How to write a CV for Ireland
Employers in Ireland usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages, 3 at most. Employers there usually leave out a photo, date of birth and marital status. If you are not a citizen, your right to work or visa status is usually stated.
Build a CV for IrelandYour 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, 3 at most |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually left out |
| Date of birth | Usually left out |
| Nationality | Usually left out |
| Marital status | Usually left out |
| Right to work / visa status | Usually included |
| References | List two or three referees with contact details |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- Ireland's Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination on nine grounds: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community. Source: ihrec.ie
- Nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area generally need an employment permit to work in Ireland. Source: enterprise.gov.ie
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Ireland compares with nearby countries
Unlike the United Kingdom, CVs in Ireland list referees with contact details.
Unlike the Netherlands and France, CVs in Ireland leave the photo out, leave out the date of birth and list referees with contact details.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Netherlands | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Dutch |
| France | CV | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Belgium | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | French |
| Germany | Lebenslauf | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | German |
Tips for Ireland
- No photo or date of birth: leaving them off is usual; the Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination on nine grounds, including age, gender, family status and race.
- Non-EEA applicants should state their Stamp or employment permit.
- Two referees with contact details are commonly listed.
Ireland follows the conventions in the Ireland guide.
Regulated jobs in Ireland
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 | Irish Medical Council registration |
| Nurses | NMBI registration |
| Midwives | NMBI registration |
| Dentists | Dental Council of Ireland registration |
| Pharmacists | PSI registration |
| Allied health professionals | CORU registration |
| Paramedics | PHECC registration |
| Psychologists | Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) membership; CORU’s statutory register is expected to open in 2027 |
| Optometrists | CORU registration |
| Veterinarians | Veterinary Council of Ireland registration |
| Care workers | Garda vetting; QQI Level 5 healthcare |
| Childcare workers | Garda vetting |
| Teachers | Teaching Council registration; Garda vetting |
| Engineers | Engineers Ireland (CEng) |
| Architects | RIAI registration |
| Electricians | Safe Electric registration / Craft certificate |
| Gas engineers | RGII registration |
| Professional drivers | Category C / CE licence and Driver CPC |
| Accountants | Chartered Accountants Ireland / CPA Ireland / ACCA |
| Lawyers | Law Society of Ireland roll / King’s Inns; LSRA |
| Social workers | CORU registration |
| Security officers | PSA licence |
Ireland 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 Ireland
- Nurse CV for Ireland
- Dentist CV for Ireland
- Pharmacist CV for Ireland
- Allied health CV for Ireland
- Teacher CV for Ireland
- Engineer CV for Ireland
- Lawyer CV for Ireland
- Accountant CV for Ireland
- Electrician and trades CV for Ireland
- Care worker CV for Ireland
- Childcare worker CV for Ireland
- Social worker CV for Ireland
- Software engineer CV for Ireland
Regulated in Ireland: Veterinary & animal care, Architecture, construction & property, Transport, logistics & supply chain, Police, defence, security & emergency.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Ireland?
No. Leave the photo off a CV for Ireland. Employers there don’t expect one and generally prefer CVs without it, and the CV Atlas readiness check flags a photo if you add one. Use the space for your experience and qualifications, and include a photo only if a job advert asks for one. No photo or date of birth: leaving them off is usual; the Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination on nine grounds, including age, gender, family status and race.
How long should a CV be in Ireland?
For a CV in Ireland, 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 Ireland. 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 Ireland?
No. Leave your date of birth and age off a CV for Ireland. The same goes for your nationality and marital status. Employers there judge applicants on experience and qualifications, and personal details like these are best left out unless an application form asks for them. CV Atlas sets these details on or off to match the usual practice in Ireland, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Ireland?
Yes. CVs in Ireland 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. Two referees with contact details are commonly listed.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in Ireland?
Yes, if you are not a citizen of Ireland. 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. Non-EEA applicants should state their Stamp or employment permit.
What language should my CV be in for Ireland?
English. CVs for Ireland 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 Ireland include?
A CV for Ireland is usually 2–3 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect no photo, no 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 Ireland, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Ireland?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Ireland, 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 Ireland?
No. Leave your nationality off a CV for Ireland. CVs there normally leave out personal details such as nationality, age and family status, and employers judge applicants on skills and experience. If the job needs a particular right to work, say that you have it instead. An application form may still ask about your right to work, so answer it there.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in Ireland?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for Ireland. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.
Should I put my gender on my CV in Ireland?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Ireland. 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 Ireland?
Just your city and country. A CV for Ireland 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 Ireland?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Ireland, 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 Ireland?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Ireland, 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 Ireland?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Ireland 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 Ireland?
No. CVs in Ireland 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 Ireland?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Ireland, 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 IrelandYour 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.