Help with Fillable Forms

How to Fill in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) Forms

WHAT IS IT?

Fillable PDF forms let you enter your information on-screen instead of completing forms by hand. You are responsible for making sure all the information you provide is complete and accurate.

WHAT SOFTWARE DO I NEED?

Most browsers typically have a built-in PDF viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. If your computer does not have PDF software, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free from the Adobe website.

If you have any trouble downloading Adobe Reader. the Adobe website also offers customer support.

HOW DO I OPEN THE DOCUMENT IN ADOBE?

Once you select the form you need, the document will open in a new browser window where you will be able to fill it in online.

If the form requires a signature, you must save the form to your computer or device and open it using Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader. Follow the steps below:

  1. After you install Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader, click the link to open the form you need. The form will open in a new browser window and must be saved from this page before it can be opened in Adobe.
  2. Click the Save icon to download the file to your device. Save the PDF in a folder you can easily find. Make sure the “Save as type” is set to Adobe Acrobat Document.
  3. After saving, the document may open automatically in Adobe. If it doesn’t, go to the folder where you saved it and open it from there.
  4. Once the document is open in Adobe, you can complete the form.

HOW DO I MOVE IN THE FORM?

There are two ways to begin using the form:

  • Press the "Tab" key on your keyboard to move to the first field.
  • Or use your mouse to click on a field. The cursor may change from a hand to a blinking line.

To move to the next field: press Tab. This helps you move through the form in order, so you do not miss any fields.

To move to a previous field: press Shift+Tab.

You can also click on any field with your mouse to move to it.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY INFORMATION?

To change information you already entered in a field, click on the field or press Tab until you reach it. The text in the field will be selected, and you can type new information to replace it.

HOW DO I USE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL FEATURES?

Check boxes
Some forms have boxes you can check. You can:

  • Use your mouse to click on the box, or
  • Press Tab to move to the box and press the Space Bar. Press Tab again to move to the next field.

To remove the check mark, repeat either step above.

Fields with a limited number or kind of characters
Some fields have a maximum number of characters you can enter. If you require additional space, attach more pages or supporting documents.

Dates
Many forms show the date format you should use. If a form does not give a format, use dd/mm/yyyy or written in full to avoid confusion.

Example: 29/09/2025 or 29 September 2025.

HOW DO I SIGN THE FORM?

Some forms require a digital signature before they can be submitted.

To Add a Digital Signature

  1. Click the signature box. A “Sign with Digital ID” window will appear.
  2. If you already have a Digital ID/signature saved to your device, select it and choose “Continue”
  3. If you do not have a Digital ID, select “Configure New Digital ID” and follow the on-screen steps. You can also go to “All Tools” → “Use a certificate” to create your Digital ID.

HOW DO I SUBMIT THE FORM?

  1. Review the form to make sure all required fields are filled out and the information is correct.
  2. Once the form is fully completed and signed (if required), submit the form by following its instructions:
    • If the form has a Submit button, click it to open an email with the form attached and send it.
    • If there is no Submit button, print the form and submit it in person or using another method listed in the form’s instructions.

HOW DO I PRINT THE FORM?

If printing is required:

  • Use the Print button on the form for best results. Follow the instructions in the Print window. You can print the entire form or selected pages.
  • You may also select "File" →"Print” or click the Print icon in the Reader toolbar.
    Note: If you use this method, click outside the any form field first. If a field is active (blinking cursor), it may not print correctly
  • Print and sign the form.
  • Remember to photocopy or print another copy for your own records.
  • Mail, fax or drop-off your completed form according to the form’s instructions.

HOW CAN I GET MORE HELP?

Some forms include instructions or information pages, either as links or within the form. Open these for more details on how to complete the form.