A CV that is perfectly normal in Karachi or Dubai can look strange in London or Chicago, and the reverse is just as true. The usual document name, the number of pages, whether to add a photo, which personal details to include and whether to list referees all change from country to country. If you are applying abroad, helping students, or writing advice for job seekers, you need those answers in one place. This page puts them in a single table covering 20 countries and regions, explains the reasons behind the differences and shows how to adapt one CV for two markets.
One caution before the table: everything here is a convention, not a rule. A convention is a habit that many employers in a country share. It is not a law, and this page does not count how many employers follow it. Practice varies by industry, employer size and the person reading, so the table says "common", "varies" or "unusual" wherever the picture is mixed. If a job advert, recruiter or application form asks for something specific, follow that instead of this page. We last reviewed it in October 2026. If something looks out of date for your country, tell us through the contact page.
How to read the table
- Usual word. The name employers in that country most often use for the document. Many countries use both "CV" and "resume", so use the word in the advert. Our guide to CV vs resume explains the difference.
- Typical length. For an applicant with some experience. First-time applicants are usually shorter, often one page, in most of the countries listed.
- Photo. Avoid means most employers prefer none, and the safest choice is to leave it off. Optional means either choice is acceptable, so follow the advert and your industry. Common means many employers expect or accept one, though it is rarely a strict requirement.
- Personal details. "Often seen" lists what appears on many CVs there, and "Leave out" lists what you can safely skip. In many countries, anti-discrimination rules mean employers prefer not to see age, marital status or a photo, which is why that list is longest for the English-speaking West. Identity numbers should stay off a CV everywhere: CVs are forwarded and uploaded to many databases, and a printed ID number can be misused.
- References. "Listed" means named referees with contact details appear on the CV. "On request" means you hold the details back until the employer asks.
Comparison table: 20 countries and regions
On a phone or a narrow window, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Country | Usual word | Typical length | Photo | Personal details | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom UK graduate CV example |
CV | One page for students and graduates; two for most others | Avoid. Not expected, and many employers prefer none | Often seen: name, town or city, phone, email, LinkedIn. Leave out: date of birth, marital status, nationality, National Insurance number |
Usually not listed; employers ask later in the process |
| Ireland | CV | One to two pages | Avoid. Not expected | Often seen: contact details, LinkedIn. Leave out: date of birth, marital status, nationality, PPS number |
Varies: two referees sometimes listed, otherwise "on request" |
| United States | Resume ("CV" usually means a long academic document) | One page for most early and mid-career applicants; two for long careers | Avoid. Not expected, and some employers actively prefer none | Often seen: name, city and state, phone, email, LinkedIn. Leave out: date of birth, marital status, nationality, Social Security number. Work authorization is usually asked on the application form |
Not listed; provided later if asked |
| Canada | Resume ("CV" for academic roles and often in French) | One to two pages | Avoid. Unusual | Often seen: contact details; a short work-authorization line if it helps. Leave out: date of birth, marital status, Social Insurance Number |
Not listed; a separate sheet if asked |
| Australia | Resume (CV also used) | Two to three pages is common; varies by industry | Avoid. Not expected | Often seen: contact details and work rights (citizen, permanent resident or visa type). Leave out: date of birth, marital status, Tax File Number |
Varies: often two referees listed at the end, or "on request" |
| New Zealand | CV | Two to three pages is common; varies by industry | Avoid. Unusual | Often seen: contact details and work rights. Leave out: date of birth, marital status, IRD number |
Commonly listed: two or three referees, with their permission |
| South Africa | CV | Two to three pages is common | Optional. Varies by employer; many do not need one | Often seen: contact details, nationality, languages, driver's licence. Older formats add ID number and marital status. Leave out: ID number (give it on forms), marital status |
Commonly listed: two or three referees, with their permission |
| Nigeria Nigeria CV guide |
CV | One page for most graduates; up to two for experienced applicants | Optional. Varies: some employers expect one, many do not mind | Often seen: contact details and NYSC status for graduates. Older formats add state of origin and date of birth. Leave out: state of origin, marital status, religion, unless a form requires them |
