CV rules by country: photo, date of birth and length

A photo that is normal in Vienna is advised against in Toronto. This reference compares 23 of the 26 countries our CV builder supports, and every statement links to the source it came from. Where sources disagree, we show both. Where we found no reliable source, we say so.

Last checked: 4 November 2026

What the comparison shows

The comparison at a glance

Select a country for the full wording and sources.

CountryPhotoDate of birthLength
German-speaking countries
GermanyUsualUsualUp to 2 pages
AustriaUsualYour choice1 to 2 pages
SwitzerlandYour choiceUsual2 to 3 pages at most
France, Spain and Portugal
FranceYour choiceYour choice1 page, at most 2
SpainUsualNot an essential1 page, at most 2
PortugalOnly if askedYour choice1 to 2 pages
English-speaking countries
United KingdomLeave outLeave outUp to 2 pages
IrelandLeave outLeave out2 pages
United StatesLeave outLeave out1 page (student advice)
CanadaLeave outLeave outUp to 2 pages
AustraliaLeave outLeave out1 to 3 pages
Latin America
MexicoLeave outNo source foundAbout 1 page
BrazilOnly if askedNo source foundUp to 2 pages
Gulf
Saudi ArabiaYour choiceUsualNot limited to 1 page
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, OmanYour choiceSources disagreeSources disagree
Asia and Türkiye
ChinaUsualUsual1 page
JapanUsualUsualForm + 1 to 2 pages
TürkiyeSources disagreeUsual1 page
IndonesiaUsualSources disagree1 to 2 pages

For the wider picture, including the right-to-work line and how to adapt one CV to several markets, read CV standards by country.

Country by country

Germany

Photo
Not required, but the Federal Employment Agency says most employers still expect one. Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Bundesagentur für Arbeit (2)
Date of birth
The agency lists date and place of birth among the details at the top of the CV. Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Also
Marital status and religion are not required, unless the employer has a specific religious affiliation. Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Full guide: Germany

Austria

Photo
The public employment service calls a photo standard and expected, while noting that no employer may insist on one under equal-treatment law. Source: AMS Österreich
Date of birth
Date of birth, marital status and nationality can be included but do not have to be. Source: AMS Österreich
Length
One to two A4 pages at most. Source: AMS Österreich

Full guide: Austria

Switzerland

Photo
If the job ad does not ask for one, the University of Zurich says the choice is yours. Source: University of Zurich Career Services
Date of birth
Date and place of birth appear in the university's list of CV contents. Source: University of Zurich Career Services
Length
No more than two to three pages. Source: University of Zurich Career Services
Also
State your nationality. Non-nationals should cite their residence and work permit (L, B or C). Marital status and children are optional. Source: University of Zurich Career Services

Full guide: Switzerland

France

Photo
The government guide lists a photo as a possibility. Onisep says it is not a selection criterion: add one if the ad asks, or if the role suits it, such as sales. Source: Service-Public.fr, Onisep
Date of birth
The government guide lists age among the usual details, and also says no information is legally mandatory on a CV. Source: Service-Public.fr
Length
One page for graduates and early careers. France Travail accepts two pages after about ten years in varied jobs. Source: Onisep, France Travail
Also
What an employer asks for must relate directly to the job, and asking for discriminatory information is prohibited. Source: Service-Public.fr

Full guide: France

Spain

Photo
The public employment service recommends one: ID format or half-body, good quality, neutral background. Source: SEPE (Spain)
Date of birth
The same guide gives full name and contact details as the essential personal data. It does not mention date of birth. Source: SEPE (Spain)
Length
One page, two at most with a lot of experience. Source: SEPE (Spain)

Full guide: Spain

Portugal

Photo
Not needed unless the employer asks for one. Source: SEPE (Spain), Europass Portugal
Date of birth
Optional in the Europass guide, which warns that stating your age can be treated as a discriminatory element. Source: Europass Portugal
Length
One page, two with a lot of experience. Europass says two pages are enough most of the time. Source: SEPE (Spain), Europass Portugal

Full guide: Portugal

United Kingdom

Photo
Not needed unless you are applying for acting or modelling work. Source: Prospects (UK graduate careers service)
Date of birth
The National Careers Service says not to include age, date of birth, marital status or nationality. Source: National Careers Service (UK), Prospects (UK graduate careers service)
Length
No more than two A4 pages. Three may suit senior roles or substantial experience. Source: Prospects (UK graduate careers service)

