Whether to put a photo on your CV depends almost entirely on where you are applying. In the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia, leave it off — many employers there discard CVs containing photos to limit discrimination exposure. Across much of continental Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, a photo is conventional and its absence looks odd.
Country by country
| Where | Photo? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland | No | Equality legislation makes recruiters wary of holding images. Some firms reject on sight. |
| US, Canada | No | Same reasoning, applied strictly. Also no age, marital status or nationality. |
| Australia, New Zealand | No | Conventionally omitted. |
| Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Usually yes | Long-standing convention, though large firms increasingly say it is optional. |
| France, Spain, Italy, Portugal | Commonly yes | Widely expected, particularly for client-facing roles. |
| Nordics | Optional | Neither expected nor a problem. |
| Central and Eastern Europe | Usually yes | Standard on most applications. |
| Middle East, Gulf states | Usually yes | Often requested alongside nationality and date of birth. |
| Pakistan, India, Bangladesh | Commonly yes | Still standard on many applications. See our Pakistan CV guide. |
| China, Japan, South Korea | Yes | Expected, often to a specified size and style. |
| Europass CV | Optional field | The format includes a photo slot; whether to fill it follows the destination country. |
When the destination is unclear
Two useful defaults. If the company is headquartered in a no-photo country, leave it off even if the role is elsewhere — their recruiting policy usually follows head office. If you are applying through an international recruiter, ask; it takes one message.
When genuinely uncertain, omitting the photo is the safer error. In a photo-expecting market a missing photo is a mild oddity. In a no-photo market, a photo can get the file deleted unread.
The bias point, stated plainly
The reason the UK and US moved away from photos is that they demonstrably introduce bias on age, ethnicity, gender and attractiveness — before anyone has read a word of your experience. That is worth knowing regardless of where you apply, because it means a photo is not a neutral addition. It is a piece of information that can only help you with some readers and can only hurt you with others.
If you do include one
- Recent — within about two years.
- Plain background — a wall, not your kitchen.
- Head and shoulders, filling most of the frame.
- Even, front-facing light. Near a window works; overhead ceiling light does not.
- Dressed for the interview, one notch smarter if in doubt.
- Looking at the camera, neutral expression or a small smile.
- Small — roughly 2.5cm to 3.5cm wide, top corner, not dominating the page.
What not to use
A cropped group photo, a holiday picture, a heavily filtered selfie, sunglasses, a full-body shot, or anything with another person’s shoulder still in frame. If your only option is one of these, no photo is better.
The practical approach
Keep two versions of your CV: one with a photo and the extra personal fields for markets that expect them, one without for the UK, US, Canada and Australia. A builder that lets you toggle the photo and duplicate a CV makes this a ten-second job rather than a second document to maintain.
Build your CV free — ten ATS-safe templates, an instant quality score, and a PDF or Word download. No account needed, and your CV stays in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on my CV?
It depends on the country. In the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia, no — employers there often discard CVs with photos to limit discrimination exposure. In Germany, France, Spain, much of Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, a photo is conventional.
Why do UK and US employers not want a photo?
Because holding an image that reveals age, gender, ethnicity and appearance creates legal exposure under equality legislation. Some companies have policies requiring recruiters to reject CVs with photos before shortlisting.
What makes a good CV photo where one is expected?
A recent, well-lit headshot against a plain background, in the clothing you would wear to the interview, looking at the camera with a neutral or slight smile. Not cropped from a group photo, not a holiday picture.
Does a photo help me get more interviews?
There is no reliable evidence that it does, even in countries where it is expected, and clear evidence it introduces bias. Include one when it is conventional or requested, not because you think it improves your odds.