CV and Resume Format by Country (2026)
Length, paper size, photo rules, personal details and spelling change from country to country. Here is a side-by-side comparison, with a full guide for each market.
| Country | Name | Length | Paper | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Resume | 1 page for up to ~10 years of experience; 2 pages for senior roles | US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) | No |
| UK | CV | 2 pages of A4 (1 page for school leavers and many graduates) | A4 | No (except acting, modelling and some front-of-house roles) |
| Canada | Resume | 1–2 pages | US Letter | No |
| Australia | Resume (CV also used) | 2–3 pages | A4 | No |
| India | Resume / CV | 1 page for freshers, up to 2 pages with experience | A4 | Optional; not needed for multinationals and IT companies |
| UAE/GCC | CV | 2 pages | A4 | Common but optional; skip for multinationals |
| EU | CV (Lebenslauf in Germany, CV in France, cv in the Netherlands) | 1–2 pages (Europass can be longer) | A4 | Common in Germany, Austria, Belgium and parts of Southern/Eastern Europe; optional or unusual in the Netherlands, Ireland and the Nordics |
What changes between countries
- Personal details: the US, UK, Canada and Australia avoid photos, age and marital status; the Gulf and parts of Europe still often include a photo and nationality.
- Work rights: Gulf recruiters expect visa status in the header; in the UK, Canada and Australia a right-to-work line helps if you aren't a citizen; in the US only mention sponsorship if needed.
- Spelling: American English for the US; British for the UK, Australia, India, the Gulf and English-language EU CVs; Canadian mixes both.
- Paper: US Letter in the US and Canada, A4 almost everywhere else.
See also: CV vs resume: what's the difference?
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FAQ
What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
In the US and Canada a resume is a 1–2 page summary for most jobs and a CV is a long academic document. In the UK, Ireland, Europe, India and the Gulf, "CV" is the everyday word for the same 1–2 page document.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Not in the US, UK, Canada or Australia. It is common but optional in the Gulf and parts of Europe (Germany, Austria), and optional in India.
Can I use one CV for several countries?
Keep one master version, then adjust length, spelling, paper size, personal details and the work-rights line for each country. The free builder does this with one click.