How to write a CV for Iran
Employers in Iran usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages. A photo, the date of birth and nationality are usually included, but optional.
Build a CV for IranYour 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 | Usually included |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Usually included |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| Military service | Usually included |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
How Iran compares with nearby countries
Unlike Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, CVs in Iran are written in English.
Iraq follows the same conventions, so one CV can serve both if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Azerbaijan | Резюме | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Russian |
| Turkmenistan | Резюме | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Russian |
| Iraq | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Kuwait | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Iran
- Photo, date of birth and nationality are commonly included.
- In countries with conscription, men often state military service status.
- French is the usual CV language in the Maghreb; English or Arabic in the Mashreq.
Iran follows the same CV conventions as 12 other countries in the Middle East & North Africa guide.
Guides by job
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Iran?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in Iran, 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. Photo, date of birth and nationality are commonly included.
How long should a CV be in Iran?
For a CV in Iran, 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 Iran. 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 Iran?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in Iran, 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 Iran, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Iran?
Not in full. On a CV for Iran 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 Iran?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Iran 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 Iran?
English. CVs for Iran 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 Iran include?
A CV for Iran is usually 2 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect usually a professional photo, usually your date of birth, 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 Iran, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Iran?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Iran, 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 Iran?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Iran, 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 Iran?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Iran, 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 Iran?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Iran. 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 Iran?
Just your city and country. A CV for Iran 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 Iran?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Iran, 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 Iran?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Iran, 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 Iran?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Iran 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 Iran?
No. CVs in Iran 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 military service on my CV in Iran?
Yes, if you served. CVs in Iran often mention completed military or civilian service, with its dates, in the personal details or the experience section. Employers there are used to seeing it, and it explains that period in your timeline. Add any responsibilities from your service that relate to the job. In countries with conscription, men often state military service status.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in Iran?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Iran, 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 IranYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026. 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.