Updated 04 Aug 2026

CV & Resume Photo: Correct Size, Examples, and Rules (2026)

What size should a CV photo be?

A CV photo should be 35x45mm (413x531 pixels at 300 DPI) for most European CVs, or 2x2 inches (600x600 pixels) where a square format is expected. Keep the file under 1MB, use a plain light background, and crop from the shoulders up with your head filling roughly 70% of the frame.

CV photo size diagram comparing the 35x45mm European standard at 413x531 pixels with the 2x2 inch square format at 600x600 pixels, alongside the four rules that apply to both: file under 1MB, plain light background, shoulders-up crop, and head filling about 70% of the frame. — The two CV photo sizes recruiters expect. 35 x 45 mm is the default across Europe and most international CVs; 2 x 2 inches is used wherever a square crop is requested.

Should you put a photo on your CV at all? It depends on where you apply. In much of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East a photo is expected. In the US, UK, and Canada it is usually left off to avoid bias.

This guide covers the country rules, the correct size in pixels and millimetres, what to wear, numbered examples of CV photos and layouts that pass, how a resume photo differs from a CV photo, and a fast way to create one. A CV photo, also called a CV picture, is simply a small professional headshot placed on your CV, and the same rules apply whatever you call it.

Should You Put a Photo on Your CV?

Yes in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, most of Asia, and the Middle East, where a headshot is standard practice and leaving it off looks incomplete. No in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Ireland, where anti-discrimination rules mean a photo can get your CV screened out before anyone reads it.

Whether to add a photo is a regional decision, not a personal preference. Recruiters in different countries expect different things, so match the local norm before you apply.

Country-by-country guide to whether you should put a photo on your CV, in three bands: include a photo in Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East and Latin America; leave it off in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland; and check the employer in the Netherlands, Scandinavia and India. — Whether a photograph on a CV helps or hurts is decided by the hiring country's law and convention, not by how good the picture is.

Where a photo on a CV is expected

Germany and Austria treat a headshot on the Lebenslauf as near-mandatory, and a CV without one reads as unfinished. France, Spain, and Italy commonly place a picture in the upper corner. China, Japan, and South Korea build the photo into their standard CV formats, so leaving it out breaks the format. Across the Middle East, the UAE and Saudi Arabia widely include one.

Where you should leave the photo off

In the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland, resumes and CVs typically carry no photograph, and this is a legal question more than a stylistic one.

US employers work under EEOC guidance that makes any protected characteristic visible on an application a discrimination risk. Many large recruiters will discard a CV with a photo on sight, not because they dislike it but because keeping it exposes them to a claim about age, race, or gender. Canada's provincial human rights codes push the same way. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, equal-opportunity hiring guidance discourages anything that identifies a candidate before their experience is read, and some employers run blind screening that strips images entirely.

None of this means your face is a liability. It means the document is the wrong place to show it in those markets.

When you are unsure

If you are applying across regions or cannot confirm the norm, skip the photo and keep a polished headshot on your LinkedIn profile instead. That way your image is one click away without putting it on the document itself. For global employers, follow the convention of the headquarters country rather than the local office.

CV Photo Size in Pixels, Millimetres, and Inches

If you include a photo, size and quality matter as much as the shot itself. The standard CV photo size is 35 x 45 mm, which is 413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI. Every other common CV picture size is below.

CV photo size conversion table showing the European standard 35x45mm as 413x531 pixels, square 2x2 inches as 600x600 pixels, passport-style 35x45mm as 413x531 pixels, small 25x35mm as 295x413 pixels and large 40x50mm as 472x591 pixels, all at 300 DPI, plus a 400 to 600 pixel square range for screen-only CVs. — CV photo dimensions converted across millimetres, inches, and pixels. Print sizes assume 300 DPI, the resolution a CV should be prepared at.

Format	Millimetres	Inches	Pixels (300 DPI)	Used in
European standard	35 x 45 mm	1.38 x 1.77 in	413 x 531 px	Germany, France, Spain, Italy, most international CVs
Square	51 x 51 mm	2 x 2 in	600 x 600 px	US-style resumes, online forms, and some ATS upload fields
Passport-style	35 x 45 mm	1.38 x 1.77 in	413 x 531 px	Most of Asia, and anywhere a passport-format photo is asked for
Small CV photo	25 x 35 mm	0.98 x 1.38 in	295 x 413 px	Compact two-column templates where space is tight
Large CV photo	40 x 50 mm	1.57 x 1.97 in	472 x 591 px	German and Austrian Lebenslauf, banner-style headers
Screen only	n/a	n/a	400 x 400 to 600 x 600 px	LinkedIn, application portals, PDF CVs read on screen

Converting it yourself: pixels = millimetres divided by 25.4, times DPI. So 35 mm at 300 DPI is 35 / 25.4 x 300 = 413 pixels.

