How to Make One PDF of All Your Documents for an Online Application
Many online applications ask you to upload your documents — degrees, mark sheets, ID card, experience letters — as one single PDF, often with a size limit like 2 MB or 5 MB. If your documents are paper copies, photos on your phone and a CV in Word, putting them together can feel confusing.
Here is a simple process that works with just a phone or a computer and free tools — no scanner and no paid software.
Step 1: Take clear photos of each document
You don't need a scanner. A phone camera works well if you follow a few rules:
- Put the paper on a dark, flat surface so the edges are easy to see.
- Use daylight or a bright room, and avoid your own shadow over the page.
- Hold the phone straight above the page, not at an angle.
- Take one photo per page and make sure all four corners are visible.
- Crop away the table around the page in your gallery app.
Tip: before you start, check the order the form wants — for example CNIC first, then education documents from newest to oldest, then experience letters.
Step 2: Turn the photos into a PDF
- Open Image to PDF.
- Select all the document photos. JPG, PNG, WebP and iPhone HEIC are all accepted.
- Arrange them in the right order.
- Download the PDF.
The photos are converted inside your browser, so your ID card and certificates are not uploaded to any server.
Step 3: Convert your CV from Word to PDF
If your CV or cover letter is a Word file (.docx), convert it with Word to PDF. A PDF keeps your layout exactly as you designed it, on every computer.
Step 4: Merge everything into one file
- Open Merge PDF.
- Add your CV PDF and the documents PDF.
- Drag them into the correct order.
- Download the merged file.
Merging copies pages exactly as they are, so there is no loss of quality.
Step 5: Remove extra pages if needed
Uploaded a blank back side or a duplicate page by mistake? Use Split PDF to extract only the pages you need, then merge again.
How to keep the PDF under the size limit
Most of a document PDF's size comes from the photos inside it. If the merged PDF is too big:
- Compress the photos before Step 2. Run them through the image compressor at around 60–70% quality with a maximum width of about 1600 px. Text stays readable, and the PDF becomes much smaller.
- Don't use screenshots. Screenshots of documents are often larger and less sharp than the original photos.
- Upload only what is asked for. Extra certificates add size and can make the application harder to review.
Final checklist before you upload
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Every page is readable when you zoom in | Blurry documents can lead to rejection. |
| Pages are in the order the form asks for | Reviewers look for documents in a set order. |
| File size is under the limit | Most upload systems reject the file outright if it is too big. |
| File name is clear (e.g. Ahmed-Khan-Documents.pdf) | Makes your file easy to identify. |
| Nothing private that isn't required | Only share the documents the form asks for. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I do all of this on my phone?
Yes. All the tools in this guide work in a mobile browser, and the files stay on your phone.
Is a phone photo acceptable instead of a scanner?
For most online applications, yes — as long as the page is flat, well lit and fully readable. If a form specifically asks for colour scans or a certain resolution, follow its instructions.
What if the form wants each document separately?
Skip the merge step and create one PDF per document with Image to PDF instead.