How to write a CV for India
Employers in India usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2–3 pages. The date of birth and nationality are usually included, but optional. Many CVs there end with a signed declaration.
Build a CV for IndiaYour 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 | 2–3 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Usually included |
| Marital status | Usually included |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | List two or three referees with contact details |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
| At the end | A signed declaration |
Key facts
- In India, doctors must be registered with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council to practise. Source: nmc.org.in
- In India, nurses register with a State Nursing Council; the Indian Nursing Council sets national standards for nursing education. Source: indiannursingcouncil.org
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How India compares with nearby countries
Unlike Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan, CVs in India may include a photo.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Pakistan | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Nepal | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Afghanistan | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| Bhutan | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | 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 India
- India: multinationals and most private employers don’t expect a photo; government and some local employers still ask for one.
- A personal details block (date of birth, nationality, languages) is common.
- A declaration with place and date at the end is customary.
- Freshers lead with education, academic projects and internships.
- Multinationals increasingly prefer the international style without personal details.
India follows the same CV conventions as 7 other countries in the South Asia guide, with the local differences marked above.
Regulated jobs in India
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 | National Medical Commission / State Medical Council registration |
| Nurses | Indian Nursing Council / State Nursing Council registration |
| Dentists | Dental Council of India / State Dental Council registration |
| Pharmacists | Pharmacy Council of India / State Pharmacy Council registration |
| Teachers | B.Ed. and CTET / state TET |
| Engineers | Institution of Engineers (India) membership (optional) |
| Architects | Council of Architecture registration |
| Pilots | DGCA licence |
| Seafarers | DG Shipping CoC and STCW |
| Accountants | ICAI membership (CA) |
| Lawyers | Bar Council of India / State Bar Council enrolment |
Guides by job
Regulated in India: Medicine (doctors), Nursing & midwifery, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Childcare & early years, Teaching & education, Engineering, Architecture, construction & property, Aviation & maritime, Finance, accounting & banking, Law & legal services.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in India?
It’s optional. A CV for India 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 India?
For a CV in India, aim for 2–3 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 India. 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 India?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in India, along with your nationality and marital status. Put these details in the header or a short personal-details block under your name. Include only what you are comfortable sharing. A personal details block (date of birth, nationality, languages) is common.
Do I need a declaration at the end of my CV in India?
It is customary. Many CVs in India end with a one-line declaration that the information is true, followed by the place, date and your name. Use plain wording such as “I hereby declare that the information given above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.” Multinational employers increasingly accept CVs without it. A declaration with place and date at the end is customary.
Do I need references on my CV in India?
Yes. CVs in India usually end with two or three referees: recent supervisors or managers, with their job title, organisation, phone number and email. Ask each person before you list them, and tell them which jobs you are applying for so they are ready when a recruiter calls. Multinationals increasingly prefer the international style without personal details.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in India?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in India 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 India?
English. CVs for India 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 India include?
A CV for India is usually 2–3 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, usually your date of birth, and two or three referees at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose India, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for India?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in India, 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 India?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in India, 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 India?
It’s common to include it. Many CVs in India list marital status in the personal details, in one short word such as “Married” or “Single”. It is still your choice: employers decide on your experience and qualifications, so leave it out if you prefer not to share it. Where it is listed, keep it to one word, with no further family details.
Should I put my gender on my CV in India?
It’s optional. Some CVs in India include gender in the personal details, usually alongside date of birth and nationality, but many leave it out. Add it only if the job advert or application form asks for it, and keep it to one word in the personal details line. Your experience and qualifications matter far more to employers than personal details.
Do I need my full address on my CV in India?
Just your city and country. A CV for India 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 India?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for India, 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 India?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for India, 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 India?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in India 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.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in India?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in India, 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 IndiaYour 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.