diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0f72bb6de..8ffc22ac9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ jobs:
         path: dist
     - name: Install Dependencies
       run: |
-        sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --yes pandoc texlive-xetex librsvg2-bin
+        sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --yes pandoc texlive-latex-base texlive-latex-extra texlive-luatex librsvg2-bin
         pandoc --version
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
         python -m pip --version
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ jobs:
         path: dist
     - name: Install Dependencies
       run: |
-        sudo apt-get update && sudo apt install --yes pandoc texlive-xetex librsvg2-bin
+        sudo apt-get update && sudo apt install --yes pandoc texlive-latex-base texlive-latex-extra texlive-luatex librsvg2-bin
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
     - name: Install rdmo[postgres] from wheel and start postgresql
       run: |
diff --git a/rdmo/core/pandoc.py b/rdmo/core/pandoc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2882fdb4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rdmo/core/pandoc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+from tempfile import mkstemp
+
+from django.apps import apps
+from django.conf import settings
+
+import pypandoc
+from packaging.version import Version
+from packaging.version import parse as parse_version
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def get_pandoc_version():
+    return parse_version(pypandoc.get_pandoc_version())
+
+
+def get_pandoc_content(html, metadata, export_format, context):
+    pandoc_args = get_pandoc_args(export_format, context)
+
+    if metadata:
+        # create a temporary file for the metadata
+        (metadata_tmp_fd, metadata_tmp_file_name) = mkstemp(suffix='.json')
+
+        # save metadata
+        log.info('Save metadata file %s %s', metadata_tmp_file_name, str(metadata))
+        with open(metadata_tmp_file_name, 'w') as fp:
+            json.dump(metadata, fp)
+
+        # add metadata file to pandoc args
+        pandoc_args.append('--metadata-file=' + metadata_tmp_file_name)
+
+    # create a temporary file
+    (tmp_fd, tmp_file_name) = mkstemp(f'.{export_format}')
+
+    # convert the file using pandoc
+    log.info('Export %s document using args %s.', export_format, pandoc_args)
+    html = re.sub(
+        r'(<img.+src=["\'])' + settings.STATIC_URL + r'([\w\-\@?^=%&/~\+#]+)', r'\g<1>' +
+        str(Path(settings.STATIC_ROOT)) + r'/\g<2>', html
+    )
+    pypandoc.convert_text(html, export_format, format='html', outputfile=tmp_file_name, extra_args=pandoc_args)
+
+    # read the created temporary file
+    with open(tmp_file_name, 'rb') as fp:
+        pandoc_content = fp.read()
+
+    # delete temporary files
+    if metadata:
+        os.remove(metadata_tmp_file_name)
+    os.remove(tmp_file_name)
+
+    return pandoc_content
+
+
+def get_pandoc_content_disposition(export_format, title):
+    if export_format == 'pdf':
+        # display pdf in browser
+        return f'filename="{title}.{export_format}"'
+    else:
+        return f'attachment; filename="{title}.{export_format}"'
+
+
+def get_pandoc_args(export_format, context):
+    pandoc_version = get_pandoc_version()
+    pandoc_args = list(settings.EXPORT_PANDOC_ARGS.get(export_format, []))  # without list(), settings would be changed
+
+    if export_format == 'pdf':
+        # we used xelatex before pandoc 3
+        if pandoc_version < Version('3'):
+            pandoc_args = [
+                arg.replace('--pdf-engine=lualatex', '--pdf-engine=xelatex')
+                for arg in pandoc_args
+            ]
+
+    elif export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
+        # find and add a possible reference document
+        reference_document = get_pandoc_reference_document(export_format, context)
+        if reference_document:
+            if pandoc_version >= Version('2'):
+                pandoc_args.append(f'--reference-doc={reference_document}')
+            else:
+                pandoc_args.append(f'--reference-{export_format}={reference_document}')
+
+    # add STATIC_ROOT and possible additional resource paths
+    if pandoc_version >= Version('2'):
+        pandoc_args.append(f'--resource-path={settings.STATIC_ROOT}')
+        if 'resource_path' in context:
+            resource_path = Path(settings.MEDIA_ROOT) / context['resource_path']
+            pandoc_args.append(f'--resource-path={resource_path}')
+
+    return pandoc_args
+
+
+def get_pandoc_reference_document(export_format, context):
+    # collect all configured reference documents
+    reference_documents = get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, context)
+
+    # return the first reference document that actually exists
+    for reference_document in reference_documents:
+        if reference_document and reference_document.exists():
+            return Path(reference_document)
+
+
+def get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, context):
+    # try to get the view and its uri from the context, if it is not set, the current url should be project_answers
+    try:
+        view = context['view']
+        view_uri = view.uri
+    except (KeyError, AttributeError):
+        view_uri = None
+
+    reference_documents = []
+
+    if export_format == 'odt':
+        # append view specific custom reference document
+        if view_uri and view_uri in settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT_VIEWS:
+            reference_documents.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT_VIEWS[view_uri])
+
+        # append generic custom reference document
+        if settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT:
+            reference_documents.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT)
+
+        # append the default reference document
+        reference_documents.append(Path(apps.get_app_config('rdmo').path) / 'share' / 'reference.odt')
+
+    elif export_format == 'docx':
+        # append view specific custom reference document
+        if view_uri and view_uri in settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX_VIEWS:
+            reference_documents.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX_VIEWS[view_uri])
+
+        # append generic custom reference document
+        if settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX:
+            reference_documents.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX)
+
+        # append the default reference document
+        reference_documents.append(Path(apps.get_app_config('rdmo').path) / 'share' / 'reference.docx')
+
+    return reference_documents
diff --git a/rdmo/core/settings.py b/rdmo/core/settings.py
index 7f803d29a..5b59dbfac 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/settings.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/settings.py
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX = None
 
