How to write a CV for France
Employers in France usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1 page for under ~10 years’ experience, 2 maximum.
Build a CV for FranceYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | CV (usually written in French or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 page for under ~10 years’ experience, 2 maximum |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Two columns (side column for skills) |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Optional |
| Nationality | Optional |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | Leave referees off the CV; have a list ready |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- Under Article L1221-6 of the French Labour Code, information an employer asks of a job applicant must have a direct and necessary link with the job or with the assessment of professional skills. Source: legifrance.gouv.fr
- In France, doctors must be registered with the Ordre des médecins before they can practise. Source: conseil-national.medecin.fr
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How France compares with nearby countries
Unlike Belgium, CVs in France leave referees off.
Unlike the United Kingdom, CVs in France may include a photo, may give the date of birth and leave referees off.
Luxembourg follows the same conventions, so one CV can serve both if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | CV | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Belgium | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Luxembourg | CV | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Netherlands | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Dutch |
| Germany | Lebenslauf | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | German |
Tips for France
- Put the job title you are targeting at the top (titre du CV).
- One page is expected early in a career; recruiters skim quickly.
- A photo is optional and less common than it used to be.
- The “Centres d’intérêt” section is read; keep it specific.
France follows the same CV conventions as 2 other countries in the France & francophone Europe guide.
Section headings in French
If you write the CV in French, these are the usual headings:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Profile | Profil |
| Experience | Expérience professionnelle |
| Education | Formation |
| Skills | Compétences |
| Languages | Langues |
| Licences & certifications | Certifications & habilitations |
| References | Références |
Regulated jobs in France
For these jobs, put your registration or licence near the top of the CV, or say that your application is in progress.
| Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|
| Doctors | Ordre des médecins registration |
| Nurses | Ordre national des infirmiers registration |
| Architects | Ordre des architectes registration |
| Pilots | EASA licence (DGAC) |
| Lawyers | Inscription au Barreau |
France is in the EU/EEA, so many professional qualifications from other member states are recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC; doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, architects and vets get automatic recognition.
Guides by job
- Doctor CV for France
- Nurse CV for France
- Dentist CV for France
- Pharmacist CV for France
- Allied health CV for France
- Teacher CV for France
- Engineer CV for France
- Lawyer CV for France
- Accountant CV for France
- Electrician and trades CV for France
- Care worker CV for France
- Childcare worker CV for France
- Social worker CV for France
- Software engineer CV for France
Regulated in France: Architecture, construction & property, Aviation & maritime.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a CV called in France?
A CV in France is usually titled “CV”. It covers the same ground as an English CV, with experience, education, skills and languages, but follows local habits: photo optional, 1–2 pages, and the most recent role first. Write it in French unless the job advert is in English. CV Atlas uses the title “CV” and French headings when the CV language matches the country.
Do I put a photo on my CV in France?
It’s optional. A CV for France works with or without a photo, and most employers decide on your experience and qualifications. If you add one, keep it professional: a recent head-and-shoulders picture on a plain, light background. Leave it out if the job advert or application form says not to include one. A photo is optional and less common than it used to be.
How long should a CV be in France?
For a CV in France, aim for 1–2 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in France. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in France?
It’s optional. Many CVs in France include a date of birth in the personal details, but plenty leave it out, and employers decide on your experience. If you add personal details, keep them to one short line under your name. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in France, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in France?
No. Leave referees off a CV for France. Employers there ask for references separately, usually late in the process, so the space is better used for your experience. Keep a list of two or three referees with their job title, phone number and email ready to send when asked. Ask your referees in advance so they are ready to respond quickly.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in France?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in France usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.
What language should my CV be in for France?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in France that means French, and CV Atlas sets the headings in French by default. If the advert is in English or the employer works internationally, an English CV is usually accepted; keep one language throughout and have a native speaker check it. You can switch the CV language in CV Atlas at any time; the headings and dates change, but write your own entries in the same language.
What should a CV for France include?
A CV for France is usually 1–2 pages on A4 paper, written in French unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, date of birth optional, and no referees. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose France, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for France?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in France, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in France?
It’s optional. Some CVs in France list nationality in the personal details and many leave it out. Add it if it helps, for example if you already hold the right to work there or the job advert asks for it. Otherwise the space is better used for your experience and skills. Online application forms often ask about nationality or the right to work separately.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in France?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in France, and most modern CVs leave it out because it says nothing about how you do the job. Add it only if a job advert or application form asks for it, and then keep it to a single word in the personal details. Use the space for your skills, licences and languages instead.
Should I put my gender on my CV in France?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for France. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.
Do I need my full address on my CV in France?
Just your city and country. A CV for France needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in France?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for France, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How should I write dates on a CV in France?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for France, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in France?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in France usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in France?
No. CVs in France are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in France?
Yes, a short line. CVs in France often end with a few interests, such as sport, volunteering or music. Keep it to one line of specific activities, and choose ones that show teamwork, commitment or skills that fit the job. Recruiters there sometimes use them to start a conversation at interview. Leave out anything you would not be happy to talk about in an interview.
Start your CV for FranceYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.