Often two referees listed, or "on request" |
| Kenya | CV | Two pages is usual; a third is sometimes seen for senior roles | Optional. Varies by employer | Often seen: contact details, nationality, languages; date of birth on some. Leave out: national ID number, marital status, religion |
Commonly listed: two or three referees |
| Ghana | CV | One to two pages | Optional. Varies by employer | Often seen: contact details, nationality, languages; date of birth on some. Leave out: Ghana Card number, marital status, religion |
Commonly listed: two referees; "on request" also seen |
| Pakistan Pakistan fresher CV guide |
CV (resume also used) | One page for freshers; up to two for experienced applicants | Common, usually optional. More often expected for Gulf jobs | Often seen: date of birth, nationality; father's name on bio-data style CVs and forms. Leave out: CNIC number, religion, marital status unless a form requires them |
"References available on request" is the usual closing line |
| India India fresher resume guide |
Resume (CV also used; "CV" for academic roles) | One page for freshers; one to two for experienced applicants | Optional. Usually absent for IT and multinational roles; some local employers expect one | Often seen: date of birth, nationality, marital status on older formats. Leave out: Aadhaar and PAN numbers; father's name unless a form asks |
Usually not listed on a fresher resume; given later if asked |
| Bangladesh | CV (some employers say "bio-data") | One page for freshers; one to two for experienced applicants | Common with many local employers (passport-size); varies | Often seen: date of birth, nationality; father's and mother's names on older bio-data formats. Leave out: NID and passport numbers, religion |
Varies: often two referees listed |
| Sri Lanka | CV | One to two pages | Optional. Varies by employer | Often seen: contact details; date of birth and "civil status" on older formats. Leave out: NIC number, religion, ethnicity |
Commonly listed: two referees; "on request" also seen |
| UAE and Gulf states (also Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman; habits are similar but not identical) UAE CV format guide |
CV | One page for graduates; two for mid-career and senior applicants | Common. Many employers expect or accept one; rarely required | Often seen: nationality, visa status, notice period, driving licence if the job involves driving. Date of birth and marital status are optional. Leave out: passport and Emirates ID numbers; salary unless asked |
Usually "on request"; varies |
| Saudi Arabia | CV | One page for graduates; two for experienced applicants | Common. Often included; follow the advert | Often seen: nationality; residence (iqama) status if you are already in the Kingdom; date of birth and marital status on some. Leave out: iqama, passport and national ID numbers |
Usually "on request"; varies |
| Philippines | Resume (CV also used) | One page for fresh graduates; one to two for experienced applicants | Common. Many employers still ask for a passport-style photo; practice varies | Often seen: date of birth, civil status, citizenship. Leave out: SSS, TIN, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and passport numbers |
Character references often listed (two or three), or "available upon request" |
| Malaysia | Resume or CV (both used) | One to two pages | Common, usually optional | Often seen: nationality; notice period and expected salary, which many employers and portals ask for; date of birth and marital status on some. Leave out: IC and passport numbers |
Usually "on request" |
| Singapore | Resume (CV also used) | One to two pages | Optional. Often left off, especially with multinational employers | Often seen: citizenship or residency (citizen, permanent resident or work-pass type), because it affects hiring. Leave out: NRIC or FIN number, date of birth, marital status |
Usually "on request" |
| Germany (the main European contrast) | Lebenslauf (called a CV in English-language applications) | One to two pages; table layout, newest entry first | Common, but optional. Many employers accept applications without one | Often seen: date and place of birth and nationality on traditional CVs; place, date and signature at the end. Leave out: marital status, children, religion, tax and ID numbers |
Not listed; certificates and reference letters from past employers are attached instead |
Countries that are not in the table
Most of continental Europe sits between the UK and Germany: a photo is more common than in the UK or US, but habits differ by country, industry and employer. Some employers and public bodies ask for a "Europass CV", which is a standard EU format. A few countries use a set form with a photo, such as the rirekisho in Japan, and there you follow the form. For anywhere else, read three adverts from the same industry in that country, notice what they ask for, and match it. When the evidence is mixed, choose the more cautious option: a short CV, no ID numbers and a photo only if the advert asks.
