To compress a PDF to 200 KB, open the scan and keep PDF and the 200 KB target selected. Choose 500 KB, 1 MB or another available target if the recipient permits it. Check the saved file size and readable details; processing is free and stays in your browser.
How to compress a PDF to 200 KB
- Open the scanned PDF or photo of your passport, driving licence or other document. Check the crop and rotate it upright if necessary.
- Keep PDF and 200 KB selected, or choose the recipient's actual ceiling in Maximum size. The available targets run from 100 KB to 5 MB.
- Check the output size and required details, then download. Reopen the saved copy before sending it.
A detailed scan may not fit below 200 KB at a readable quality. If the target is out of reach, the tool shows the smallest result it made. Choose 500 KB or 1 MB when accepted, or ask for another submission route. Do not send an unreadable passport number, address or photograph merely to reach a target.
The form sets the file limit
There is no UK-wide attachment limit for identity evidence. A 200 KB target here means 200,000 bytes; 500 KB means 500,000 bytes. Check the number next to the upload field or in the recipient's instructions each time.
A subject access request is one example. The ICO's helper lists passport or driving licence copies for identity and separate address evidence. It does not set a universal 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB ceiling. Check the organisation's own process and keep separately requested attachments separate.
For requested licence sides on one A4 sheet, use Photo to PDF before compressing. The tool makes a personal sharing copy rather than an official digital identity.
Readable copies and unchanged originals
Open JPG, PNG, supported HEIC or PDF up to 25 MB. Only the first ten PDF pages are processed. The exported PDF contains page images and loses selectable text, digital signatures and interactive fields. Keep the issued original when those properties matter.
Compression redraws pages as images. Use it for sharing copies of scans rather than an original whose text, form fields or signatures must survive. Processing stays in your browser, without a document upload or account. The source stays unchanged and the download excludes camera metadata.
You can hide agreed unnecessary details or label an accepted copy first, then compress the final version. The UK ID-sharing guide helps assess a separate request for identity evidence.
Common questions
How do I compress a PDF to 200 KB for free?
Open the scan, keep PDF and 200 KB selected, and inspect the output size and readable details before downloading. If the target cannot be reached, the tool shows the smallest result it made.
Can I choose 500 KB or 1 MB instead?
Yes. Select the target the recipient allows. A larger target may keep small text clearer; the available targets run from 100 KB to 5 MB.
Must subject access evidence be under 200 KB?
No. The ICO helper does not impose that ceiling. Follow the organisation's own attachment instructions and check that the saved evidence remains readable.
Will the smaller PDF keep text and digital signatures?
No. The exported PDF contains page images and loses selectable text, interactive fields and digital signatures. Keep the issued original when those properties are required.
Are all pages of a long PDF processed?
Only the first ten PDF pages are processed. Check the download's page count and use a different workflow for a longer document that needs every page.
Is my document uploaded to compress it?
No. It is processed in your browser on your device, without an account or document upload.