 EXPORT_PANDOC_ARGS = {
-    'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=xelatex'],
+    'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=lualatex'],
     'rtf': ['--standalone']
 }
 
diff --git a/rdmo/core/tests/test_pandoc.py b/rdmo/core/tests/test_pandoc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..924520937
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rdmo/core/tests/test_pandoc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from django.apps import apps
+
+from packaging.version import Version
+
+from ..pandoc import get_pandoc_args, get_pandoc_reference_document, get_pandoc_reference_documents, get_pandoc_version
+
+rdmo_path = Path(apps.get_app_config('rdmo').path)
+testing_path = rdmo_path.parent / 'testing'
+
+pandoc_versions = [
+    '1.9.0',
+    '2.0.0',
+    '3.0.0',
+    '3.5.0'
+]
+
+export_formats = [
+    'rtf',
+    'odt',
+    'docx',
+    'html',
+    'markdown',
+    'tex',
+    'pdf'
+]
+
+pandoc_args_map = {
+    '1.9.0': {
+        'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=xelatex'],
+        'rtf': ['--standalone'],
+        'docx': [f'--reference-docx={rdmo_path}/share/reference.docx'],
+        'odt': [f'--reference-odt={rdmo_path}/share/reference.odt'],
+        'other': []
+    },
+    '2.0.0': {
+        'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=xelatex',
+                f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'rtf': ['--standalone', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'docx': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.docx', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'odt': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.odt', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'other': [f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root']
+    },
+    '3.0.0': {
+        'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=lualatex',
+                f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'rtf': ['--standalone', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'docx': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.docx', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'odt': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.odt', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'other': [f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root']
+    },
+    '3.5.0': {
+        'pdf': ['-V', 'geometry:a4paper, margin=1in', '--pdf-engine=lualatex',
+                f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'rtf': ['--standalone', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'docx': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.docx', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'odt': [f'--reference-doc={rdmo_path}/share/reference.odt', f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root'],
+        'other': [f'--resource-path={testing_path}/static_root']
+    }
+}
+
+class MockedView:
+    uri = 'http://example.com/terms/views/view'
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('pandoc_version', pandoc_versions)
+def test_get_pandoc_version(mocker, pandoc_version):
+    mocker.patch('pypandoc.get_pandoc_version', return_value=pandoc_version)
+    assert get_pandoc_version() == Version(pandoc_version)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('pandoc_version', pandoc_versions)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('export_format', export_formats)
+def test_get_pandoc_args(settings, mocker, pandoc_version, export_format):
+    mocker.patch('pypandoc.get_pandoc_version', return_value=pandoc_version)
+
+    assert get_pandoc_args(export_format, {}) == \
+        pandoc_args_map[pandoc_version].get(export_format, pandoc_args_map[pandoc_version]['other'])
+
+
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_document(mocker):
+    mocker.patch('rdmo.core.pandoc.get_pandoc_reference_documents', return_value=[
+        rdmo_path / 'share' / 'missing.docx',
+        rdmo_path / 'share' / 'reference.docx',
+        rdmo_path / 'share' / 'reference.odt'
+    ])
+
+    # return the first existing file
+    assert get_pandoc_reference_document('other', {}) == rdmo_path / 'share' / 'reference.docx'
+
+
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_document_missing(mocker):
+    mocker.patch('rdmo.core.pandoc.get_pandoc_reference_documents', return_value=[
+        rdmo_path / 'share' / 'missing.docx',
+        rdmo_path / 'share' / 'missing.odt'
+    ])
+
+    assert get_pandoc_reference_document('other', {}) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('export_format', export_formats)
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format):
+    rdmo_path = Path(apps.get_app_config('rdmo').path)
+
+    reference_documents = get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, {})
+
+    if export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
+        assert reference_documents == [rdmo_path / 'share' / f'reference.{export_format}']
+    else:
+        assert reference_documents == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('export_format', export_formats)
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_documents_view(export_format):
+    reference_documents = get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, {'view': MockedView()})
+
+    if export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
+        assert reference_documents == [rdmo_path / 'share' / f'reference.{export_format}']
+    else:
+        assert reference_documents == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('export_format', export_formats)
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_documents_view_settings(settings, export_format):
+    mock_file = rdmo_path / 'share' / f'mock.{export_format}'
+
+    if export_format == 'docx':
+        settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX_VIEWS = {'http://example.com/terms/views/view': mock_file}
+    elif export_format == 'odt':
+        settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT_VIEWS = {'http://example.com/terms/views/view': mock_file}
+
+    reference_documents = get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, {'view': MockedView()})
+
+    if export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
+        assert reference_documents == [mock_file, rdmo_path / 'share' / f'reference.{export_format}']
+    else:
+        assert reference_documents == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('export_format', export_formats)
+def test_get_pandoc_reference_documents_settings(settings, export_format):
+    mock_file = rdmo_path / 'share' / f'mock.{export_format}'
+
+    if export_format == 'docx':
+        settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX = mock_file
+    elif export_format == 'odt':
+        settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT = mock_file
+
+    reference_documents = get_pandoc_reference_documents(export_format, {})
+
+    if export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
+        assert reference_documents == [mock_file, rdmo_path / 'share' / f'reference.{export_format}']
+    else:
+        assert reference_documents == []
diff --git a/rdmo/core/utils.py b/rdmo/core/utils.py
index 0813b05c7..a1ea1b319 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/utils.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/utils.py
@@ -4,21 +4,19 @@
 import os
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
-from tempfile import mkstemp
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
-from django.apps import apps
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.http import Http404, HttpResponse, HttpResponseBadRequest
 from django.template.loader import get_template
 from django.utils.encoding import force_str
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
-import pypandoc
 from defusedcsv import csv
 from markdown import markdown
 