Why the norms differ, region by region
United Kingdom and Ireland
A UK or Irish CV is treated as a short, targeted summary of what you can do for this job. Employers generally prefer to judge on skills and experience, and anti-discrimination expectations mean they would rather not see a photo, age or marital status. That is why the usual advice is to leave those off and keep to one or two pages. Referees are normally requested once an offer is close, not at application stage. Our graduate CV example for the UK shows the format in practice.
United States and Canada
In the US and Canada the document is a resume, usually one page, and it is built to match a single job. Hiring teams are often careful about anything that could suggest bias, so photos, age, marital status and nationality are left off, and work authorization is normally handled on the application form. Academic and research roles use a "CV", which is a longer record with no page limit. The CV vs resume guide covers the difference in detail.
Australia and New Zealand
Both countries sit between the UK and the US: the resume or CV is often longer, at two to three pages, and gives more detail on duties and results. Photos are unusual. Because many applicants are not citizens, a short line on work rights tells the employer straight away whether you can start. Referees are more likely to be listed, since employers may contact them before making an offer.
Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana
Many employers here still expect a CV that opens with personal details and closes with named referees, and South African CVs are often longer than British ones. Many private employers now accept a shorter, skills-first CV, while public-sector and traditional employers are likelier to expect the older layout. Local lines such as the NYSC year in Nigeria need clear wording, which our guide to writing a CV in Nigeria covers. Wherever you apply, keep national ID numbers off the page and give them on official forms.
South Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
In all four countries you will meet older "bio-data" formats with a block of personal details such as father's name, date of birth and marital status. Many private employers no longer need most of it, and multinational and technology employers generally prefer a shorter, content-first resume. Photos are more common on traditional formats and for Gulf jobs, and freshers keep to one page. For detail, see our guides for fresh graduates in Pakistan and the fresher resume format in India.
The Gulf: UAE and Saudi Arabia
Employers in the Gulf hire from many countries, so they want to know early where you are, what your nationality and visa status are, and when you could start. That explains a nationality and visa line, and a notice period, that would look odd on a UK or US CV. Photos are common, and CVs run to one page for graduates and two for experienced people. The CV format for UAE jobs guide gives wording you can copy for each visa situation.
Southeast Asia: Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore
Practice is mixed. In the Philippines and Malaysia a photo and a few personal details are still common on many CVs, and Malaysian employers and job portals often ask for expected salary and notice period. Singapore, with many multinational employers, is closer to the UK and US on photos, but your residency status (citizen, permanent resident or work pass) matters because it affects hiring. Read two or three adverts from your target employer before you decide.
Germany and continental Europe
The German Lebenslauf is a factual, table-style record, newest entry first, usually one or two pages. A photo and details such as date of birth have been traditional, though they are now optional and many employers accept applications without them. Employers do not usually ask you to name referees; instead you attach certificates and reference letters from past employers. If you decide to include a photo, a template designed around it looks more deliberate than a picture dropped into a gap.
What stays the same in every country
- Accurate dates and qualifications. Employers check them, and an invented one can end an application or a job.
- A clear, single-column layout with plain headings. People and screening software both read it faster. Our guide to what an ATS is explains why.
- A summary and first bullets matched to the job. Tailoring beats copying a sample. Our guide to writing a professional CV shows how.
- Contact details you actually use. A professional email address and a phone number with the country code.
- Caution with documents. Do not send ID scans or bank details with a first application, and treat any request to pay money for an interview or a placement with suspicion.
How to adapt one CV for two countries
Keep one master CV that holds everything you have done. For each country, copy it and change only the things in the table. Seven checks cover almost every case:
- Use the advert's word. Name the file Your-Name-CV.pdf or Your-Name-Resume.pdf to match.
