Many forms and portals accept only a single PDF: job applications, visa and university applications, insurance claims, expense reports and tenders. Combine your cover letter, forms, certificates and scans into one document in the right order, and upload that.
A typical example
| Order | File | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | cover-letter.pdf |
1 |
| 2 | cv.pdf |
2 |
| 3 | certificates-scan.pdf |
4 |
| 4 | references.pdf |
2 |
| Combined PDF | 9 |
Add all files at once, check the first-page previews, and move them with the arrow buttons until the order is right. The file list shows the page count of each PDF and the total, so you can check it against what the portal expects.
Before you combine
- Remove pages you do not need with Split PDF to keep the final file small.
- Turn photos into PDF first with Photo to PDF, then combine them with your other documents.
- Check page sizes: A4 and US Letter pages can be mixed. Every page keeps its own size.
A checklist for application portals
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Order matches the portal’s instructions | Reviewers often expect a fixed order, such as form first, then ID, then certificates |
| Total size is under the limit | Limits of 2, 5 or 10 MB are common; the combined file is about the sum of the inputs |
| Scans are upright and readable | Rotate or rescan sideways pages before combining |
| No password on any file | Protected PDFs cannot be added |
| File name is clear | merged.pdf tells the reviewer nothing |
If the combined file is too large
Scanned pages are usually what makes a combined PDF big. Try these in order:
- Leave out pages that are not required, such as blank backs of scanned sheets.
- Run the combined file through Compress PDF.
What stays the same
Pages are copied as they are, so text stays selectable, signatures and stamps stay sharp, and nothing is turned into images. Bookmarks from the original files are not carried over, and fillable fields in complex forms may stop working, so fill in and flatten forms before you combine them.
Combining happens in your browser, so CVs, passports and bank statements are never uploaded.