How to write a CV for Hong Kong
Employers in Hong Kong usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages. If you are not a citizen, your right to work or visa status is usually stated.
Build a CV for Hong KongYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | Curriculum Vitae |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| 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 | Usually included |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- Hong Kong has four anti-discrimination ordinances, covering sex (including marital status and pregnancy), disability, family status and race, enforced by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Source: eoc.org.hk
- In Hong Kong, doctors must be registered with the Medical Council of Hong Kong. Source: mchk.org.hk
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Hong Kong compares with nearby countries
Unlike Taiwan, CVs in Hong Kong may include a photo and are written in English.
Unlike Vietnam, CVs in Hong Kong may include a photo, may give the date of birth and say references are available on request.
Macau follows the same conventions, so one CV can serve both if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Macau | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Taiwan | 履歷表 | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Vietnam | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Philippines | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | Letter | English |
| Singapore | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Hong Kong
- English CVs in international style are the norm.
- State right to work (permanent resident, visa).
- Expected salary is often asked.
Hong Kong follows the same CV conventions as 1 other country in the Hong Kong & Macau guide.
Regulated jobs in Hong Kong
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 | Medical Council of Hong Kong registration |
Guides by job
Regulated in Hong Kong: Medicine (doctors).
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Hong Kong?
It’s optional. A CV for Hong Kong 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. When in doubt, follow the style of CVs in the employer’s own job adverts or website.
How long should a CV be in Hong Kong?
For a CV in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong. 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 Hong Kong?
It’s optional. Many CVs in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Hong Kong?
Not in full. On a CV for Hong Kong it is normal to write “References available on request” and keep a separate list of two referees, usually recent managers, with their contact details. Send that list when an employer asks, which is usually after an interview. Ask your referees first so they expect the call.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Hong Kong?
Yes, if you are not a citizen of Hong Kong. State your right to work or visa status near the top of the CV, for example under your contact details, in a few words such as “Permanent resident” or “Requires visa sponsorship”. Recruiters there check this early, so saying it upfront saves a round of questions. State right to work (permanent resident, visa).
What language should my CV be in for Hong Kong?
English. CVs for Hong Kong are normally written in English. Follow the language of the job advert if it differs, and keep one language throughout: headings, dates and descriptions should all match. Have a native speaker check the final version if English is not your first language. CV Atlas writes the section headings in the language you choose, so switch it to match the advert.
What should a CV for Hong Kong include?
A CV for Hong Kong is usually 2 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, date of birth optional, and “References available on request” at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose Hong Kong, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Hong Kong?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong?
It’s optional. Some CVs in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Hong Kong. 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 Hong Kong?
Just your city and country. A CV for Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
No. CVs in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Hong Kong, 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 Hong KongYour 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.