 from .constants import HUMAN2BYTES_MAPPER
+from .pandoc import get_pandoc_content, get_pandoc_content_disposition
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -58,29 +56,6 @@ def get_uri_prefix(obj):
     return r
 
 
-def get_pandoc_main_version():
-    try:
-        return int(pypandoc.get_pandoc_version().split('.')[0])
-    except OSError:
-        return None
-
-
-def pandoc_version_at_least(required_version):
-    required = [int(x) for x in required_version.split('.')]
-    installed = [int(x) for x in pypandoc.get_pandoc_version().split('.')]
-    for idx, digit in enumerate(installed):
-        try:
-            req = required[idx]
-        except IndexError:
-            return True
-        else:
-            if digit < req:
-                return False
-            if digit > req:
-                return True
-    return True
-
-
 def join_url(base, *args):
     url = base
     for arg in args:
@@ -157,52 +132,6 @@ def get_language_warning(obj, field):
     return False
 
 
-def set_export_reference_document(format, context):
-    # try to get the view uri from the context
-    try:
-        view = context['view']
-        view_uri = view.uri
-    except (AttributeError, KeyError, TypeError):
-        view_uri = None
-
-    refdocs = []
-
-    if format == 'odt':
-        # append view specific custom refdoc
-        try:
-            refdocs.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT_VIEWS[view_uri])
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-        # append custom refdoc
-        if settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT:
-            refdocs.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_ODT)
-
-    elif format == 'docx':
-        # append view specific custom refdoc
-        try:
-            refdocs.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX_VIEWS[view_uri])
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-        # append custom refdoc
-        if settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX:
-            refdocs.append(settings.EXPORT_REFERENCE_DOCX)
-
-    # append the default reference docs
-    refdocs.append(
-        os.path.join(
-            apps.get_app_config('rdmo').path,
-            'share', 'reference' + '.' + format
-        )
-    )
-
-    # return the first file in refdocs that actually exists
-    for refdoc in refdocs:
-        if os.path.isfile(refdoc):
-            return refdoc
-
-
 def render_to_format(request, export_format, title, template_src, context):
     if export_format not in dict(settings.EXPORT_FORMATS):
         return HttpResponseBadRequest(_('This format is not supported.'))
@@ -221,68 +150,11 @@ def render_to_format(request, export_format, title, template_src, context):
         response['Content-Disposition'] = f'filename="{title}.{export_format}"'
 
