CV Standards by Country (2026): Photo, Length and Personal Details in 25 Countries
A practical comparison of CV conventions in 26 countries — whether to add a photo, which personal details to include or avoid, ideal length and what recruiters expect in the Gulf, Europe, North America, Latin America, China and Japan.
There is no single "correct" CV. A CV that works perfectly in Dubai can look unprofessional in London, and a polished one-page US résumé can feel incomplete to a recruiter in Zurich. The differences are not cosmetic: they decide whether you include a photo, your date of birth or nationality, how long the document is and how you describe your achievements.
The three questions that change from country to country
- Photo: expected (Gulf, Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia), optional (France, Egypt, Portugal, Mexico) or better left out (USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Brazil).
- Personal details: anti-discrimination practice means no age, marital status or religion in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and France; nationality and residence status are useful in the Gulf and Switzerland.
- Length: one page in the USA, France and China; one to two pages almost everywhere else; never more than two unless you are very senior.
Gulf and Arab countries
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman: 1–2 pages, achievement-led bullets, a professional photo is common. Recruiters often filter on location and visa first, so state your residence or visa status, notice period and — for nationals — your nationality (Saudization, Emiratisation and Omanisation programmes favour citizens). Egypt, Jordan and Morocco follow similar formats; in Egypt male applicants often state military-service status.
English-speaking countries
USA: a one-page résumé (two for senior roles), no photo, no age, quantified achievements. UK and Ireland: a two-page CV with a 3–4 line personal statement and British spelling. Canada: 1–2 pages, no photo or date of birth, mention work authorisation if relevant. Australia: 2–3 pages with a key-skills section.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland
A tabular, reverse-chronological Lebenslauf with month/year dates (03/2022 – today), factual tone and a maximum of two pages. A professional photo is still customary although not required by law. Switzerland expects nationality and, for foreigners, the permit category (B, C, G or L), and languages with levels matter in a multilingual market.
France, Spain, Portugal and Latin America
France prefers one page, the target job title as the headline and a short 'accroche'; a photo is optional and employers may not demand one. Spain often uses a photo and values languages with CEFR levels (A1–C2). Portugal is comfortable with Europass-style CVs. Brazil usually skips the photo and opens with an 'objetivo'. Mexico accepts 1–2 pages with a short profile.
China and Japan
China: a one-page 简历 with a photo, education prominent, and applications mostly through platforms such as BOSS Zhipin, Zhaopin, 51job and Liepin. Japan: a standard rirekisho (with a 3×4 cm photo) plus a 職務経歴書 career history describing duties and results in a formal tone. International companies in both countries also accept English CVs.
Turkey
Turkey: an özgeçmiş of 1–2 pages, strictly reverse-chronological, with a professional photo — it is customary. Open with a short profile aimed at the target role and write achievements with numbers. A personal line is common (city, driving licence 'Ehliyet: B' and, for male applicants, military-service status 'Askerlik: Tamamlandı / Tecilli / Muaf'), but include each detail only if it is true and relevant. List languages with levels (e.g. 'İngilizce – İleri (C1)'), and keep one date style throughout ('Ocak 2021 – Halen' or 03/2021). Most applications go through Kariyer.net, LinkedIn and company career pages. Foreign applicants should mention a Turkish work or residence permit only if they hold one.
Indonesia
Indonesia: a CV of 1–2 pages, reverse-chronological, usually with a formal photo (pas foto). Open with a short profile aimed at the target role and write achievements starting with action verbs and numbers (amounts as Rp 5.000.000). A personal-data block is common (place and date of birth 'TTL', city of residence), but include each detail only if it is true and relevant. For education give the level as Indonesians write it (SMA/SMK, D3, S1, S2), the study programme and university, and the GPA ('IPK 3,65/4,00') only if it is strong. Professional certificates such as BNSP are valued. List languages with levels (e.g. 'Bahasa Inggris – Mahir (TOEFL 550)') and keep one date style ('Jan 2021 – Sekarang' or 03/2021). Applications go mostly through JobStreet, LinkedIn, Glints, Kalibrr and Karirhub. Foreign applicants should mention an Indonesian work and stay permit (KITAS) only if they hold one.
How CV Analyz applies these standards
When you improve or create a CV, choose the target country (we pre-select it from your location and you can change it). The AI then follows that country's conventions for length, tone, spelling, date format and which details to surface. If you leave it empty, we apply general standards for the CV's language. We never invent facts: if your CV doesn't mention your visa or nationality, we don't add it.
Improve your CV for a specific country: pick the target country and CV Analyz rewrites your CV to that market's standards — length, tone and the details recruiters there expect.
Improve your CV nowFrequently asked questions
Should I always add a photo to my CV?
No. In the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Brazil a photo is better left out; in the Gulf, Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan and Turkey it is common. Follow the country you apply to, not the one you live in.
What if I apply to several countries?
Keep one master CV and create a version per country. With CV Analyz you can generate a new version by changing the target country.