File format and weight: save as JPG or PNG and keep the file under 1 MB so it stays sharp without bloating your document.

Do not upscale: stretching a 200 pixel image up to 413 pixels makes it blurry, and blur is more obvious at CV print size than at any other size you will use a headshot. Reshoot or regenerate at the dimensions you need.

Framing: head and shoulders, face centred, with a little space above your head and your head filling roughly 70% of the frame. Your face should read clearly even when the photo is small on the page. For more detail on crops and resolution, see our guide to professional photo dimensions.

What Makes a Good CV Photo?

A good CV photo shares five traits:

Background: Neutral and uncluttered, such as white or light gray.

Lighting: Natural light or soft studio lighting, with no harsh shadows.

Outfit: Professional or business-casual, matched to your industry.

Posture and expression: Straight posture, a soft smile, and a confident but approachable look.

Framing: Head and shoulders visible, with a centered composition.

Two CV photo examples side by side: a woman in a grey knit sweater against a plain sage background on the left, and the same woman in a light blue collared shirt against a softly blurred office background on the right, both cropped from the shoulders up with the face centred. — Two CV picture examples that work. Both keep the background plain, the light soft and frontal, and the crop tight enough that the face still reads at 35 x 45 mm.

The difference between a passable CV photo and a strong one is usually small and entirely fixable. The four-step comparison below shows the same person at each stage, from a bathroom selfie through to a photo you would happily put on a Lebenslauf.

The same candidate, four ways. Background and lighting move the photo from unusable to interview-ready long before wardrobe does.

What to Wear in a CV Photo

Wear professional or smart-casual clothing that matches the standards of your target industry. Stick to clean, solid colours and avoid bold patterns or accessories that pull attention from your face. At 35 x 45 mm, a busy print turns into visual noise.

Four framed CV photo outfit examples labelled corporate, business casual, creative, and industry-specific: a woman in a navy blazer on grey, a man in a grey crew-neck sweater outdoors, a woman in a bright patterned top on a warm background, and a doctor in a white coat with a stethoscope on blue. — Match the outfit to the sector you are applying into. A blazer reads as safe in finance and stiff in design; a white coat is the expected uniform in healthcare.

Corporate and finance: a blazer over a plain shirt or blouse, in navy, charcoal, or black.

Business casual: a collared shirt or a simple solid knit, no tie needed. Right for tech, consulting, and most mid-level roles.

Creative: you have room for colour and texture, as long as the face still wins the frame. See our guide to the best colour to wear for a headshot.

Industry-specific: wear the uniform your profession expects, such as a white coat with a stethoscope in medicine or scrubs in nursing.

Why a Bad CV Photo Hurts Your Application

Your hiring manager sees your photo before reading a single word, and recruiters spend only a few seconds scanning a CV. A weak image works against you before your experience gets a chance.

Three CV picture mistakes recruiters see constantly: the bedroom selfie, the cropped group photo, and the washed-out webcam grab. Only the bottom-right image belongs on a CV.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Low-quality images that look pixelated or blurry
Unprofessional or overly casual clothing
Distracting backgrounds like cluttered rooms or outdoor scenes
Cropped group photos where someone else's shoulder is still in frame
Poor lighting that makes the image dull or shadowy
Unfriendly or awkward expressions
Selfies, vacation photos, or outdated pictures

Even with perfect qualifications, a bad photo can make you seem less polished or less serious about the role.

Resume Photo vs CV Photo: What's Different

A CV photo and a resume photo are the same kind of image, but they are governed by different conventions because a CV and a resume are read in different markets. A CV is the standard job document across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and it often runs to several pages. A resume is the one or two page document used in the US and Canada.

Where a resume photo sits differs from a CV photo: US resume templates favour a compact upper-right corner or a header block, and both need a text-only version for ATS portals.

The practical differences:

Expectation. A CV photo is expected in most of Europe and Asia. A resume photo is not expected in the US or Canada, and most recruiters there would rather you left it off. If you are applying to an American employer, read should you put a picture on your resume before you add one.

