A country name alone does not settle whether an application needs a photograph. Requirements can differ between employers, roles, and application forms within the same market.
The guidance below is a way to check the request, not a statement of employment law or a promise about screening outcomes. Use our Online CV Maker to prepare the format requested by the employer, and review the exported page before applying.
When to start with a photo-free resume
For a conventional US, Canadian, UK, Irish, Australian, or New Zealand application, start with a photo-free resume unless the vacancy asks for another format. Casting and portfolio applications may have separate image requirements.
A photo-free version is also a practical starting point for applications elsewhere when the employer provides no portrait instructions. Keep the header focused on your name, contact details, resume headline, and relevant experience.
A portrait uses space that could hold text, but the amount depends on the actual design. There is no fixed percentage of header space that every photograph consumes.
Same story. A little more breathing room.
Switch the layout. Watch how spacing and hierarchy change the way this sample reads.
Alex Morgan
Product designerProfile
Product designer focused on making complex workflows easier to understand.
Experience
Product Designer · Example Studio
- Mapped the onboarding journey with the support team.
- Designed and tested a clearer account setup flow.
- Documented reusable components for the engineering team.
Skills
Interaction design · Prototyping · Design systems
Everything is asking for attention.
Closely packed headings and text leave fewer visual signposts. Try the other treatment.
When to check a local application form
- Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: Read the vacancy and any supplied CV instructions. Do not assume a portrait is required because the document is called a Lebenslauf, or assume every employer follows the same convention.
- France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium: Check the employer’s application guidance before adding a portrait. A local language or location does not establish a universal photo requirement.
- Netherlands and the Nordics: Start photo-free when no photo is requested. Follow any explicit format instructions; avoid treating photo use as either always required or always prohibited.
- Japan and South Korea: If an employer supplies a local application form, check whether it requests a photograph and its exact dimensions. Do not infer the same size or requirement for every country or employer.
- Gulf markets: Check the airline, hospital, hotel, or other employer’s form directly. A separate recruiting portrait request does not necessarily mean the same image belongs in the CV header.
Your experience. A fresh canvas.
Try a different look. These are actual Guul template previews, with illustrative sample content.
A clean slate. Literally.
One column, distinct sections, and room for your experience to lead. A simple place to start.
Make this layout yours ↗The builder opens with your selected template.Replace all sample details with your own experience.Explore the resume lookbook →
A practical decision checklist
- Read the vacancy and the application form before choosing a layout.
- If a photo is requested, check where to upload it and which dimensions apply.
- If no photo is requested, keep a photo-free version available.
- Do not add sensitive personal details merely because a template has room for them.
- If instructions conflict, ask the employer which format they accept.
How to prepare both versions cleanly
Keep your career facts consistent across versions. Choose a design that supports the requested photo setting, then inspect the actual header after adding or removing the image. Check that contact details remain readable and that no empty box or unexpected gap remains.
Our CV and resume comparison explains how document purpose and length can differ. It does not replace an employer’s application instructions.