How do I combine three months of payslips into one PDF?

Unlock each payslip if it is password-protected, then add them to Merge PDFs oldest first and download the combined file.

Can I remove the password from my payslip before uploading it?

Yes, if it is your payslip and you know the password. Unlock PDF removes it in your browser without sending the file or password anywhere.

Should I redact my salary or account number before sending documents to HR?

Only if HR or the verification agency has said a redacted copy is acceptable. Many checks need those details, and an altered document can cause problems.

Are my documents uploaded to mypdf.space?

No. Unlocking, merging, compressing and checking all run in your browser.

How to prepare job application and onboarding documents as PDFs

By SumitPublished 12 Oct 20264 min readJob seekers

Short answer

Make one PDF per document type (education, previous employment, payslips, ID and address proof), in the order the HR checklist lists them. Unlock password-protected payslips with Unlock PDF, merge multi-page sets with Merge PDFs, and compress each file to the portal’s limit, for example with compress to 1 MB. Then check each PDF for hidden data before it goes to someone else’s system.

Once an offer comes through, the paperwork starts: background verification forms, onboarding portals, a request for “last three months’ payslips and your relieving letter”. These are some of the most personal documents you own, and they usually go into a third-party verification system.

This guide is about that document set. For the resume itself, see getting a resume PDF under 1 MB and combining a resume and cover letter.

One file per document type

Verification teams check documents against a list. A single 40-page PDF containing everything makes their job harder and makes it more likely something gets marked missing. One file per category, named after the category, is easiest for everyone:

Education: degree certificate and final mark sheets, merged in order.
Previous employment: offer letter, relieving or experience letter.
Payslips: the months requested, oldest first, in one file.
Identity and address: whatever the checklist names, one document per file.

Preparing the document set

1
Get the HR or verification checklist and note each document, the file type, and any size limit.
2
Gather the files. Payslips and offer letters downloaded from an employer portal are usually already PDFs; certificates may need scanning with Scan to PDF.
3
Unlock any password-protected PDFs, typically payslips and bank statements, with Unlock PDF. You need the password you were given.
4
Combine documents that belong together, such as three months of payslips, into one file with Merge PDFs.
5
Compress each file to the portal’s limit. Downloaded payslips are often tiny already; scanned certificates are what usually need it.
6
Run each file through the hidden data check and fix anything it finds.
7
Upload through the official portal rather than email where you can, and keep a copy of exactly what you sent.

Password-protected payslips

Many payroll systems email payslips as password-protected PDFs. HR portals often can’t open them, and verification agencies may bounce them back. Unlock each one with the password you were given, merge them, and send the unlocked copy through the portal.

Unlocking happens in your browser; neither the file nor the password is sent anywhere. Only unlock documents that are yours.

Open Unlock PDF

What to check before HR gets it

Documents you’ve edited or that came from templates can carry more than you see on the page:

Document properties. A file’s author field might show a previous employer’s name or someone else’s. Remove metadata clears it.
Old edits. A letter that was edited by covering text with white boxes still contains the original text underneath.
Personal details you don’t need to share. If a document shows a bank account number or national ID that the checklist doesn’t ask for, you can ask whether a redacted copy is acceptable. Don’t redact anything that’s required for verification.

Getting under the portal’s limit

HR portals often allow 1 MB to 5 MB per file. Payslips exported from payroll systems are usually far below that. Scanned degree certificates and merged mark sheets are the ones that go over.

Use the 1 MB or 2 MB pages, which set a target just under the limit. For text documents, the compressor’s first lossless pass usually fits without any visible change.

Limits worth knowing

Unlocking needs the password; there’s no way to recover a forgotten one.
The hidden-data check is a best-effort review, not a guarantee that a file is clean.
Don’t redact anything a verification checklist requires.
Portal limits and accepted formats vary by employer and verification provider.

Tools used in this guide

Frequently asked questions

How do I combine three months of payslips into one PDF?
Unlock each payslip if it is password-protected, then add them to Merge PDFs oldest first and download the combined file.
Can I remove the password from my payslip before uploading it?
Yes, if it is your payslip and you know the password. Unlock PDF removes it in your browser without sending the file or password anywhere.
Should I redact my salary or account number before sending documents to HR?
Only if HR or the verification agency has said a redacted copy is acceptable. Many checks need those details, and an altered document can cause problems.
Are my documents uploaded to mypdf.space?
No. Unlocking, merging, compressing and checking all run in your browser.