- Set the length. Cut older roles to one line for a one-page market, or restore detail for a two or three page one.
- Decide on the photo. Switch it off for the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and consider it for markets where it is common.
- Edit the personal details. Add the lines the market expects, such as nationality and visa status for the Gulf or work rights for Australia, and remove the ones it does not. Never write a status you do not hold.
- Explain local terms in a few words. A reader abroad may not know "NYSC", "HND" or "Matric". Write "NYSC (Nigerian national service year)" once, and always show the scale for grades, such as "CGPA 3.31/4.00".
- Match spelling and dates. "Organised" is the British spelling and "organized" the US and Canadian one, so match the employer's country, or the advert if you are unsure. Write "Mar 2022 to Aug 2025" so the month cannot be misread.
- Handle references. List named referees where that is common, and otherwise keep their details ready.
Worked example: Priya Nair, one career, two CVs (illustrative)
Priya is a made-up marketing executive in Pune, India, with five years of experience. She applies for one job in Dubai and one in Toronto. Her master CV is the same for both, and every employer, figure and date here is invented.
Version for Dubai
- Called a CV; saved as Priya-Nair-CV.pdf; two pages, because five years of campaigns need room.
- A small, plain-background head-and-shoulders photo in the header, since photos are common there.
- A personal-details line: "Nationality: Indian. Based in Pune, India; available to relocate to the UAE; notice period 60 days."
- Date of birth and marital status left off; references "on request".
Version for Toronto
- Called a resume; saved as Priya-Nair-Resume.pdf; one page, with the two most relevant campaigns expanded and older detail cut.
- No photo, no nationality line, no date of birth.
- Spelling changed to match a Canadian employer ("organized", not "organised") and a short, honest line on work authorization if it helps, such as "Currently in India; will need employer support for a work permit". Some applicants leave this to the application form, which usually asks.
- No references on the page; they are supplied later if asked.
The experience is identical in both. Only the packaging changed, and that is the point of a master CV.
Templates with and without a photo
If your CV will carry a photo, Portrait Band sets it in a soft grey header band, and it is designed around the photo, so choose it only when you will use one. Level Ground is a one-column layout where the photo is optional, so you can switch it on or off for different countries. For a CV without a photo, Standard Rule is a plain one-column serif design, and Signal Blue is a modern one-column design with a steel-blue name. All four keep the body in a single column, which suits screening software. Browse the rest in the template gallery.
Guides for individual countries and situations
This page is the overview. These guides go deeper, each with its own worked example:
- United Kingdom: graduate CV example for the UK with no experience.
- Pakistan: CV format for fresh graduates in Pakistan.
- India: fresher resume format in India.
- Nigeria: how to write a CV in Nigeria.
- UAE: CV format for UAE jobs.
- Any country, first job: how to write a CV with no experience.
- Terms: CV vs resume.
Before you send it
Read the advert once more and check whether it asks for a particular format, photo or document. Then check every date, avoid the slips in our list of the top 10 CV mistakes, and save the file with your own name. When you are ready, start building your CV free or open the builder. Building is open to everyone, and you need a free account to download the PDF or Word file. In the builder, the photo and date of birth are optional extras under "Add more details", so you can include them only where a country expects them. The FAQ has more on how the builder works.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries expect a photo on a CV?
As a convention, a photo is common in Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Malaysia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and still customary though optional in Germany. It is usually left off in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere it varies by employer, so follow the advert and leave it off if you do not have a good photo.
How long should a CV be in different countries?
One page is the safe choice for students and first-time applicants nearly everywhere. For experienced applicants, one to two pages is usual in most places, one page is the norm for a US resume, and two to three pages is common in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Follow any page limit in the advert.
Should I include my date of birth, marital status or ID number?
Leave ID numbers off in every country and give them on official forms. Date of birth and marital status are usually left off in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and are optional in most other places even where older formats list them. Include them only if the advert or a form asks.