Question 1

Is this safe? Will my documents leave my device?

Accepted Answer

No. Compression happens entirely inside your browser, using your own device's processing power. Your files are never sent to Tern's servers or anyone else's, so your passport, bank statements, or photos stay exactly where you put them.

Question 2

Why 5 MB specifically?

Accepted Answer

ImmiAccount, the government's online visa application system, rejects any single attachment over 5 MB. It's also a common limit for email attachments. If your scan or photo is too large, you'll get a 'file too large' error and won't be able to attach it, which is exactly the problem this tool solves.

Question 3

Will a compressed PDF still be accepted, and does the quality suffer?

Accepted Answer

Compressing a PDF re-renders each page as an image, similar to a high-quality scan, so the text is no longer selectable or searchable. That's fine: the Department accepts scanned documents, and we keep every page as legible as the 5 MB limit allows.

Question 4

What happens when I compress a Word document?

Accepted Answer

It's converted into a clean PDF. Text, headings, lists, and photos are all kept, though elaborate fonts or layouts get simplified in the process. Word files in non-Latin scripts, like Vietnamese, Chinese, or Thai, can't be converted here yet. Export the document as a PDF from Word or Google Docs first, then compress that PDF instead.

Question 5

What file types does this tool support?

Accepted Answer

PDF, JPG, PNG, WebP, and Word documents (.docx). HEIC photos work in Safari; other browsers can't read them yet, so convert to JPG first or use Safari instead.

File too big for ImmiAccount?

Common questions

Is this safe? Will my documents leave my device?

Why 5 MB specifically?

Will a compressed PDF still be accepted, and does the quality suffer?

What happens when I compress a Word document?

What file types does this tool support?