Combining separate PDFs into a single file
Putting separate PDFs into one application file, in the right order
The application page has a single upload box, and under it a line says "Upload all documents as one PDF". What you actually have is four separate files: the front of your ID card, the back, your degree certificate and your transcript. This guide shows how to put them into one document in the right order, and where merging tends to get stuck.
If your documents are still photos, sitting in your gallery as JPG files, they need to become PDFs first; our guide to combining several photos into one PDF covers that. This page is about joining files that are already PDFs.
What order does the reviewer expect?
The technical part of merging takes a few seconds; the real decision is the order. Whoever reviews the application wants to see who you are on the first page and what you are proving on the pages after it. If the job or course advert lists the required documents, follow that list. If it does not, starting with your ID and continuing with the main document the application rests on is the easiest order to read.
If the front and back of your ID are two separate files, keep them together: front first, back immediately after. If the degree certificate lands in between, the reviewer may take the back of the card for a separate document. The table shows how the four-file example lays out in the merged file, assuming a three-page transcript.
| Page | Document | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ID card, front | Who you are is visible at a glance |
| 2 | ID card, back | Continues the front; nothing should come between them |
| 3 | Degree certificate | The main document the application rests on |
| 4-6 | Transcript | Details the degree, so it fits at the end |
How do you get the tool to use your order?
The Merge PDFs tool joins files end to end in the order it sees them in its list, and that list follows the order in which you add files. Pick the front of your ID first; then open the box a second time and pick the back, and it lands below the front in the list. You cannot drag a file up or down the list, but you can remove it with the × next to its name and add it again at the right moment.
If you select everything in one go, your computer's file window decides the order of the list, and that is not always the order you have in mind. The most reliable approach is to number the file names first: 1-id-front, 2-id-back, 3-degree, 4-transcript. Then set the order option to "By file name A-Z". The tool compares the digits in the names as numbers, so file 10 will not jump ahead of file 2.
If the order still comes out wrong, you do not need to start over. Give the merged file to the Rearrange PDF Pages tool and type the new order as page numbers. For example, if the three transcript pages ended up first and your ID starts on page 4, typing 4,5,6,1,2,3 is enough. On its default setting that tool does not delete pages you leave out; it moves them to the end in their old order.
What comes along when you merge, and what stays behind?
Merging does not redraw pages; it moves each page into a new file as it is. Everything you can see on a page therefore arrives unchanged: text stays selectable, signature and stamp images are not compressed a second time, and a landscape page stays landscape. What stays behind is information that belongs to the file as a whole rather than to any page.
Bookmarks are the main example. The clickable list of headings you see in the side panel when you open a long report or a thesis is stored for the whole file, and it does not carry over to the merged document. Properties such as the document title also start out empty in the new file.
Fillable form fields need extra care. If you filled in an application form inside the PDF, your answers usually remain visible on the page after merging, but the boxes no longer work as fillable fields. Finish the form completely and check it before merging, because you will not be able to type into those boxes afterwards.
Digitally signed documents are the most delicate. A digital signature or an organisation's electronic seal is tied to the exact bytes of the file it was applied to, so it will not show as valid in the new merged file. If the organisation wants the signed original, leave that document out of the merge and upload it on its own.
Why won't a locked PDF merge?
Bank statements, some official printouts and documents that arrive as email attachments can be encrypted. The contents of an encrypted PDF are stored scrambled; without the key the pages cannot be read, so they cannot be moved into another file either. When Merge PDFs meets such a file it stops and tells you which file is encrypted, by name.
The surprising part is that a file which never asks for a password can be rejected too. Some documents come with a lock that only restricts printing or copying; your viewer opens them without complaint, yet the file still counts as encrypted. Both cases have the same fix: give the file to the PDF password removal tool. If there is an opening password you type it in; if there are only restrictions, simply leave the password box empty. Add the unlocked copy that comes out to your merge list.
These tools offer no way to open a document whose password you do not know. For such a file, ask whoever sent it to you for a copy without a password.
If the merged file is over the limit
Merging does not make files smaller: the result is roughly the sum of its parts. If both sides of your ID and your certificate were scanned on a phone at high resolution, each one can weigh several megabytes, and the merged file ends up over the form's limit.
In that case, merge first and compress afterwards. When the single merged document goes through the Compress PDF tool, every page is processed with the same setting, so the quality does not change from page to page. If the form names an exact KB or MB limit, use the target-size tool instead; our guide to reducing PDF file size explains how each option affects the text.
One last look before you upload
The tool names the downloaded file merged.pdf. An organisation that receives hundreds of applications will not mix up a file that carries your name, so rename it after downloading and check these four points before uploading.
- Does the page count in the result line match the total of the parts
- Are the front and back of your ID next to each other, and is any page upside down or sideways (if so, fix it with the Rotate PDF pages tool)
- Does the file name say what it is: firstname-lastname-application.pdf rather than merged.pdf
- If you filled in a form inside the PDF, are your answers visible in the merged file
Frequently asked questions
Does merging PDFs reduce the quality?
No. Pages are not redrawn or recompressed; they are moved into the new file as they are. A scanned page is exactly as sharp after merging as it was before.
Can I merge PDFs on my phone?
Yes. The tool runs in the browser, so it works on Android and iPhone without installing an app. You pick the files from the phone's Files app or the Downloads folder; to keep control of the order, add them one at a time in the order you want.
What happens if I add the same document twice by mistake?
The tool does not spot duplicates; a PDF chosen twice has its pages added twice. If the page count in the result line is higher than you expected, check the list. To clean up the merged file, use the Rearrange PDF Pages option that drops pages you leave out, and type only the page numbers you want.
Is there a way to keep the bookmarks?
Not with this tool; merging carries pages only. Bookmarks make long documents easier to navigate, but a few-page application file rarely needs them. If a table of contents is required, prepare one as a separate PDF page and add it at the start of the merge.
Are my documents sent over the internet while merging?
No. The files are merged in your browser's memory and the result downloads straight to your device. Personal papers such as an ID card or a degree certificate never reach a server.
Last updated: October 12, 2026