How to write a CV for Germany (Lebenslauf)
Employers in Germany usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages (tabular). A photo, the date of birth and nationality are usually included, but optional. Many CVs there end with place, date and signature.
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At a glance
| What it is called | Lebenslauf (usually written in German or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages (tabular) |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Tabular, dates in a left column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Numeric (MM/YYYY) |
| Photo | Usually included |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Usually included |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | Leave referees off the CV; have a list ready |
| Explain gaps longer than | 3 months |
| At the end | Place, date and signature |
Key facts
- Germany's General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) aims to prevent discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic origin, sex, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity, including in recruitment. Source: gesetze-im-internet.de
- Germany's Federal Employment Agency says a photo is not required in a job application, although many employers still expect one. Source: arbeitsagentur.de
- In Germany, foreign qualifications for regulated professions such as medicine and nursing must be formally recognised (Anerkennung) before you can practise. Source: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Germany compares with nearby countries
Unlike Czechia and Poland, CVs in Germany usually give the date of birth, leave referees off and are written in German or English.
Unlike Denmark, CVs in Germany usually include a photo, usually give the date of birth and leave referees off.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Lebenslauf | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | German |
| Czechia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | English |
| Denmark | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | English |
| Poland | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Polish |
| Austria | Lebenslauf | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | German |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Germany
- A tabular CV with dates on the left (MM/YYYY) and the newest first is standard.
- A professional photo is still common, but no law requires one, and under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) employers may not discriminate on grounds a photo or birth date can reveal; CVs without them are widely accepted.
- End with place, date and signature.
- Instead of referees, attach references from past employers (Arbeitszeugnisse) and certificates.
- Gaps of more than 2–3 months are usually explained.
Germany follows the same CV conventions as 3 other countries in the Germany, Austria & Switzerland guide.
Section headings in German
If you write the CV in German, these are the usual headings:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Profile | Kurzprofil |
| Experience | Berufserfahrung |
| Education | Ausbildung |
| Skills | Kenntnisse |
| Languages | Sprachen |
| Licences & certifications | Zertifikate & Zulassungen |
| References | Referenzen |
Regulated jobs in Germany
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 | Approbation (or Berufserlaubnis) and Ärztekammer membership |
| Nurses | State permission (Erlaubnis) to use the title Pflegefachfrau / Pflegefachmann, after recognition (Anerkennung) |
| Care workers | Erweitertes Führungszeugnis |
| Childcare workers | Erweitertes Führungszeugnis |
| Engineers | Ingenieurkammer membership (for licensed planning roles) |
| Architects | Architektenkammer membership |
| Electricians | Meisterbrief or Gesellenbrief (Handwerkskammer) |
| Professional drivers | Führerschein C/CE and Code 95 (Berufskraftfahrer) |
| Pilots | EASA licence (LBA) |
| Accountants | Steuerberater / Wirtschaftsprüfer |
| Lawyers | Zulassung bei der Rechtsanwaltskammer |
Germany 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 Germany
- Nurse CV for Germany
- Dentist CV for Germany
- Pharmacist CV for Germany
- Allied health CV for Germany
- Teacher CV for Germany
- Engineer CV for Germany
- Lawyer CV for Germany
- Accountant CV for Germany
- Electrician and trades CV for Germany
- Care worker CV for Germany
- Childcare worker CV for Germany
- Social worker CV for Germany
- Software engineer CV for Germany
Regulated in Germany: Architecture, construction & property, Transport, logistics & supply chain, Aviation & maritime.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a Lebenslauf?
A Lebenslauf is the German-language CV used in Germany: a 2-page, tabular document with dates in a left column (MM/YYYY), your most recent role first, and personal details such as date of birth and nationality. A professional photo is common, and it ends with the place, date and your signature. Instead of referees, attach references from past employers (Arbeitszeugnisse) and certificates.
Do I put a photo on my CV in Germany?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in Germany, although it is rarely required and many employers accept CVs without one. If you include it, use a recent head-and-shoulders picture with a plain, light background and business clothing, placed in the header next to your name. A professional photo is still common, but no law requires one, and under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) employers may not discriminate on grounds a photo or birth date can reveal; CVs without them are widely accepted.
How long should a CV be in Germany?
For a CV in Germany, aim for 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 Germany. 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 Germany?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in Germany, along with your nationality. Put these details in the header or a short personal-details block under your name. Your marital status is optional. Include only what you are comfortable sharing. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in Germany, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I sign my CV in Germany?
Yes, traditionally. A CV for Germany ends with the place and date, for example “Berlin, 15 October 2026”, and your signature. On a PDF you can leave the signature line empty or add a scanned signature. Update the date each time you send it, so it matches the application. Many employers now accept unsigned CVs sent online, but a signed CV is still the norm.
Do I need references on my CV in Germany?
No. Leave referees off a CV for Germany. 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 Germany?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Germany 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 Germany?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Germany that means German, and CV Atlas sets the headings in German 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 Germany include?
A CV for Germany is usually 2 pages on A4 paper, written in German unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect usually a professional photo, usually your date of birth, and no referees. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Germany, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Germany?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Germany, 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 Germany?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Germany, in one short line under your name. It helps recruiters see whether you need a work permit. If you would rather not share it, you can leave it out; employers decide on your experience and qualifications. If you already have the right to work there, a line such as “Holds a work permit” can be more useful than nationality alone.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Germany?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Germany, 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 Germany?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Germany. 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 Germany?
Yes, traditionally. CVs in Germany usually give your full postal address in the personal details, with street, postcode and city. Employers there still expect it, and it shows how far you live from the workplace. Put it under your name together with your phone number and email address. If you are applying from abroad, give your current address and say when you can relocate.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in Germany?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Germany, 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 Germany?
Use numbers, newest first. CVs in Germany usually write dates as month and year in numbers, for example “03/2021 to present”, often in a column on the left of each entry. List your most recent role first, and keep one date format throughout the CV so the timeline is quick to scan. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in Germany?
Explain any gap longer than three months. Recruiters in Germany 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 three months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Germany?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Germany, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for GermanyYour 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.