CV conventions in United Kingdom

These 1 country follows broadly the same CV conventions: no photo, no date of birth, 2 pages, and “references on request” is enough. The table below shows where individual countries differ.

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At a glance

CV conventions in United Kingdom
What it is called	Curriculum Vitae
Length	2 pages (longer for academic and senior medical CVs)
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	“References available on request” is fine
Explain gaps longer than	6 months

Tips

No photo, date of birth or marital status: age, sex and marriage are protected under the Equality Act 2010, so employers generally prefer CVs without them.
Open with a short personal profile (3–4 lines) aimed at the role.
If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, state your right to work (e.g. Skilled Worker visa, settled status).
Two referees are normal; “references available on request” is fine on the CV itself.

Countries in this group

Country	Called	Usual language	Paper	Local differences
United Kingdom	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.