 1 MB is useful

  • The portal sets a 1 MB cap and does not provide more room.
  • A 500 KB copy is technically under size but not readable enough.
  • You want a conservative GENERAL target before trying a larger path.

What changes compared with sub-1 MB targets

  • Photos, stamps, and small text have more room to survive.
  • Multi-page documents may still be difficult depending on scan quality.
  • OCR or PDF/A-2b can still increase size and should be enabled only when needed.

PDF Ready workflow

  • Import or scan the document.
  • Choose 1 MB in GENERAL.
  • Review size, warnings, and readability before clean export.

When to move up to 2 MB

  • If the destination allows 2 MB, use it for better readability.
  • If the document has multiple image-heavy pages, 1 MB may be too aggressive.
  • If the portal is CEAC or an IRCC path, use the matching page instead of guessing.

Next steps

Related PDF Ready guides

FAQ

Common questions

Is 1 MB safer than 500 KB?

Usually yes for readability, if the destination allows it. Always use the real upload limit.

Can I use OCR and still stay under 1 MB?

Sometimes, but OCR can increase file size. Turn it on only when searchable text is needed.

What if my PDF is already under 1 MB?

Review compatibility and readability. You may not need to prepare a smaller copy unless the portal rejects the original.

Ready on Android

Prepare your PDF before upload

Install PDF Ready, prepare the document, review the result, and export the clean copy only when it is ready.

Install PDF Ready on Google Play

Note: PDF Ready prepares PDFs for upload workflows, but a destination can reject a PDF for reasons beyond file size.