How to write a CV for jobs abroad from India

A CV for a job abroad follows the norms of the country you are applying to, not Indian ones. For the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, that usually means no photo, no date of birth and no marital status. Gulf and German CVs often do include a photo and some personal details. Whichever country you apply to, spell out your degree and grading scale, state your work authorisation and notice period, and write figures in international formats rather than lakhs and crores.

Country conventions at a glance

These are general norms. They vary by employer, industry and seniority. If a job advert or application portal asks for something specific, follow that over any general rule.

Country	Usual length	Photo	Date of birth, marital status	References	Cover letter
UK	2 pages	No	No	Usually left off; given when asked	Commonly expected
US	1 page early career, 2 for experienced	No	No	Separate list, when asked	Often optional, still read
Canada	1–2 pages	No	No	Separate list, when asked	Commonly expected
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar	2–3 pages	Commonly included	Often included, with nationality and visa status	Sometimes listed	Often a short email
Germany	1–2 pages (Lebenslauf)	Often included, not required	Optional; less common now	Employer reference letters attached	Expected (Anschreiben)
Australia	2–3 pages	No	No	Two referees, or "on request"	Expected

United Kingdom

• Two pages is the usual length. Recent graduates can often fit on one.
• Leave out the photo, date of birth, age, marital status, religion and father's name. UK employers generally don't expect them, and many would rather not receive them.
• Start with a short profile of three or four lines, then your experience in reverse order. Your city is enough for an address.
• Use British spelling ("organisation", "programme") and call the document a CV.

United States and Canada

• In the US, the document is a resume: usually one page early in your career and two once you have more experience. The long academic "CV" is a different document, used mainly for research and faculty roles. Our resume vs CV guide explains the difference.
• Canadian resumes run to one or two pages, and two is common for experienced candidates.
• In both countries, leave out the photo, date of birth, gender, marital status and other personal details.
• Many large employers screen applications with applicant tracking systems. Keep the layout simple: one column, standard headings, no text in images. Our guide to ATS-friendly resumes covers this.
• Use American spelling for US roles. Canadian spelling mostly follows British. If you speak French, say so for Canadian roles.

The Gulf: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

• Gulf CVs are usually two to three pages.
• A professional photo is commonly included. Some multinationals now prefer none, so check the advert.
• Nationality and visa status are commonly stated near the top. Date of birth and marital status also appear often, though they are not always needed.
• Mention your current location, whether you can relocate or are already in the country, any GCC driving licence, and languages, especially Arabic.
• Recruiters in the region often contact candidates on WhatsApp, so make sure your number is on WhatsApp.

Germany and wider Europe

• The German CV, the Lebenslauf, is traditionally tabular: dates in a left column and roles on the right, in reverse order. One to two pages is usual.
• A photo has long been conventional and is still often included. German employers can't require one, and many international firms and English-speaking roles are happy without it. Treat it as optional and follow the advert.
• Date of birth and nationality used to be standard. They are now optional, and many applicants leave them out.
• Signing and dating the Lebenslauf is traditional but now optional.
• A full application often includes a cover letter (Anschreiben) and copies of degree certificates and employer reference letters. Your Indian experience and relieving letters can serve as the reference letters.
• Apply in German if the advert is in German. Otherwise, English is usually fine.
• Elsewhere in Europe, norms differ. Dutch and Nordic employers are often closer to UK style, and a photo is more common in some southern and central European countries. The EU's Europass format is accepted but is not required by most private employers.

Australia

• Australian resumes tend to be longer than American ones: two to three pages is common for experienced candidates.
• Leave out the photo, date of birth and marital status.
• Australian employers take referees seriously. List two recent managers with their contact details, or write "Referees available on request".
• Government roles often ask for written responses to selection criteria. These are separate from the resume and should answer each criterion with an example.

