CV conventions in Australia & New Zealand

These 2 countries follow broadly the same CV conventions: no photo, no date of birth, 2–4 pages, and referees are listed with contact details. The table below shows where individual countries differ.

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At a glance

CV conventions in Australia & New Zealand
What it is called	Curriculum Vitae
Length	2–4 pages is normal
Paper size	A4
Layout	Tabular, dates in a left 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

Tips

Two or three referees with phone and email are expected, usually recent supervisors.
State your visa or residency status (citizen, permanent resident, visa subclass) near the top.
Key achievements under each role carry more weight than duty lists.
No photo or date of birth: anti-discrimination law covers age (e.g. Australia’s Age Discrimination Act 2004, NZ’s Human Rights Act 1993).

Countries in this group

Country	Called	Usual language	Paper	Local differences
Australia	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
New Zealand	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4

Other regions

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.