20 countries

CV Format by Country: How to Write a CV Recruiters Expect

A CV that works in London can get rejected in Riyadh, and a Dubai-style CV with a photo and date of birth can work against you in New York. These guides cover the local rules — length, photo, personal details, section order, spelling and paper size — plus how recruiters and job portals in each country actually screen applications.

Pick your country below. Ready to write? Open the free CV maker and switch the country-specific fields on or off.

Quick answer: CV rules change by country. The US, UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia expect no photo or date of birth and usually one to two pages. Many employers in Germany, the Gulf and parts of Asia still expect a photo and more personal details, such as nationality and visa status in the Gulf. Match the local format and keep the layout simple enough for applicant tracking systems.

Europe

Americas

Oceania

Gulf

Asia

Africa

Frequently asked questions

In the US and Canada a resume is the 1–2 page job document and a CV is a long academic record. In the UK, Ireland, Europe, the Gulf, South Asia and Africa, "CV" simply means the job document. Each country guide uses the local term.
It depends on the country. In the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia, leave it off — anti-discrimination rules mean recruiters prefer CVs without one. In Germany, the Gulf and much of Asia, a professional photo is common. Each guide gives the local rule.
Your content stays the same, but the format changes: page length, personal details (date of birth, nationality, visa status), photo, paper size and spelling. Adjusting those details shows recruiters you understand their market.
Everywhere, ATS software parses a simple reverse-chronological layout with standard headings, plain text and no tables, text boxes or images best. See how to make your resume ATS-friendly.
Pick an ATS-friendly template, then turn optional fields such as photo, nationality and visa status on or off for the country you are applying to. Download a text-based PDF for free.

One CV, ready for any country

Build once, then switch photo, nationality and visa fields on or off for each market. Free PDF download.

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