Full guide: United Kingdom

Ireland

Photo
Dublin City University says a photo is not the convention. The University of Limerick says not to include one. Source: Dublin City University, University of Limerick
Date of birth
Both universities say to leave it out. Source: Dublin City University, University of Limerick
Length
Two pages. The University of Limerick calls this the market norm. Source: Dublin City University, University of Limerick, SEPE (Spain)

Full guide: Ireland

United States

Photo
The EEOC says employers should not ask for a photograph. Harvard says not to include one, and Duke does not recommend it for US applications. Source: U.S. EEOC, Harvard University Career Services, Duke University Career Hub
Date of birth
Harvard says not to include age. Federal age-discrimination law does not explicitly prohibit employers from asking, but the EEOC warns that it may deter older applicants. Source: Harvard University Career Services, U.S. EEOC
Length
Duke tells its students to keep it to one page. This is university advice, and we did not find a rule for experienced applicants. Source: Duke University Career Hub

Full guide: United States

Canada

Photo
The Government of Canada's Job Bank says a photo is not the norm and can lower your chances. Source: Job Bank (Government of Canada)
Date of birth
Job Bank says to leave out personal details such as age and marital status. It does not mention date of birth by name. Source: Job Bank (Government of Canada)
Length
Limit it to two pages. Source: Job Bank (Government of Canada)
Also
Never include your Social Insurance Number. Source: Job Bank (Government of Canada)

Full guide: Canada

Australia

Photo
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the University of Sydney both say you do not need one. Source: Australian Human Rights Commission, University of Sydney
Date of birth
Both say the same about date of birth. The Commission adds sex or gender and marital status. Source: Australian Human Rights Commission, University of Sydney
Length
One to three pages for most industries, longer for academic or research roles. Some employers set their own limit. Source: University of Sydney
Also
International students and permanent residents may benefit from stating their visa status and work rights. Source: University of Sydney

Full guide: Australia

Mexico

Photo
The government's labour observatory advises against it, because it is not relevant and can invite discrimination. The federal job portal says a photo is not mandatory on a job application form. Source: Observatorio Laboral (Mexico), Portal del Empleo (Mexico)
Date of birth
We found no reliable source on this, so we make no claim.
Length
No fixed limit, but the observatory says a CV running past one sheet should be reviewed to cut irrelevant data. Source: Observatorio Laboral (Mexico)
Also
The observatory also advises against stating marital status or nationality. Source: Observatorio Laboral (Mexico)

Full guide: Mexico

Brazil

Photo
Not mandatory, and the Universidade de Fortaleza says to add one only if the recruiter asks. A bill to ban requiring photos (PL 187/2021) was still awaiting a rapporteur on the Chamber's page when we checked. Source: Universidade de Fortaleza, Câmara dos Deputados (Brazil)
Date of birth
We found no reliable source on this, so we make no claim.
Length
No more than two pages. Source: Universidade de Fortaleza

Full guide: Brazil

Saudi Arabia

Photo
We found no Saudi government or university guidance. One regional recruiter, writing about property and construction, calls it not mandatory and a personal choice, and says clients suggest one for some client-facing roles. Source: Michael Page Middle East
Date of birth
A King Saud University guide lists date and place of birth, marital status and nationality as basic personal information. Source: King Saud University, College of Science
Length
The same guide calls limiting a CV to a single page a common misconception. It gives no maximum. Source: King Saud University, College of Science
Also
Adecco says Saudi employers often look for nationality, for Saudization roles, and iqama status for expats. Source: Adecco Saudi Arabia

Full guide: Saudi Arabia

UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman

Photo
This row rests on recruiter advice for the Middle East as a whole. It is not country by country. In one article Michael Page calls a photo a personal choice for property and construction roles. Its general CV guide says photographs are not necessary. Source: Michael Page Middle East, Michael Page Middle East (2)
Date of birth
Recruiters disagree. Michael Page and Charterhouse list date of birth among the personal details. Robert Walters says not to include age or marital status. Source: Michael Page Middle East, Charterhouse UAE, Robert Walters Middle East
Length
Robert Walters says one to two pages. Michael Page's guide says ideally two and never more than three. Charterhouse says three to four is sufficient. NYU Abu Dhabi's careers guide for its students sets one page. Source: Robert Walters Middle East, Michael Page Middle East, Charterhouse UAE, NYU Abu Dhabi Career Development Center
Also
Charterhouse also lists nationality and residency or visa status among the personal details. Source: Charterhouse UAE
Also
Bahrain's Ministry of Labour asks for a recent personal photo and a copy of the CV when registering as a job seeker. This is a registration rule for that service, not advice on what a CV should contain. Source: Ministry of Labour (Bahrain)

