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CV guides

CV guides for working abroad

What employers in each country expect from a CV: length, photo, personal details, licences, skills assessments and language tests. Written from official sources, in plain words.

Country check

Pick a country to see what a CV there usually looks like.

Pick a country

A CV for Australia

Called
Resume (CV is understood too)
Length
About 2 pages
Photo
Usually no photo
Personal details
Name, phone and a professional email on the first page (LinkedIn optional). Leave out date of birth, gender, marital status, family, religion and political views.

What to show

  • Your work rights (one short, true line)
  • Skills assessment (if you have one)
  • Licences and tickets, such as a White Card, with expiry dates
  • Registration for regulated jobs, such as nursing
  • English test result (if you have one)
  • At least two referees who supervised you
Read the guide: CV for AustraliaUse Technical / Trades

A CV for New Zealand

Called
CV (sometimes called a resume)
Length
About 2 pages
Photo
Usually no photo (no images)
Personal details
Name and contact details at the top, with a professional email. Leave out your age, marital status and photo unless the employer asks.

What to show

  • Your right to work in NZ (one short, true line)
  • NZ registration or licence for regulated jobs
  • Overseas qualifications, with any NZQA assessment
  • Driver licence class and the country that issued it
  • Referees, or "Referees available on request"
Read the guide: CV for New ZealandUse ATS Plain

A CV for Canada

Called
Resume (also written résumé)
Length
No more than 2 pages
Photo
No photo
Personal details
Name, where you live, email and phone. Leave out age, marital status, religion, political views and your Social Insurance Number.

What to show

  • Whether you can work in Canada (for example your work permit status)
  • Trade certificates and Red Seal, if you have them
  • Licence or registration status for regulated jobs
  • Achievements, not only duties
  • Languages you speak
Read the guide: Resume for CanadaUse Technical / Trades

A CV for the United Kingdom

Called
CV
Length
Usually no more than 2 A4 pages
Photo
No photo (unless you work in acting or modelling)
Personal details
Name, phone, email and a LinkedIn link if you have one. Leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality.

What to show

  • A short personal statement under your name
  • Your right to work in the UK (one factual line)
  • Professional registration (for example NMC or HCPC) if your job needs it
  • How your overseas qualification compares (UK ENIC), if you have this
Read the guide: CV for the UKUse Classic

A CV for the United Arab Emirates

Called
CV (résumé is understood too)
Length
1 to 2 pages (common advice, not a rule)
Photo
Commonly included, but optional. A professional photo, not a selfie.
Personal details
Commonly included: nationality (both, if you have two) and your visa status if you are already in the UAE. Date of birth and marital status are often added. All optional.

What to show

  • Your notice period or earliest start date
  • Health licence or exam status (MOHAP, DHA or DoH), if you work in health
  • Engineering membership and exams, if you work in construction in Dubai
  • Qualifications exactly as on your attested certificates
  • Certifications, and your driving licence for driving and field jobs
Read the guide: CV for Gulf jobsUse Global Mobility

A CV for Saudi Arabia

Called
CV (résumé is understood too)
Length
No official rule. Keep it short and clear.
Photo
Optional. Follow the job ad or the employer's form.
Personal details
No official rule. Your nationality helps employers who hire from abroad. Some Saudi employers may ask for more personal details, such as marital status and number of children. All optional: include only what you are comfortable with.

What to show

  • Your notice period or earliest start date
  • Saudi Council of Engineers accreditation, if you are an engineer, specialist or technician
  • Professional Verification (practical and theory test), if your trade needs it
  • SCFHS classification or registration status, if you work in health
  • Qualifications exactly as on your certificates
Read the guide: CV for Gulf jobsUse Global Mobility

A CV for Qatar

Called
CV (résumé is understood too)
Length
No official rule. Keep it short and clear.
Photo
Optional. Follow the job ad or the employer's form.
Personal details
No official rule. Your nationality helps employers who hire from abroad. Other personal details are optional: include only what you are comfortable with.

What to show

  • Your notice period or earliest start date
  • Health licence status (Department of Healthcare Professions), if you work in health
  • Engineers Record registration (Ministry of Municipality), if you are an engineer
  • Qualifications exactly as on your attested certificates
Read the guide: CV for Gulf jobsUse Global Mobility

A CV for Germany

Called
Lebenslauf (CV)
Length
At most 2 A4 pages, written as a table
Photo
No longer required, but still usual in many sectors. A professional photo, not a selfie or passport photo.
Personal details
Name, address, phone, email, date and place of birth. Nationality and family status are voluntary.

What to show

  • Your German level (A1 to C2) and other languages
  • Recognition of your qualification (Anerkennung), if you have it or need it
  • Copies of your certificates and work references (Zeugnisse)
  • 3 to 5 bullet points of real tasks for each job
Read the guide: CV for Germany and EuropeUse Compact One-Page

General CV advice, not immigration advice. Visa rules change; check the official website or speak to a registered migration adviser.

Country guides

How to write a CV for Australia (a resume guide for skilled workers)

About 2 pages, no photo, and clear details of your work rights, skills assessment, licences and White Card.

Read the guide

How to write a CV for New Zealand jobs

About 2 pages, no images, words from the job ad, referees, your right to work and any NZ registration.

Read the guide

How to write a resume for Canada (a guide for skilled workers)

A 2-page resume with no photo and no personal details, plus how to show your work permit, trade certificates and licences.

Read the guide

UK CV format: how to write a CV for UK jobs

A 2-page CV with a personal statement and no photo or personal details, plus how to show your right to work and registration.

Read the guide

How to write a CV for Gulf jobs: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Personal details, photo and notice period, plus how to show licences, engineering accreditation and attested qualifications for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Read the guide

CV for Germany and Europe: format and tips for skilled workers

The tabular German Lebenslauf, photo or not, language levels A1 to C2, recognition of your qualification and the Europass CV.

Read the guide

This is general CV advice, not immigration advice. Visa rules change; check the official website or speak to a registered migration adviser.

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