Should I put a photo on my CV in the UK?

Generally no. Photos are rarely used on UK CVs and are often discouraged, so leave it out unless you work in acting, modelling or presenting.

Do Danish employers expect a photo on a CV?

A photo is common on Danish CVs but not required. A CV without a photo is perfectly acceptable, and no photo is better than a poor one.

Should I include my date of birth on my CV?

In the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada, no. In Denmark it is still common but optional, so include it only if you are comfortable doing so.

Should I write my full address on my CV?

No. Your city or region is enough. It tells the employer where you are based while keeping your home address private.

Is it OK to write references available on request?

It is fine but optional. In the UK many people leave it out because it is assumed, while in Denmark a short line saying references are available is common.

CV Photo and Personal Details: What to Include

Updated September 24, 2026

Whether to put a photo on your CV depends on the country: in the UK, the US and Canada you should usually leave it out, while in Denmark and much of continental Europe a photo is common but optional. Whichever you choose, the photo should never be the reason your CV stands out.

This guide explains when a photo helps, how to take a good one yourself, which personal details belong on a CV and which you should never share, such as your national ID number.

Should you put a photo on your CV?

The honest answer is: follow the norms of the country and sector you are applying to. Recruiters read CVs with local expectations in mind, and a photo that looks natural in Copenhagen can look out of place in London.

UK and Ireland: leave it out. Photos are rarely used and are often discouraged because employers want to avoid any appearance of bias.
US and Canada: leave it out. Many employers actively prefer CVs and résumés without photos for the same reason.
Denmark and the Nordics: optional but common. A friendly, professional photo is normal; a CV without one is equally acceptable.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France: photos are still widespread, though expectations are loosening.
Actors, models and presenters: use a headshot on a separate page, as your industry expects.

Whatever the country, always follow the job advert. If the employer asks for an anonymised CV or says not to include a photo, do exactly that.

When does a CV photo help, and when does it hurt?

Where photos are normal, a good one can make your application feel more personal and memorable. It tends to matter most in roles where you meet people every day: retail, hospitality, healthcare, sales, teaching and customer service.

A photo hurts when it is poor. A blurry holiday snap, a cropped wedding picture or a ten-year-old image suggests you did not put much care into the application. In those cases, no photo is the better choice, even in countries where photos are common.

There is also a practical point. Applicant tracking systems read text, not images, so a photo never helps you pass an automated screening. Make sure your name and contact details are plain text and not part of an image. Our guide to an ATS-friendly CV explains how.

What does a good CV photo look like?

A good CV photo is a calm, sharp, recent portrait in which you look approachable and competent. You do not need a professional photographer; a modern phone, daylight and a helpful friend are enough.

Framing: head and shoulders, with your face filling roughly half the frame.
Background: plain and neutral, such as a light wall. No kitchens, cars or beaches.
Light: soft daylight from the front, for example facing a window.
Expression: look into the camera with a relaxed, natural smile.
Clothing: what you would wear to an interview in your sector.
Quality: in focus, recent and true to how you look today.
Crop: square or circular, so it sits neatly in your CV template.

Avoid sunglasses, filters, selfie angles, other people in the frame and obvious party or holiday settings. Religious head coverings you wear at work are, of course, completely fine.

How to take a professional CV photo at home

You can take a perfectly usable portrait in about fifteen minutes:

Stand one to two metres in front of a light, plain wall, facing a window.
Ask a friend to hold your phone at eye level and use the main camera, not the selfie camera.
Take 20 to 30 shots with small changes in smile and head angle.
Pick the one where you look most relaxed and your eyes are sharp.
Crop to head and shoulders and make only light adjustments to brightness. No filters.

If you apply to jobs in several countries, keep two versions of your CV: one with a photo and one without. CVm8 lets you switch the photo on or off per CV, so you can do this in seconds.

Which personal details should you put on a CV?

The top of your CV has one job: tell the reader who you are and how to reach you. Anything beyond that takes space away from what actually earns you an interview, your experience and skills.

Full name as the heading. There is no need to write "Curriculum Vitae".
Phone number with the country code if you are applying abroad, for example +45 for Denmark.
Professional email address, ideally firstname.lastname@, not an old nickname.
City or region, for example "Copenhagen" or "Manchester". A full street address is not necessary.
LinkedIn profile, if it is up to date and consistent with your CV.
Right to work, if you are applying outside your home country, stated in one short line.
Driving licence, only if the role involves driving.

Example: CV header for an international applying in Denmark

Daniel Okafor

Supply Chain Analyst

Aarhus, Denmark | +45 31 23 45 67 | daniel.okafor@mail.com

linkedin.com/in/danielokafor | EU citizen, full right to work in Denmark

Recruiters often look you up on LinkedIn after reading your CV, so make sure the two tell the same story. See our LinkedIn profile tips.

Date of birth, marital status, nationality: include or leave out?

Older CV templates often include fields for date of birth, marital status and children. In most countries these are now unnecessary, and in the UK and US they are best left out entirely.

Full address: not needed. Your city is enough and protects your privacy.
Date of birth or age: leave it out in the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada. In Denmark it is still commonly included but entirely optional.
Marital status and children: leave it out. It says nothing about your ability to do the job.
Nationality: only relevant when it affects your right to work. Write your work permit status instead of your passport details.
Religion, politics, health and pregnancy: always leave out. These are protected or private matters, and employers should not base decisions on them.
Gender: not needed. Your name and pronouns in your email signature or LinkedIn profile are enough if you wish to share them.

What should you never include on a CV?

Some details should never appear on a CV, wherever you apply. Your CV gets forwarded, stored in recruitment systems and sometimes shared with agencies, so only include what you are comfortable with many people seeing.

National ID numbers: never add your National Insurance number, Social Security number or Danish CPR number. They are needed only once you are hired.
Copies of passports or ID cards: provide these only when a confirmed employer requests them for onboarding.
Bank details: these belong in payroll, not in an application.
Salary history: discuss pay in the interview, not on your CV. Our salary negotiation guide shows you how.
Reasons for leaving previous jobs: save this for the interview, where you can give context.

Should you put references on your CV?

Usually not. In the UK the standard is simply to leave references off, and employers ask for them near the offer stage. In Denmark it is common to add one short line at the end, often in Danish: "Referencer gives gerne ved henvendelse", meaning references are available on request.

Example: references section on a CV for a Danish employer

References

Available on request.

Including my former line manager at Nordlys Retail and my team lead at Fjordhavn Logistics.

The second line is a useful touch: it tells the reader what kind of references you have without exposing anyone's contact details. Always ask your referees first, and tell them which role you are applying for so they can highlight the right things.

If the advert explicitly asks for references, list two people with name, job title, organisation and phone number. For more on how Danish CVs differ, see our guide to the Danish CV format.

Frequently asked questions

Should I put a photo on my CV in the UK?: Generally no. Photos are rarely used on UK CVs and are often discouraged, so leave it out unless you work in acting, modelling or presenting.
Do Danish employers expect a photo on a CV?: A photo is common on Danish CVs but not required. A CV without a photo is perfectly acceptable, and no photo is better than a poor one.
Should I include my date of birth on my CV?: In the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada, no. In Denmark it is still common but optional, so include it only if you are comfortable doing so.
Should I write my full address on my CV?: No. Your city or region is enough. It tells the employer where you are based while keeping your home address private.
Is it OK to write references available on request?: It is fine but optional. In the UK many people leave it out because it is assumed, while in Denmark a short line saying references are available is common.