Legal exposure. A resume picture creates bias risk for the employer under EEOC guidance, which is why a US resume photo is often removed by the recruiter before the hiring manager ever sees the file. A CV photo in Germany carries no such problem.

Size. A CV photo follows the 35 x 45 mm print standard. A professional photo for a resume is usually square, at 2 x 2 inches or 600 x 600 pixels, because US resume templates and application portals are built around a square crop.

Placement. CV templates put the picture in a sidebar or the upper corner. Resume templates keep it small and tight to the header so it never pushes content onto a second page. Our resume photo template guide covers the layouts in detail.

ATS. Both a CV photo and a resume picture can confuse applicant tracking systems that parse the document as text. Whichever you use, keep a plain text-only version to submit through portals. See picture on resume for how ATS parsing handles images.

If you have decided a resume photo is right for your market, our guide to the professional headshot for a resume covers the shot itself.

CV Photo Examples: 8 Layouts and Where the Photo Goes

Placement is not just design. It shapes how recruiters read your profile at first glance. Here are eight CV photo examples, each with the layout it suits and what it signals.

The top-left corner is where most people start reading, so a photo here is seen immediately. It makes a quick, strong personal impression and suits traditional fields like law, finance, and administration.

Example 1: a circular CV photo anchoring a dark sidebar. The left column carries contact details and skills so the main section stays clean.

Example 2: ATS-Friendly CV Photo, Kept Discreet

A small, subtle top-left image keeps the CV scannable and text-focused for applicant tracking systems, which parse the document as plain text and ignore the image entirely.

Example 2: a discreet CV picture on an ATS-friendly layout. Clear headings and single-column body text survive automated parsing.

Example 3: Minimal CV Photo in the Top-Right Corner

A top-right photo keeps the focus on your name and summary on the left while the image adds a softer, supportive visual. It works well for modern corporate CVs in consulting, marketing, and mid-level roles.

Example 3: a minimal template with balanced white space. The CV photo sits top-right so the name still reads first.

Example 4: Academic CV Photo, Small and Understated

A small photo adds personality without stealing attention from publications or research experience, which is what an academic reader is scanning for.

Example 4: a restrained CV picture for academic and research profiles, where the publication list has to stay the focus.

Example 5: Corporate CV Photo in a Profile Header

Your name, title, and headshot in a full-width header give a polished, profile-style feel that reads well for executive and leadership applications.

Example 5: a corporate CV photo built into the header. The larger crop suits executive profiles where the person is part of the pitch.

Placing the photo beside your name in a dark banner makes it impossible to miss. It signals confidence and modern personal branding, and suits PR, content, and client-facing roles.

Example 6: a banner-style CV picture. The photo overlaps the name block, which is why it needs a clean background to stay readable.

A sidebar photo acts as a visual anchor, keeping the focus on your experience while giving quick access to your skills and your image. It is a contemporary, space-saving choice.

Example 7: a vertical column layout. The CV photo tops the sidebar so it frames the page without competing with the timeline.

Example 8: Creative CV Photo on a Color-Blocked Template

A bold template with colour accents and a framed side photo works for designers, UX professionals, and copywriters, where the CV itself is a work sample.

Example 8: a colour-blocked creative CV. The photo is still a plain-background headshot; only the layout around it is expressive.

How to Create a Professional CV Photo Without a Photographer

You no longer need an expensive studio session for a professional CV photo. With an AI headshot generator like Headshot Photo, you can turn a casual selfie into a studio-quality image in minutes from the comfort of your home. It adjusts lighting, sharpens your features, cleans up the background, and applies subtle corrections for a polished look.

Same goal, three routes. A phone shot costs nothing but caps out on quality; a studio session is best and slowest; an AI generator sits in between on both.

Professionals use Headshot Photo for CV photos because:

It is convenient. You shoot from home using just your phone.
It is cost-effective compared with hiring a photographer.
It is quick, delivering high-quality results in minutes.
It gives you multiple backgrounds and lighting styles, so you can match your industry.
It exports at the resolution you need, so you are not upscaling a small file to reach 413 x 531 pixels.

For the best result, start with a well-lit selfie in natural light, choose a clean neutral background, and wear professional or business-casual attire. Keep your posture upright and your expression confident and approachable, and let the AI handle the polish. If you already have a shot you like and only need it cropped and sized correctly, our free resume photo maker will do that part.

AI CV Photo Examples

Every photo below was generated from a few ordinary selfies. Each one is a clean, shoulders-up headshot on a plain background, ready to crop to 35 x 45 mm.

