Should you put a photo on your CV? A country-by-country answer
Few CV questions get such different answers around the world. In Dubai a CV without a photo can look incomplete; in New York a CV with one can be set aside before anyone reads it. The right choice depends on where you apply, not on what looks nicer.
The short answer
| Where you apply | Photo? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) | Yes, expected | Common practice; recruiters match faces to interviews and visa files |
| France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy | Optional | Still common, but many employers now prefer anonymous CVs |
| United Kingdom, Ireland | No | Equality law; employers avoid information unrelated to skills |
| United States | No | Anti-discrimination law; many recruiters reject CVs with photos |
| Canada | No | Human rights legislation; same reasons as the US |
| International organisations, multinationals | Follow the job posting | Many use their own forms; some ask explicitly for no photo |
When a job posting gives an instruction, follow it. It overrides any country habit.
Why some countries say no
In the US, Canada and the UK, laws forbid employers from rejecting candidates because of age, sex, ethnicity, religion or disability. A photo reveals some of these things whether you want it or not. To protect themselves from any suspicion of bias, many companies prefer not to receive photos at all, and some recruiters remove or ignore CVs that include one. A photo will not help you there and can only hurt.
Why the Gulf says yes
In the Gulf, a photo is part of the professional norm, along with nationality and visa status. Recruiters often handle large numbers of international applications and use the photo to put a face to a name across calls, interviews and paperwork. Leaving it out is not illegal, but your CV may look less complete than those of other candidates.
How to take a good CV photo
You don't need a studio. A phone and a window are enough if you follow a few rules:
- Head and shoulders, facing the camera, eyes level with the lens.
- Plain, light background: a wall, not your living room.
- Soft daylight from the front or the side. Avoid flash and harsh shadows.
- Dress as you would for the interview in that country and sector.
- A natural, neutral expression. A light smile is fine.
- Recent: within the last year or two.
- Good quality: sharp, not stretched, at least 400 pixels wide.
Avoid selfies taken at arm's length, sunglasses, filters, holiday backgrounds, group photos cropped to your face and photos where you look much younger than you are.
Placement and size
On a two-column CV, the photo usually sits at the top of the side column. On a single-column CV, it goes beside your name. Keep it small (around 3 to 4 cm wide on A4); it should support your CV, not dominate it.
One CV, several countries
If you apply in the Gulf and in Canada at the same time, you need two versions: one with the photo and personal details, one without. CV Passport keeps your photo saved and simply doesn't print it when you switch to a country where photos are discouraged, so you can download both versions from the same CV.