     else:
-        pandoc_args = settings.EXPORT_PANDOC_ARGS.get(export_format, [])
-        content_disposition = f'attachment; filename="{title}.{export_format}"'
-
-        if export_format == 'pdf':
-            # check pandoc version (the pdf arg changed to version 2)
-            if get_pandoc_main_version() == 1:
-                pandoc_args = [arg.replace(
-                    '--pdf-engine=xelatex', '--latex-engine=xelatex'
-                ) for arg in pandoc_args]
-
-            # display pdf in browser
-            content_disposition = f'filename="{title}.{export_format}"'
-
-        # use reference document for certain file formats
-        refdoc = set_export_reference_document(export_format, context)
-        if refdoc is not None and export_format in ['docx', 'odt']:
-            # check pandoc version (the args changed to version 2)
-            if get_pandoc_main_version() == 1:
-                pandoc_args.append(f'--reference-{export_format}={refdoc}')
-            else:
-                pandoc_args.append(f'--reference-doc={refdoc}')
-
-        # add the possible resource-path
-        if pandoc_version_at_least("2") is True:
-            pandoc_args.append(f'--resource-path={settings.STATIC_ROOT}')
-            if 'resource_path' in context:
-                resource_path = Path(settings.MEDIA_ROOT).joinpath(context['resource_path'])
-                pandoc_args.append(f'--resource-path={resource_path}')
-
-        # create a temporary file
-        (tmp_fd, tmp_filename) = mkstemp('.' + export_format)
-
-        # add metadata
-        tmp_metadata_file = None
-        if metadata is not None and pandoc_version_at_least("2.3") is True:
-            tmp_metadata_file = save_metadata(metadata)
-            pandoc_args.append('--metadata-file=' + tmp_metadata_file)
-
-        # convert the file using pandoc
-        log.info('Export %s document using args %s.', export_format, pandoc_args)
-        html = re.sub(
-            r'(<img.+src=["\'])' + settings.STATIC_URL + r'([\w\-\@?^=%&/~\+#]+)', r'\g<1>' +
-            str(Path(settings.STATIC_ROOT)) + r'/\g<2>', html
-        )
-        pypandoc.convert_text(
-            html, export_format, format='html',
-            outputfile=tmp_filename, extra_args=pandoc_args
-        )
-
-        # read the temporary file
-        file_handler = os.fdopen(tmp_fd, 'rb')
-        file_content = file_handler.read()
-        file_handler.close()
+        pandoc_content = get_pandoc_content(html, metadata, export_format, context)
+        pandoc_content_disposition = get_pandoc_content_disposition(export_format, title)
 
-        # delete temporary files
-        if tmp_metadata_file is not None:
-            os.remove(tmp_metadata_file)
-        os.remove(tmp_filename)
-
-        # create the response object
-        response = HttpResponse(file_content, content_type=f'application/{export_format}')
-        response['Content-Disposition'] = content_disposition.encode('utf-8')
+        response = HttpResponse(pandoc_content, content_type=f'application/{export_format}')
+        response['Content-Disposition'] = pandoc_content_disposition.encode('utf-8')
 
     return response
 
@@ -411,14 +283,5 @@ def parse_metadata(html):
     return metadata, html
 
 
-def save_metadata(metadata):
-    _, tmp_metadata_file = mkstemp(suffix='.json')
-    with open(tmp_metadata_file, 'w') as f:
-        json.dump(metadata, f)
-    f = open(tmp_metadata_file)
-    log.info('Save metadata file %s %s', tmp_metadata_file, str(metadata))
-    return tmp_metadata_file
-
-
 def remove_double_newlines(string):
     return re.sub(r'[\n]{2,}', '\n\n', string)
diff --git a/rdmo/views/models.py b/rdmo/views/models.py
index e7aec7e85..c3f28980d 100644
--- a/rdmo/views/models.py
+++ b/rdmo/views/models.py
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 
 from rdmo import __version__
 from rdmo.core.models import TranslationMixin
-from rdmo.core.utils import get_pandoc_main_version, join_url
+from rdmo.core.pandoc import get_pandoc_version
+from rdmo.core.utils import join_url
 from rdmo.questions.models import Catalog
 
 from .managers import ViewManager
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ def render(self, project, snapshot=None, export_format=None):
                 'name': site.name,
                 'domain': site.domain
             },
-            'pandoc_version': get_pandoc_main_version()
+            'pandoc_version': get_pandoc_version().major
         }))
 
     @classmethod