Full guide: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman

China

Photo
Advice on the education ministry's graduate jobs platform says the photo should preferably be a recent ID-style one that looks like you. Source: NCSS (China's Ministry of Education service for graduates)
Date of birth
The platform lists date of birth in the basic information and says an ID number is unnecessary. A labour-ministry article there says not to reveal marital status, family situation or ID number. Source: NCSS (China's Ministry of Education service for graduates), NCSS (China's Ministry of Education service for graduates) (2)
Length
One A4 page where possible. For foreign companies, one page each in Chinese and English. Source: NCSS (China's Ministry of Education service for graduates), NCSS (China's Ministry of Education service for graduates) (2)

Full guide: China

Japan

Photo
The labour ministry's model résumé form has a photo box, labelled for cases where a photo is needed, sized 36 to 40 mm by 24 to 30 mm. Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
Date of birth
The same form has a field for date of birth and age. Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
Length
The rirekisho is a fixed form. The separate career history (shokumu keirekisho) usually runs to one or two A4 sheets. Source: Okayama Labour Bureau (Japan)
Also
On this form gender is optional, and it drops the old fields for commuting time, dependants and spouse. Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) (2)

Full guide: Japan

Türkiye

Photo
Ankara University says to add a passport-style photo, and Yıldız Technical University says one is generally expected. A 2019 İŞKUR magazine says none is needed unless the employer asks. Source: Ankara University career centre, Yıldız Technical University career centre, İŞKUR (Türkiye's employment agency)
Date of birth
Ankara University places date and place of birth and marital status under personal details. The İŞKUR sample CV shows date of birth too. Source: Ankara University career centre, İŞKUR (Türkiye's employment agency)
Length
Generally no more than one page for jobs and internships. Academic CVs can run longer. Source: Yıldız Technical University career centre

Indonesia

Photo
ITB's career center places a photo at the top right, and BINUS University advises a recent formal one. Source: ITB Career Center, BINUS University
Date of birth
ITB lists place and date of birth at the top. A career session reported by Universitas Airlangga names date of birth among the details a CV does not need. Source: ITB Career Center, Universitas Airlangga
Length
The Airlangga session says one page unless you have ten or more years of experience. BINUS says two at most. Source: Universitas Airlangga, BINUS University

Countries with no claims yet

Our builder also supports these three countries. We publish nothing about them here because we could not verify it.

How we checked

CV Analyz sells an AI CV builder, which uses its own country settings. This page reports what the sources say, and those settings may differ from it.

Create a CV for your target country

Common questions

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. Sources in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and Mexico advise leaving it off or say it is not needed. Sources in Austria, Spain and Japan treat it as normal or recommend it. If the job ad says something specific, follow the ad.

Is a photo on a CV illegal in the United States?

The guidance we read is aimed at employers: the EEOC says employers should not ask for a photograph. It does not say applicants are banned from adding one. Harvard and Duke career services still advise against it.

Do I need my date of birth on a CV in Germany?

The Federal Employment Agency lists date and place of birth among the details at the top of a CV. Marital status and religion, by contrast, are not required unless the employer has a specific religious affiliation.

How long should a CV be?

In most countries here, one or two pages. Switzerland and Australia allow up to three. France, Spain and China lean towards one page, and Spain and France accept two with more experience.

Why are Egypt, Jordan and Morocco not in the table?

We could not verify claims about them. For Egypt and Jordan we found no guidance from a government body, a university careers office or an established recruiter. For Morocco, the national employment agency's site did not load when we checked.

All sources

Government and public bodies

Universities and careers services

Recruiters

Cite this page

You are welcome to use these findings. Please link to this page and include the date we last checked it.

CV Analyz. “CV rules by country: photo, date of birth and length.” Last checked 4 November 2026. https://cvanalyz.com/en/cv-rules-by-country