How to write a CV for Singapore
Employers in Singapore usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 2 pages. Nationality is usually included, but optional. Employers there usually leave out 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 SingaporeYour 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 |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Single column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Optional |
| Date of birth | Usually left out |
| Nationality | Usually included |
| 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 |
Key facts
- Singapore's Parliament passed the Workplace Fairness Bill on 8 January 2025; until it comes into force, the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices apply. Source: mom.gov.sg
- Singapore's Workplace Fairness Act protects age; nationality; sex, marital status, pregnancy and caregiving responsibilities; race, religion and language; and disability and mental health conditions. Source: tal.sg
- Foreigners need a valid work pass from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower to work in Singapore. Source: mom.gov.sg
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How Singapore compares with nearby countries
Unlike Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia, CVs in Singapore may include a photo, leave out the date of birth and say references are available on request.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Malaysia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Indonesia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Cambodia | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| Brunei | Curriculum Vitae | Usually included | Usually included | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for Singapore
- The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices discourage asking for age, race, religion and marital status; the Workplace Fairness Act 2025 will put this into law once it comes into force.
- State citizenship or pass type (Citizen, PR, Employment Pass); it matters for hiring quotas.
- Expected salary and notice period are commonly asked.
Singapore follows the conventions in the Singapore guide.
Regulated jobs in Singapore
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 | Singapore Medical Council registration |
| Nurses | Singapore Nursing Board registration |
| Pharmacists | Singapore Pharmacy Council registration |
| Teachers | MOE teaching qualification (NIE) |
| Engineers | Professional Engineers Board (PE) |
| Architects | Board of Architects registration |
| Pilots | CAAS licence |
| Accountants | ISCA membership (CA Singapore) |
| Lawyers | Admission as Advocate & Solicitor; practising certificate |
Guides by job
- Doctor CV for Singapore
- Nurse CV for Singapore
- Dentist CV for Singapore
- Pharmacist CV for Singapore
- Allied health CV for Singapore
- Teacher CV for Singapore
- Engineer CV for Singapore
- Lawyer CV for Singapore
- Accountant CV for Singapore
- Electrician and trades CV for Singapore
- Care worker CV for Singapore
- Childcare worker CV for Singapore
- Social worker CV for Singapore
- Software engineer CV for Singapore
Regulated in Singapore: Architecture, construction & property, Aviation & maritime.
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
Do I put a photo on my CV in Singapore?
It’s optional. A CV for Singapore 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 Singapore?
For a CV in Singapore, aim for 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 Singapore. 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 Singapore?
No. Leave your date of birth and age off a CV for Singapore. The same goes for your 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, although nationality is commonly given. The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices discourage asking for age, race, religion and marital status; the Workplace Fairness Act 2025 will put this into law once it comes into force.
Do I need references on my CV in Singapore?
Not in full. On a CV for Singapore 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 Singapore?
Yes, if you are not a citizen of Singapore. 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. State citizenship or pass type (Citizen, PR, Employment Pass); it matters for hiring quotas.
What language should my CV be in for Singapore?
English. CVs for Singapore 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 Singapore include?
A CV for Singapore is usually 2 pages on A4 paper, written in English unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect a photo only if you want one, no date of birth, 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 Singapore, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for Singapore?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in Singapore, 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 Singapore?
Usually, yes. Nationality is commonly listed in the personal details of a CV in Singapore, 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 Singapore?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for Singapore. 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 Singapore?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for Singapore. 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 Singapore?
Just your city and country. A CV for Singapore 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 Singapore?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for Singapore, 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 Singapore?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for Singapore, 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 Singapore?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in Singapore 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 Singapore?
No. CVs in Singapore 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 Singapore?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in Singapore, 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 SingaporeYour 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.