Resume formats by country

The Right Resume Format for Every Country.

A resume that works in New York can get rejected in Munich or Tokyo. Photos, personal details, length and even the name of the document change from country to country. Here's how each one works.

Build My Resume Free Compare Countries

20 country guides
Format switches in one click
Section names translated

Country guides

Pick the Country You're Applying In.

Each guide covers length, photo, personal details, section order and common mistakes, with a real example made in CVHancer.

United States

US resume

Length: One page for under ~10 years of experience, two pages at most
Photo: No

United Kingdom

British CV

Length: Two A4 pages is the norm
Photo: No, except for some acting and modelling roles

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Lebenslauf

Length: One to two pages
Photo: Common, but optional

France

CV français

Length: One page, two for experienced profiles
Photo: Common, optional

Japan

Rirekisho

Length: The standard form: usually two A4 pages
Photo: Yes, 3 × 4 cm, formal, taken recently

Canada

Canadian resume

Length: One to two pages
Photo: No

Australia and New Zealand

Australian CV

Length: Two to three pages
Photo: No

UAE and the Gulf

Gulf CV

Length: Two pages, three for senior roles
Photo: Common, professional headshot

India

Indian CV

Length: Two pages, one for freshers
Photo: Optional

Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland

Nordic CV

Length: One to two pages
Photo: Common and friendly, but optional

Brazil

Currículo

Length: One to two pages
Photo: Optional

European Union

Europass CV

Length: Two to three pages
Photo: Optional

Switzerland

Swiss CV

Length: Usually two A4 pages
Photo: Common and often expected, top corner of page one

Austria

Austrian Lebenslauf

Length: One to two A4 pages
Photo: Common, though not mandatory

Saudi Arabia

Saudi CV

Length: One to two pages
Photo: Expected, professional headshot

Qatar

Qatar CV

Length: Two pages is common
Photo: Expected across most sectors

Kuwait

Kuwait CV

Length: Two to three pages for experienced candidates
Photo: Standard, especially for corporate and government roles

Ireland

Irish CV

Length: Two A4 pages
Photo: No

Netherlands

Dutch CV

Length: One to two A4 pages
Photo: Common but optional

Singapore

Singapore resume

Length: One page for graduates, two for mid-career
Photo: Not needed for most roles

At a glance

Resume Rules, Side by Side.

General customs, not laws. Individual employers and industries can differ, so always follow the job ad.

Resume length, photo and personal details by country
Country	Called	Length	Photo	Personal details
United States	US resume	One page for under ~10 years of experience, two pages at most	No	Leave out age, date of birth, gender, marital status and nationality
United Kingdom	British CV	Two A4 pages is the norm	No, except for some acting and modelling roles	No date of birth, marital status or nationality
Germany, Austria and Switzerland	Lebenslauf	One to two pages	Common, but optional. Use a professional headshot	Often: date and place of birth, nationality. Marital status is increasingly left out
France	CV français	One page, two for experienced profiles	Common, optional	Age is sometimes included; marital status is now rare
Japan	Rirekisho	The standard form: usually two A4 pages (or one A3)	Yes, 3 × 4 cm, formal, taken recently	Date of birth, address, nearest station; furigana for your name
Canada	Canadian resume	One to two pages	No	No date of birth, marital status, religion or SIN
Australia and New Zealand	Australian CV	Two to three pages	No	No date of birth or marital status
UAE and the Gulf	Gulf CV	Two pages, three for senior roles	Common, professional headshot	Nationality, visa status, often date of birth and marital status
India	Indian CV	Two pages, one for freshers	Optional; common for some sectors	Often date of birth, languages known, sometimes father's name
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland	Nordic CV	One to two pages	Common and friendly, but optional	Minimal; date of birth is sometimes included
Brazil	Currículo	One to two pages	Optional	Nationality, age, marital status, city and state
European Union	Europass CV	Two to three pages	Optional	Nationality and date of birth are optional fields
Switzerland	Swiss CV	Usually two A4 pages	Common and often expected, top corner of page one	Date of birth and nationality are usual
Austria	Austrian Lebenslauf	One to two A4 pages	Common, though not mandatory	Date of birth and nationality are usual; marital status is optional
Saudi Arabia	Saudi CV	One to two pages; two for experienced candidates	Expected, professional headshot	Nationality, Iqama or visa status; date of birth is common
Qatar	Qatar CV	Two pages is common	Expected across most sectors	Nationality, visa or QID status; date of birth is common
Kuwait	Kuwait CV	Two to three pages for experienced candidates	Standard, especially for corporate and government roles	Nationality, residency status; date of birth and marital status are common
Ireland	Irish CV	Two A4 pages; one for graduates	No	No date of birth, marital status or nationality needed
Netherlands	Dutch CV	One to two A4 pages	Common but optional	Name, contact details; date of birth and nationality are optional
Singapore	Singapore resume	One page for graduates, two for mid-career	Not needed for most roles	Citizen, PR or work pass (e.g. Employment Pass)

One resume, many countries

Switch Formats in One Click.

In CVHancer you write your content once. Choose a country and the editor adapts the layout to what employers there expect.

Applying to several countries? On Pro you can keep a separate resume for each market, each with the right format.

Try It Free

The country selector in the CVHancer editor next to a live resume preview

FAQ

Questions?
Answered.

Still unsure? Our team answers every message, usually within one business day.

Contact Support

What is the difference between a resume and a CV?

In the US and Canada, a resume is a short summary of your experience, while a CV is a long academic record. In the UK, Europe, the Gulf and most of the world, "CV" simply means the document you send for any job.

Should I put a photo on my resume?

It depends on the country. Leave it off in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Photos are common in Germany, France, the Nordics, the Gulf and Japan. CVHancer sets the right default when you pick a country.

Can I use the same resume for different countries?

The content can stay the same, but the format should change. With CVHancer you switch the country and the layout, personal details and headings adapt. Pro lets you keep a separate resume for each market.

Which countries does CVHancer support?

The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the DACH region, France, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the UAE and the Gulf, India, the Nordics, Brazil and the EU's Europass, plus a universal format that works anywhere.

Ready for Any Market?

Start free with the universal format. Pro unlocks all 13 country formats and photos.

Build My Resume