How to write a CV for Mozambique

Employers in Mozambique 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.

Build a CV for MozambiqueYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.

At a glance

CV conventions in Mozambique
What it is calledCurriculum Vitae (usually written in Portuguese or English)
Length2–3 pages
Paper sizeA4
LayoutSingle column
OrderMost recent first
DatesMonth and year (e.g. Mar 2023)
PhotoOptional
Date of birthUsually included
NationalityUsually included
Marital statusOptional
Right to work / visa statusOptional
ReferencesList two or three referees with contact details
Explain gaps longer than6 months

How Mozambique compares with nearby countries

Unlike Eswatini, South Africa and Lesotho, CVs in Mozambique usually give the date of birth and are written in Portuguese or English.

CV conventions in Mozambique compared with nearby countries
CountryCalledPhotoDate of birthLengthPaperUsual language
MozambiqueCurriculum VitaeOptionalUsually included2–3 pagesA4Portuguese
EswatiniCurriculum VitaeOptionalOptional2–3 pagesA4English
South AfricaCurriculum VitaeOptionalOptional2–3 pagesA4English
LesothoCurriculum VitaeOptionalOptional2–3 pagesA4English
BotswanaCurriculum VitaeOptionalUsually included2–3 pagesA4English
United KingdomCurriculum VitaeUsually left outUsually left out2 pagesA4English
United Arab EmiratesCurriculum VitaeExpectedUsually included2–3 pagesA4English

Tips for Mozambique

Mozambique follows the same CV conventions as 21 other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa (English-speaking) guide.

Section headings in Portuguese

If you write the CV in Portuguese, these are the usual headings:

EnglishPortuguese
ProfilePerfil
ExperienceExperiência profissional
EducationFormação académica
SkillsCompetências
LanguagesLínguas
Licences & certificationsLicenças e certificações
ReferencesReferências

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 Mozambique?

It’s optional. A CV for Mozambique 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 Mozambique?

For a CV in Mozambique, 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 Mozambique. 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 Mozambique?

Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in Mozambique, 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. Personal details such as date of birth and nationality are common.

Do I need references on my CV in Mozambique?

Yes. CVs in Mozambique 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 or three referees with phone and email are usually listed.

Should I put my visa status on my CV in Mozambique?

Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Mozambique 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 Mozambique?

Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Mozambique that means Portuguese, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Portuguese 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 Mozambique include?

A CV for Mozambique is usually 2–3 pages on A4 paper, written in Portuguese 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 Mozambique, and the questions below explain each one.

What paper size should my CV be for Mozambique?

A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Mozambique, 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 Mozambique?

Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Mozambique, 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 Mozambique?

Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Mozambique, 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 Mozambique?

No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Mozambique. 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 Mozambique?

Just your city and country. A CV for Mozambique 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 Mozambique?

Yes, if you have one. Many CVs in Mozambique mention a driving licence, with its category or class, in the personal details or the skills section. Employers there often look for it, especially for jobs that involve travel, field work, deliveries or shifts at hours when public transport is limited. Leave it out if you don’t have one; outside driving jobs it is rarely a strict requirement.

How should I write dates on a CV in Mozambique?

Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Mozambique, 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 Mozambique?

Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Mozambique 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 Mozambique?

No. CVs in Mozambique 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 Mozambique?

Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Mozambique, 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 MozambiqueYour 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.