Quick answer: three different expectations
Expected / common: Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A professional photo remains a familiar part of an application, even where it is optional.
Optional: France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Italy. Check the employer’s instructions and the local guidance below.
Leave it off: the UK and US. Keep the resume focused on qualifications and use your photo on LinkedIn instead.
Applying where a CV photo is common? Create yours →CV photo rules by country
| Country | Photo on CV? | Notes (format and local guidance) | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Common, not compulsory | A photo is normal in practice; AGG guidance says job advertisements should not request one. | |
| Switzerland | Expected / common | A professional application photo is common in the Swiss dossier. | |
| Austria | Common, not compulsory | A photo is usual, but employers cannot insist on one. | |
| France | Optional | A photo is optional. Requiring one should be exceptional. | |
| Netherlands | Optional, commonly included | There is no obligation to include a photo. Follow the application instructions. | |
| Belgium | Optional | Include a photo only if appropriate for the role or requested. | |
| Spain | Optional, recommended | SEPE recommends an ID-style photo: neutral background, no selfie. EURES says it is not compulsory. | |
| Italy | Optional | A photo is not needed unless requested. | |
| United Kingdom | Leave it off | Keep ordinary CVs focused on experience and skills; acting and modelling are different. | |
| United States | Leave it off | EEOC says employers should not ask for a photo before an offer; career guidance advises avoiding pictures. |
Germany
Common, not compulsory- Notes (format and local guidance)
- A photo is normal in practice; AGG guidance says job advertisements should not request one.
- Official source
Switzerland
Expected / common- Notes (format and local guidance)
- A professional application photo is common in the Swiss dossier.
- Official source
Austria
Common, not compulsory- Notes (format and local guidance)
- A photo is usual, but employers cannot insist on one.
- Official source
France
Optional- Notes (format and local guidance)
- A photo is optional. Requiring one should be exceptional.
- Official source
Netherlands
Optional, commonly included- Notes (format and local guidance)
- There is no obligation to include a photo. Follow the application instructions.
- Official source
Belgium
Optional- Notes (format and local guidance)
- Include a photo only if appropriate for the role or requested.
- Official source
Spain
Optional, recommended- Notes (format and local guidance)
- SEPE recommends an ID-style photo: neutral background, no selfie. EURES says it is not compulsory.
- Official source
Italy
Optional- Notes (format and local guidance)
- A photo is not needed unless requested.
- Official source
United Kingdom
Leave it off- Notes (format and local guidance)
- Keep ordinary CVs focused on experience and skills; acting and modelling are different.
- Official source
United States
Leave it off- Notes (format and local guidance)
- EEOC says employers should not ask for a photo before an offer; career guidance advises avoiding pictures.
- Official source
Germany: a common Bewerbungsfoto, with a choice
A Bewerbungsfoto is common in Germany. Federal anti-discrimination guidance says employers should not ask for one in a job advertisement. If you include one, use a recent professional portrait, usually at the top of the CV or on a cover sheet. A portrait crop around 4:5 is a practical choice; your application template determines the final size.
Switzerland: a familiar part of the dossier
A professional photo is common in the Swiss application dossier. Keep it current, with a clear face, even lighting and clothing that suits the role. The University of Zurich’s career guide describes an application photo as part of the CV.
France: optional, rather than a condition of applying
You may include a photo on a French CV, but it is optional. The Défenseur des droits recommends that requiring one should remain exceptional. You can apply with a CV focused on skills and experience.
The Netherlands: optional, commonly included
A CV photo is not mandatory. Some applicants include one; others leave it off. Follow the employer’s instructions and choose based on the role, rather than assuming every Dutch CV needs a portrait.
Spain: recommended, but not compulsory
SEPE’s 2025 guidance recommends an ID-style photo with a neutral background and no selfie, while EURES says it is not compulsory. Use a finished professional portrait if you include one. Read the Spanish version for local advice.
UK and US: leave the photo off ordinary resumes
University career guidance recommends keeping photos out of ordinary UK and US resumes. In the US, the EEOC says employers should not ask for a photograph before an offer. A photo can reveal personal characteristics unrelated to the job; it also adds an image that some applicant-tracking systems may parse poorly. Use your LinkedIn photo separately. Acting and modelling applications have different requirements.
Can an employer demand a photo?
Generally, a photo should not be a blanket requirement for an ordinary application. Anti-discrimination guidance and data-minimisation principles favour collecting information relevant to the role. The rules differ by country, and genuine role-specific exceptions may apply, particularly for acting and modelling. The official links above are a starting point; this guide is general information, not legal advice.
What a good CV photo looks like
Frame your head and shoulders, with the eyes around the upper third. Choose a neutral or softly blurred background and clothing one step more formal than the job’s everyday dress code. Use a natural expression, avoid filters, and replace the photo when your appearance changes. See professional photo backgrounds and our job application photo guide.
Is an AI headshot OK on a CV?
Use an AI photo only when it looks like you today. Keep your age, weight and facial features recognisable, so the interviewer can identify you immediately. Be open about how you made it if asked. One clear selfie is enough for Portreya; additional source photos are optional. A finished photo takes about 60 seconds per image.
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One clear selfie is enough. Choose a style and create a portrait that still looks like you.
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Frequently asked questions
What size should a CV photo be?
Use a clear head-and-shoulders portrait that fits your CV template. A digital portrait crop around 4:5 is a practical choice; there is no universal CV-photo size.
Should a CV photo be colour or black and white?
Either can work. Natural colour is a straightforward choice; clear lighting and a recognisable face matter more than the colour treatment.
Can I reuse my LinkedIn photo?
Yes, if it is recent, professional and recognisably you. Include it in the CV only where the country and application instructions make that appropriate.
Does Europass require a photo?
A photo is optional. Check the employer’s instructions and the local guidance before adding one.
Should I put a photo on a US resume?
Leave it off an ordinary US resume. Keep the document focused on experience and skills, and use your professional photo separately on LinkedIn.
Is an AI photo honest?
It can be, if it represents how you look today without changing your age, weight or facial features. Explain how it was made if asked.
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