How to write a CV for Portugal
Employers in Portugal usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1–2 pages. A photo is usually included, but optional.
Build a CV for PortugalYour 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 (usually written in Portuguese or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1–2 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Tabular, dates in a left column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually included |
| Date of birth | Optional |
| Nationality | Optional |
| Marital status | Optional |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- In Portugal, doctors must be registered with the Ordem dos Médicos to practise. Source: ordemdosmedicos.pt
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Portugal compares with nearby countries
Unlike Spain and Andorra, CVs in Portugal are written in Portuguese or English.
Unlike Morocco, CVs in Portugal may give the date of birth and are written in Portuguese or English.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Portuguese |
| Spain | Currículum vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Spanish |
| Morocco | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | French |
| Andorra | Currículum vitae | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Spanish |
| Algeria | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | French |
| Germany | Lebenslauf | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | German |
| United Kingdom | Curriculum Vitae | Usually left out | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Portugal
- A photo is common and often expected by smaller employers.
- The Europass format is widely recognised, especially in the public sector.
- List languages with CEFR levels (A1–C2).
Portugal follows the same CV conventions as 5 other countries in the Southern Europe guide.
Section headings in Portuguese
If you write the CV in Portuguese, these are the usual headings:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Profile | Perfil |
| Experience | Experiência profissional |
| Education | Formação académica |
| Skills | Competências |
| Languages | Línguas |
| Licences & certifications | Licenças e certificações |
| References | Referências |
Regulated jobs in Portugal
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 | Ordem dos Médicos registration |
Portugal 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
Regulated in Portugal: 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 Portugal?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in Portugal, 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. A photo is common and often expected by smaller employers.
How long should a CV be in Portugal?
For a CV in Portugal, aim for 1–2 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 Portugal. 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 Portugal?
It’s optional. Many CVs in Portugal 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 Portugal, and you can switch each one yourself.
Do I need references on my CV in Portugal?
Not in full. On a CV for Portugal 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 Portugal?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in Portugal 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 Portugal?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in Portugal 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 Portugal include?
A CV for Portugal is usually 1–2 pages on A4 paper, written in Portuguese unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect usually a professional photo, 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 Portugal, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Portugal?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Portugal, 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 Portugal?
It’s optional. Some CVs in Portugal 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 Portugal?
Usually no. Marital status is optional on a CV in Portugal, 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 Portugal?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Portugal. 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 Portugal?
Just your city and country. A CV for Portugal 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 Portugal?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Portugal, 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 Portugal?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Portugal, 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 Portugal?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Portugal 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 Portugal?
No. CVs in Portugal 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 Portugal?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Portugal, 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 PortugalYour 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.