AI-generated CV photo example: woman in a black blazer with arms crossed against a plain white background, shoulders-up crop — The safest CV photo there is: plain white, black blazer, shoulders-up. Works in every country that expects a photo.

AI-generated CV photo example: man in a black crew-neck sweater smiling against a plain grey background, business-casual CV picture — Business casual on plain grey. Right for tech, design and startups, where a suit can read as overdressed.

AI-generated CV photo example: woman in a navy blazer over a light blue shirt against a softly blurred office background — A softly blurred office adds context without clutter. Keep the blur strong enough that nothing behind you is readable.

AI-generated CV photo example: man in a grey suit, white shirt and navy tie with a pocket square, a formal CV photo for finance and law — Full formal, for finance, law and consulting. The tie is worth it here and nowhere else.

AI-generated CV photo example: woman in a white coat with a stethoscope, an industry-specific CV photo for healthcare roles — Industry dress does the work of a line in your summary. Clinical roles are the clearest case for it.

AI-generated CV photo example: woman in a black blazer seated at an office table, a relaxed corporate CV picture — A seated three-quarter crop. Less formal than a straight-on headshot, and it still crops cleanly to 35 x 45 mm.

Create your CV photo

Upload a few selfies and get studio-quality headshots sized for a CV, a resume, and LinkedIn - in about 1 hour, from $34.

Create My CV Photo →

Plans from $34 · See Headshot Photo pricing · Download at 413 x 531 px or 600 x 600 px

When you are ready, create your headshot and pick the version that fits your CV.

Wrapping Up

A well-chosen CV photo can lift your application and create a strong first impression, as long as the region expects one. Check the country rule first, get the size right at 35 x 45 mm or 600 x 600 pixels, keep the background clean, dress for your industry, and place the photo where it supports rather than distracts. With a tool like Headshot Photo, a polished, correctly sized CV photo takes minutes rather than a studio booking.

FAQs

What size should a CV photo be?

The standard CV photo size is 35 x 45 mm (3.5 x 4.5 cm) in Europe and internationally, which is 413 x 531 pixels at 300 DPI. Where a square format is expected, use 2 x 2 inches, or 600 x 600 pixels. Save as a JPG or PNG under 1 MB and keep the framing to head and shoulders with your face centred and your head filling roughly 70% of the frame.

Should you include a photo on your CV?

It depends on the country. Include one in Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, and most of the Middle East, where a headshot is standard practice. Leave it off in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland, where anti-discrimination rules mean a photo can get your CV screened out before it is read. When you cannot confirm the local norm, leave it off and keep a strong headshot on your LinkedIn profile instead.

What are the CV photo dimensions in pixels?

413 x 531 pixels is the standard 35 x 45 mm CV photo at 300 DPI. A small 25 x 35 mm photo is 295 x 413 pixels, a large 40 x 50 mm photo is 472 x 591 pixels, and a 2 x 2 inch square is 600 x 600 pixels. For a CV that will only ever be read on screen, anything from 400 x 400 to 600 x 600 pixels is enough. To convert any size yourself, divide the millimetres by 25.4 and multiply by the DPI.

What's the difference between a CV photo and a resume photo?

They are the same type of image used under different conventions. A CV photo is expected across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and follows the 35 x 45 mm print standard. A resume photo is used mainly in the US and Canada, where it is usually discouraged because it creates bias risk for the employer, and where it is typically square at 2 x 2 inches or 600 x 600 pixels and kept tight to the header so the resume stays on one page.

What background color should a CV photo have?

Plain white or light grey. A neutral, uncluttered background keeps the focus on your face and reproduces cleanly when the photo is printed small on a CV. Very light blue or beige is acceptable, but avoid patterned walls, rooms, outdoor scenes, and anything with strong colour that competes with your face at 35 x 45 mm.

Can you use a selfie for a CV photo?

Not as it comes off your phone. A raw selfie usually has the wrong lighting, a distracting background, and a distorted perspective from being taken at arm's length, and recruiters recognise all three instantly. You can, however, start from a selfie: an AI headshot generator will restage the lighting, replace the background, and output a correctly sized CV photo from a good, well-lit phone shot.

What should you wear for a CV photo?

Wear professional or smart-casual clothing that matches the standards of your target industry, such as a blazer, a collared shirt, or a simple solid top. Stick to clean, solid colours and avoid bold patterns or accessories that pull attention from your face. In healthcare and other uniformed professions, wear the uniform your role expects.