Answereda year ago

How can I merge multiple scans into a single PDF file under 3MB for my visa application?

Visa Application Document Submission PDF Merging File Compression Expat Tips

asked Oct 8, 2025

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Hi! I just got a request to add some documents to my application: all the pages of my current + previous passport (i recently renewed it because all the pages of the previous one where full).

I have been trying now for 3 hours to merge all the scans in a PDF that is less than 3MB and it looks impossible.

Please help me if you know how to do this! I am desperate.

Answer summary

A user seeks help to merge scans of their current and previous passport into a single PDF under 3MB for a visa application. After several failed attempts, they received various suggestions from community members, including using online tools like I Love PDF and CamScanner. One user successfully reduced their file size by converting PDF scans into JPGs, resizing them, and then merging and compressing them back into a PDF.

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Anonymous *************

Thanks to everyone for the tips!!! I tell you what I did.

Compressing was not working because it is a total of 35 scans.

The process I was doing and was not working was: scan with Notes-convert into PDF-merge PDFs (adding a cover google docs explaining what is in the PDF) and then it was 17 MB. 😝

Impossible to compress.

SO: I did this: take every single PDF scan and convert into JPG. Then reduce the size of each single jpg to 900px width- then take them all and convert into PDF again. Then merge into a pdf then compress it.

🤪

And it is 3MB.

All with ilovepdf.

You have no idea of the level of stress haha.

Thanks again to you all. Will keep u updated with my visa resolution and process!

a year ago

Philip ******

Anonymous participant brilliant news and well done 👍🏼

a year ago

Anonymous *************

@Philip *****

oh thank you so much

a year ago

Philip ******

Anonymous participant I am too, struggled and was stressed beyond measures 😆😂 so I know what you went through! All the best for your application 🤞🏼

a year ago

David *******

Another vote for I Love PDF. I use it a lot in many applications

a year ago

Philip ******

I used CamScanner, scanned everything with my phone and compressed everything in a document with the ilovepdf tool on my laptop.

a year ago

Greg ********

Compress using tools you can find at ilovepdf.com

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

@Greg *******

Great tip, technology can scare me sometimes but I just tested this and even a child could use it.

Now all I need is to get the documents in the first place but I got this aspect covered.

a year ago

Philip ******

@Greg *******

this worked like a charm for me!

a year ago

GenesisFritz **************

All your scan you can merge all via Adobe Acrobat if you don't have put in PowerPoint, change the settings of the pixels during the save as

a year ago