CV Format Guide by Country
International Standards Compared
Every country has its own unwritten rules about what belongs on a professional application document — and what absolutely does not. A photograph that is mandatory in Japan will get your CV rejected in Canada. A references section that is standard in Nigeria is considered a waste of space in the UK. Even the name of the document itself changes: it is a “CV” in Europe, a “resume” in North America, and a “Rirekisho” in Japan.
This reference guide compares the formatting requirements of 10 major job markets. Use it to check the exact rules before you submit your next international application.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Equality Act 2010 prohibits personal identifiers. Reverse-chronological order. Professional Summary replaces Career Objective.
🇨🇦 Canada
Achievements must be quantified. 'Resume' not 'CV' for industry roles. References section removed entirely.
🇺🇸 United States
Extreme brevity valued. GPA included if recent graduate. Skills section highly keyword-optimised for ATS.
🇯🇵 Japan
Chronological order (oldest first). Reason for leaving each job is mandatory. Hobbies section required. JIS grid format.
🇩🇪 Germany
Tabular format preferred. Handwritten cover letter sometimes requested. Date of birth commonly included.
🇦🇺 Australia
Both 'CV' and 'resume' are acceptable terms. Work rights statement is critical. Achievement-focused bullet points expected.
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Bio-data section is standard. Guarantor/referee section common. NYSC listed under experience. Career Objective used.
🇮🇳 India
Declaration section at bottom is common. Passport details often included. Personal details section is extensive.
🇫🇷 France
Strict one-page rule. Handwritten motivation letter sometimes required. Hobbies section commonly included.
🇦🇪 UAE / Gulf States
Visa status is critical. Nationality often determines eligibility. Professional photo expected. Salary expectations sometimes included.
How to Use This Guide
Before applying to any international role, check the formatting expectations for your target country in the table above. Pay close attention to whether a photo is expected or prohibited, whether personal details should be included or removed, and what the document should even be called.
If you need to convert your existing CV from one country's format to another, CV Bridger handles the structural transformation automatically. Upload your document, select your target country, and our tool will restructure your content to match the exact conventions expected by employers in that market.