Free guide · updated 2026

Resume format by country: the complete guide.

Photo or no photo? One page or three? CV or resume? Here is what employers expect in the Gulf, UK, Europe, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, Asia and India, written by resume experts who write for these countries every day.

Gulf format CV UK CV Europass / EU CV German Lebenslauf USA resume Canada resume Australia & NZ resume Singapore & Malaysia resume Sri Lanka CV India & MNC resume

At a glance

Swipe the table on mobile. Tap a format to jump to its rules.

Format	Countries	Length	Photo	Language	Where people apply
Gulf format CV	UAE, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain	2–3 pages	Professional photo usually expected	English	Bayt, GulfTalent, Naukrigulf and LinkedIn
UK CV	UK	2 pages	No photo, age or marital status	British English	Reed, Indeed UK, Totaljobs and LinkedIn
Europass / EU CV	Ireland	2 pages	Photo optional (usually left out)	English or local language	EURES, LinkedIn and national job portals
German Lebenslauf	Germany	1–2 pages	Photo common	German (English for many IT roles)	StepStone, XING, Indeed Germany and LinkedIn
USA resume	United States	1–2 pages	No photo, age or personal details	American English	LinkedIn, Indeed and company career sites
Canada resume	Canada	1–2 pages	No photo, age or marital status	Canadian English	Job Bank, Indeed Canada, Workopolis and LinkedIn
Australia & NZ resume	Australia, New Zealand	2–3 pages	No photo	Australian / NZ English	SEEK, Indeed and LinkedIn
Singapore & Malaysia resume	Singapore, Malaysia	2 pages	Photo optional	English	JobStreet, MyCareersFuture, LinkedIn and Indeed
Sri Lanka CV	Sri Lanka	2–3 pages	Photo common	English	TopJobs, LinkedIn and company career sites
India & MNC resume	India	1–2 pages	Photo optional	English	Naukri, LinkedIn, foundit and Indeed India

Country rules

What to include, country by country

Gulf format CV

2–3 pagesProfessional photo usually expectedEnglish

A professional photo at the top right
Personal details recruiters ask for: nationality, visa status, notice period and driving licence
GCC experience and project names stated clearly
Certifications (PMP, NEBOSH, Saudi Council, DHA/DOH/MOH licences) listed prominently
Keywords that match job portals such as Bayt, GulfTalent and Naukrigulf

Job portals: Bayt, GulfTalent, Naukrigulf and LinkedIn. Country guides: UAE, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain.

UK CV

2 pagesNo photo, age or marital statusBritish English

A short personal profile at the top
Achievements with numbers under each role
No photo, date of birth or marital status
British spelling and the word "CV" rather than "resume"
Right-to-work or visa status stated if you need sponsorship

Job portals: Reed, Indeed UK, Totaljobs and LinkedIn. Country guides: UK.

Europass / EU CV

2 pagesPhoto optional (usually left out)English or local language

Europass structure or a clean two-page English CV
Language levels on the CEFR scale
Qualifications explained with EQF levels where useful
Work-permit or EU Blue Card status mentioned
Achievements with numbers for each role

Job portals: EURES, LinkedIn and national job portals. Country guides: Ireland.

German Lebenslauf

1–2 pagesPhoto commonGerman (English for many IT roles)

Tabular layout with dates on the left (Lebenslauf)
Written in German for most roles; English is accepted in many IT and research jobs
A professional photo, place and date, and signature at the end
German language level stated on the CEFR scale (A1–C2)
A matching Anschreiben (cover letter) for each application

Job portals: StepStone, XING, Indeed Germany and LinkedIn. Country guides: Germany.

USA resume

1–2 pagesNo photo, age or personal detailsAmerican English

A strong summary and a skills section near the top
Results-first bullet points with numbers
No photo, age, marital status or full address
A clean, single-column layout that applicant tracking systems read easily
A matching LinkedIn profile

Job portals: LinkedIn, Indeed and company career sites. Country guides: United States.

Canada resume

1–2 pagesNo photo, age or marital statusCanadian English

A professional summary and key skills section
Quantified achievements, not just duties
No photo, date of birth, marital status or religion
Canadian spelling and Canadian equivalents for your qualifications where useful
Volunteer work and certifications, which Canadian employers value

Job portals: Job Bank, Indeed Canada, Workopolis and LinkedIn. Country guides: Canada.

Australia & NZ resume

2–3 pagesNo photoAustralian / NZ English

A career summary followed by detailed experience
Two to three pages is normal for experienced professionals
A referees section (or "available on request")
Responses to key selection criteria for government roles
Visa and work-rights status stated clearly

Job portals: SEEK, Indeed and LinkedIn. Country guides: Australia, New Zealand.

Singapore & Malaysia resume

2 pagesPhoto optionalEnglish

A concise profile and key skills at the top
Nationality and work-pass status (for example EP or S Pass) where relevant
Expected salary and notice period only if the employer asks
Regional keywords for each industry
A clean layout that reads well on JobStreet and LinkedIn

Job portals: JobStreet, MyCareersFuture, LinkedIn and Indeed. Country guides: Singapore, Malaysia.

Sri Lanka CV

2–3 pagesPhoto commonEnglish

A personal profile and career objective
Personal details such as nationality where employers expect them
Professional qualifications (CIMA, ACCA, CA) listed clearly
Achievements with numbers for each role
A format that also works for Gulf and overseas applications

Job portals: TopJobs, LinkedIn and company career sites. Country guides: Sri Lanka.

India & MNC resume

1–2 pagesPhoto optionalEnglish

A sharp summary and key skills for Naukri and LinkedIn search
Achievements with numbers rather than a list of duties
Current CTC and notice period only where the employer asks
One page for freshers, two pages for experienced professionals
ATS-friendly layout for MNC applicant tracking systems

Job portals: Naukri, LinkedIn, foundit and Indeed India. Country guides: India.

Questions

Common questions

It depends on the country. Gulf, German and many Asian employers expect a professional photo. Employers in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia do not want one, and a photo can even get your resume rejected.

One page for freshers in most countries. Experienced professionals usually use two pages; Australia, New Zealand and the Gulf often accept two to three pages.

In the UK, Ireland, Europe and the Gulf, "CV" is the usual word for a job application document. In the USA and Canada, a resume is a short, achievement-focused summary, while a CV is a longer academic record.

Yes. Format, length, photo rules, personal details and even spelling change by country. Sending an Indian-style resume abroad is one of the most common reasons for rejection.

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