Presenting Indian degrees and grades

Make Indian qualifications easy to read:

• Write the degree in full once: "Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Mechanical Engineering". Add a short note where it helps, for example "PGDM (two-year postgraduate management programme)".
• Always give the scale: "CGPA 8.2/10" or "78% (First Class with Distinction)". A number without its scale means little outside India.
• Don't convert grades yourself into a US GPA or a UK degree class. Conversion methods vary, and a home-made figure can look misleading. If an employer or institution wants an equivalence, use a recognised service. In the UK that is UK ENIC. In the US and Canada, credential evaluators such as WES are widely used. In Germany, the anabin database shows how Indian universities and degrees are rated.
• Drop Class X and XII marks once you have a degree and some work experience. Freshers can keep them if they are strong.

Notice period and visa status

Indian notice periods are often longer than employers abroad expect, and an unclear visa position can get an application set aside. Add a short line near the top, under your contact details:

• Work authorisation: Requires employer visa sponsorship
• Visa status: Indian national; hold a UAE residence visa (transferable)
• Notice period: 60 days, negotiable

Only write what is true today. Visa rules change and differ by role, so check the employer's instructions and the official government immigration website of the country before describing your eligibility.

Salary: usually leave it out

Don't put your current or expected salary on the CV. Indian CTC includes components that don't map neatly onto salary structures abroad, and a figure on the page can anchor a negotiation against you. If an application form asks, give a researched range in the local currency (GBP, USD, AED, EUR and so on) as annual gross pay.

Numbers, currency and phone numbers

Lakhs and crores confuse most readers outside South Asia, and so does Indian digit grouping (1,00,000). Convert them:

Indian format	International format
₹1 lakh (1,00,000)	INR 100,000
₹10 lakh	INR 1 million
₹1 crore	INR 10 million
₹45 crore	INR 450 million
₹100 crore	INR 1 billion

• Write "INR" rather than the ₹ symbol, which some fonts and systems don't display. You can add an approximate figure in the local currency, marked "approx.", as long as you used a current exchange rate.
• Percentages and multiples ("grew revenue 40%", "three times the previous volume") read the same everywhere and often work better than raw figures.
• Write your phone number in international format: +91 98765 43210. If you are already in the country, give the local number first.

References

Unless the country or advert asks for them, you don't need referees on the CV itself. Keep a list of two or three people ready: recent managers who know your work, with email addresses and phone numbers in international format. For Germany, attach experience letters. For Australia, list referees or state that they are available.

Cover letters

A cover letter matters more for overseas applications, because it can answer questions that would otherwise count against you. Keep it to one page and cover:

• why this role and this organisation, specifically;
• two or three results from your experience that match the advert;
• why you are moving, and your visa status and notice period;
• when you could start and whether you are open to interviewing by video.

Match the country's tone, and avoid Indian letter phrases such as "respected sir/madam" and "kindly do the needful".

You can compare layouts in our sample CVs and templates. Fieldcraft also rebuilds CVs for Indian applicants targeting a specific country if you'd rather have it done for you.

Questions people ask

Should I put a photo on my CV for jobs abroad?

Usually not for the UK, the US, Canada or Australia. For the Gulf, a professional photo is commonly included. In Germany it is often included but optional. Follow the advert if it says otherwise.

How do I show CGPA on a CV for the UK or US?

Write it with its scale, for example "CGPA 8.2/10", and give the degree name in full. Don't convert it to a GPA or degree class yourself. If an employer wants an equivalence, use a recognised credential evaluation service.

Should I mention that I need visa sponsorship?

Yes. A short, accurate line such as "Requires employer visa sponsorship" saves time on both sides. Check the employer's instructions and the official government immigration website for what applies to your role.

How long should a CV for Dubai or the Gulf be?

Usually two to three pages, with a photo, nationality, visa status and current location near the top.

Do I need a different CV for each country?

Yes, if you are applying to more than one region. Keep one master version with everything, then adapt the length, personal details, photo, spelling and work authorisation line for each country.