Compare 12 destinations
CV format by country: how 12 destinations differ from a UK CV
We are UK recruiters, and when we rebuild a CV for someone moving abroad the same few things change: photo, length, personal details, referees, language and what goes at the top about the right to work. This table sets a UK CV against what employers expect in 12 destinations. Each country links to a full guide and a free Word template.
Reviewed by Scott Burns (CertRP), Founder and Recruitment Director · Facts checked
Side by side
A UK CV against 12 destinations
| Country | Document | Length | Photo | Personal details | Referees | Language | Work rights at the top | Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (baseline) | CV | Two pages | No | Leave off date of birth, photo and marital status | Available on request | English | Rarely stated | A4 |
| Dubai | CV | 2 pages | Common locally; we leave it off for ATS | Nationality, location and visa status; skip date of birth and marital status | Available on request | English; any Arabic is a plus | State visa status, e.g. 'Requires employment visa' | A4 |
| Australia | Resume (CV understood) | 2 to 3 pages | No | Leave off photo, date of birth and marital status | Two referees named or offered | English | Visa type, expiry and any work limits near the top | A4 |
| New Zealand | CV (resume understood) | 2 pages if you can | No | Contact details only: no photo, age or marital status | Two if the advert asks, otherwise available on request | English | Visa held or needed, and start date, near the top | A4 |
| Canada | Resume | Up to 2 pages | No | Leave off age, marital status, religion and your SIN | Separate sheet, sent only when asked | English, or French where the advert is in French | State your permit, PR status or the permit you will need | US Letter |
| USA | Resume | 1 to 2 pages | No | Leave off date of birth, age, nationality and marital status | Not listed. Provide when asked | American English | State your visa route and whether you need sponsorship | US Letter |
| Ireland | CV | Two A4 pages | No | Leave off photo, date of birth, marital status and PPS number | Two referees named or offered on request | English | British citizen, entitled to work under the Common Travel Area | A4 |
| Germany | Lebenslauf (CV at English-language firms) | Two A4 pages at most, plus attachments | Optional, still common | Date and place of birth common; nationality and family status voluntary | None; attach Arbeitszeugnisse and certificates instead | German, unless the advert is in English | Nationality and residence permit status, e.g. EU Blue Card to be applied for | A4 |
| Netherlands | CV | 1 to 2 A4 pages | Optional, not expected | Contact details, city, nationality and work status | Not listed; take to interview | English or Dutch, matching the advert | State your permit route, e.g. highly skilled migrant | A4 |
| Spain | Currículum vitae (CV) | Up to 2 A4 pages | Optional, useful for some jobs | Contact details, city, nationality, NIE if you have one | Not listed; offer on request | Spanish, unless the advert is in English | State your visa or permit status under your name | A4 |
| Saudi Arabia | CV | Two A4 pages | Common, but leave it off | Show nationality; leave off date of birth, religion and marital status | Offered on request | English, unless the advert asks for Arabic | Nationality and visa status, e.g. Requires employer sponsorship | A4 |
| Qatar | CV | Two A4 pages | Common, but leave it off | Show nationality; leave off date of birth, religion and marital status | Offered on request | English, unless the advert asks for Arabic | Nationality and visa status, e.g. Requires employer sponsorship | A4 |
| Singapore | CV or resume | 2 pages, up to 3 for senior roles | Optional; we leave it off | Nationality and pass status; no age, race, religion or marital status | Two or three named, or on request | English | State nationality and whether you need an Employment Pass | A4 |
United Kingdom (baseline)
Document: CV
Length: Two pages
Photo: No
Personal details: Leave off date of birth, photo and marital status
Referees: Available on request
Language: English
Work rights at the top: Rarely stated
Paper: A4
Document: CV
Length: 2 pages
Photo: Common locally; we leave it off for ATS
Personal details: Nationality, location and visa status; skip date of birth and marital status
Referees: Available on request
Language: English; any Arabic is a plus
Work rights at the top: State visa status, e.g. 'Requires employment visa'
Paper: A4
Document: Resume (CV understood)
Length: 2 to 3 pages
Photo: No
Personal details: Leave off photo, date of birth and marital status
Referees: Two referees named or offered
Language: English
Work rights at the top: Visa type, expiry and any work limits near the top
Paper: A4
Document: CV (resume understood)
Length: 2 pages if you can
Photo: No
Personal details: Contact details only: no photo, age or marital status
Referees: Two if the advert asks, otherwise available on request
Language: English
Work rights at the top: Visa held or needed, and start date, near the top
Paper: A4
Document: Resume
Length: Up to 2 pages
Photo: No
Personal details: Leave off age, marital status, religion and your SIN
Referees: Separate sheet, sent only when asked
Language: English, or French where the advert is in French
Work rights at the top: State your permit, PR status or the permit you will need
Paper: US Letter
Document: Resume
Length: 1 to 2 pages
Photo: No
Personal details: Leave off date of birth, age, nationality and marital status
Referees: Not listed. Provide when asked
Language: American English
Work rights at the top: State your visa route and whether you need sponsorship
Paper: US Letter
Document: CV
Length: Two A4 pages
Photo: No
Personal details: Leave off photo, date of birth, marital status and PPS number
Referees: Two referees named or offered on request
Language: English
Work rights at the top: British citizen, entitled to work under the Common Travel Area
Paper: A4
Document: Lebenslauf (CV at English-language firms)
Length: Two A4 pages at most, plus attachments
Photo: Optional, still common
Personal details: Date and place of birth common; nationality and family status voluntary
Referees: None; attach Arbeitszeugnisse and certificates instead
Language: German, unless the advert is in English
Work rights at the top: Nationality and residence permit status, e.g. EU Blue Card to be applied for
Paper: A4
Document: CV
Length: 1 to 2 A4 pages
Photo: Optional, not expected
Personal details: Contact details, city, nationality and work status
Referees: Not listed; take to interview
Language: English or Dutch, matching the advert
Work rights at the top: State your permit route, e.g. highly skilled migrant
Paper: A4
Document: Currículum vitae (CV)
Length: Up to 2 A4 pages
Photo: Optional, useful for some jobs
Personal details: Contact details, city, nationality, NIE if you have one
Referees: Not listed; offer on request
Language: Spanish, unless the advert is in English
Work rights at the top: State your visa or permit status under your name
Paper: A4
Document: CV
Length: Two A4 pages
Photo: Common, but leave it off
Personal details: Show nationality; leave off date of birth, religion and marital status
Referees: Offered on request
Language: English, unless the advert asks for Arabic
Work rights at the top: Nationality and visa status, e.g. Requires employer sponsorship
Paper: A4
Document: CV
Length: Two A4 pages
Photo: Common, but leave it off
Personal details: Show nationality; leave off date of birth, religion and marital status
Referees: Offered on request
Language: English, unless the advert asks for Arabic
Work rights at the top: Nationality and visa status, e.g. Requires employer sponsorship
Paper: A4
Document: CV or resume
Length: 2 pages, up to 3 for senior roles
Photo: Optional; we leave it off
Personal details: Nationality and pass status; no age, race, religion or marital status
Referees: Two or three named, or on request
Language: English
Work rights at the top: State nationality and whether you need an Employment Pass
Paper: A4
Each country guide lists the official sources behind these rules. We write CVs, not visa advice, so check work permit rules with the official source before you apply.
Guides and templates
Two guides and a free template for every country
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
USA
Ireland
Germany
Netherlands
Spain
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Singapore
Next step
Want UK recruiters to rebuild your CV for your new country?
Send us your current CV. The free diagnosis shows what is holding it back for the country you are moving to and what to change first.