CV vs Resume: What Is the Difference and Which One to Use in Each Country (2026 Guide)

Is a CV the same as a resume? The answer depends on where you are applying. In the USA and Canada, a resume is the short document for most jobs, and a CV is a longer academic record. In the UK, Ireland and much of Europe, “CV” is simply the everyday word for the document you send with a job application. In Australia, the two words are often used for the same thing. This guide explains what each country expects, what scholarships ask for, and how to choose the right document every time.

This guide was last checked on 22 October 2026 against official and university career sources: the UK National Careers Service, Europass, Canada’s Job Bank, Make it in Germany, the US Office of Personnel Management, MIT’s career office and Youth Central in Victoria, Australia.

The quick answer

• USA and Canada: use a resume for most jobs and internships. Use a CV for academic, research and teaching roles, fellowships and grants.
• UK and Ireland: “CV” is the normal word for a job application document. It is shorter and more focused than a US academic CV.
• European Union: “CV” is the normal word, and many programmes accept or require the Europass CV format.
• Germany: the CV (Lebenslauf) is usually a table, and employers often expect a photo.
• Australia: “resume” is common, and some official sources say it is “sometimes called” a CV.
• Scholarships: follow the exact words of the application. If it says “CV or resume”, either is fine; if it names a format or page limit, use exactly that.

What is a resume?

A resume is a short, focused summary of your skills, experience and education, written for one type of job. MIT’s career office says the term “resume” is used in the USA for industry and other non-academic positions, and gives a typical length of one to two pages, with two pages for PhD holders or people with more experience.

A resume is selective. You choose the experience that matches the job and leave out the rest. Each line should show what you did and what changed because of it.

What is a CV?

CV stands for curriculum vitae, Latin for “course of life”. The word means different things in different places:

• In the USA (academic CV): a full record of your academic life. MIT’s career office says CVs are used to apply for teaching or research positions, fellowships and grants, and that they are typically longer than resumes: two to four pages for a younger professional and four to seven pages for someone with more experience. They include research, teaching, publications and conference presentations in detail.
• In the UK, Europe and many other countries: the standard document for any job application. MIT’s career office notes that in some international settings, the term “CV” is used for all opportunities.

So when an American employer asks for a resume and a British employer asks for a CV, they may be asking for a very similar document.

CV vs resume: the main differences

Lengths in the first two columns come from MIT’s career office; the UK column follows the National Careers Service. These are typical patterns, not fixed laws, so always check the instructions of the place you are applying to.

Country by country

United States

In the USA, “resume” is the normal word for job applications outside academia, and “CV” usually means a longer academic CV. For US federal government jobs, there is now a strict rule: the US Office of Personnel Management says resumes must be no longer than two pages, and job seekers must choose a resume of two pages or less to apply through USAJOBS. This change began in September 2025.

Use: a one- or two-page resume for jobs and internships; an academic CV for research, teaching, PhD programmes and fellowships if they ask for a CV.

Canada

Canada uses the word “resume”. The Government of Canada’s Job Bank advises limiting your resume to two pages and focusing on your most recent experience. It says it is best to leave out personal details such as age, weight, height and marital status, not to include a picture of yourself because it is not the norm in Canada, and never to include your Social Insurance Number.

Use: a resume of up to two pages, with no photo and no personal details beyond your contact information.

United Kingdom

In the UK, “CV” is the everyday word. The National Careers Service says a CV should include contact details, an introduction, your education history, work history and references. It advises that you should not include your age, date of birth, marital status or nationality, and that you should not put someone else’s contact details on your CV; you can write that references are available on request. It suggests a clear font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in size 11 or bigger, and usually two to three lines to describe each job.

Use: a focused CV, tailored to the job, without personal details such as age or marital status.

European Union

Across the EU, “CV” is the normal word. The EU’s Europass service describes the Europass CV as one of the best-known CV formats in Europe. You can create, store and share CVs in 31 languages, and use them to apply for jobs, education, training and volunteering. Europass advises keeping the CV easy to read, listing recent experience first, focusing on facts that match the role and not including a full detailed history. It also suggests adding a professional photograph.

Some European programmes require Europass. For example, the European Parliament’s Schuman traineeships accept CVs in Europass format only. Our Europass CV guide explains how to fill it in.

Germany

Make it in Germany, the German government’s portal for skilled workers, says the German CV (Lebenslauf) typically has the format of a table and should list work experience and education in reverse order, most recent first. It says applicants in Germany are often expected to include a photo in their CV, although this differs between industries. It suggests attaching certificates and any references or recommendation letters from previous employers. It also mentions that you can use the Europass CV as a template, while German companies usually appreciate an individual design.

Use: a clear, table-style CV in reverse order, with a photo if it suits the industry, plus copies of certificates.

Australia

In Australia, “resume” is the common word, and the two words are often used for the same document. Youth Central, a careers site for young people in Victoria, says your resume is “sometimes called your CV”. It says there is no set length: one or two pages is best if you have not worked much, and three pages is acceptable if you have a lot of study and work behind you. It advises against images or photos on a resume and says you do not have to include your birthdate, gender or health details.

Use: a resume of one to three pages, depending on experience, without a photo.

Other countries

Many other countries follow either the British use of “CV” or the American use of “resume”, and local employers may use the words loosely. In parts of South Asia you may also see the word “biodata” on some forms. When you are not sure, look at the job or scholarship instructions, use the word they use, and follow their rules on length, photo and personal details.

Country comparison at a glance

What scholarships and international programmes ask for

Scholarship applications often use the word “CV” whatever the country, but the rules differ a lot. Here are real examples from opportunities on our site, each checked against the official page:

• European Parliament Schuman Traineeships: CV in Europass format only.
• UNU Junior Fellows Internship: CV in English, no more than two pages.
• Yale World Fellows Program: CV or resume of no more than three pages.
• Harvard LEAD Fellowship: CV or resume.
• EJN Reporting Fellowship: an up-to-date CV or resume.

Some programmes go further and give you their own CV template, which you must use instead of your own design. The lesson is simple: read the instructions before you write, and treat any page limit as a hard rule.

For academic scholarships

Master’s and PhD scholarships usually want an academic-style CV: your education with grades, research projects, thesis, publications if you have any, conference presentations, awards, languages and relevant work. Our academic CV template and research CV guide show exactly how to set this out.

How to choose the right document in four steps

1. Read the exact word. If the form says “resume”, send a resume. If it says “CV”, check the country and the type of role.
2. Check the purpose. A research or academic role usually means an academic CV. A job outside universities usually means a resume or a short CV.
3. Check the rules. Look for page limits, a required template such as Europass, language rules and whether a photo is wanted.
4. Tailor it. Put the experience that matches the role first, and cut what does not help.

How to turn a CV into a resume, and back

Many students need both. A simple way is to keep one long master CV with everything you have done, then cut it down for each application.

• CV to resume: keep only the experience that matches the job, shorten each entry to one or two lines with a result, move skills higher, and remove long lists of publications or courses.
• Resume to academic CV: add full education details, research projects, your thesis title, publications, presentations, teaching, awards and languages, and describe research in more detail.

Our older guide on resume vs academic CV, with templates walks through this conversion step by step, with filled-in examples.

Personal details: what to include and what to leave out

This is where countries differ most. Some official sources advise leaving out personal details that others expect:

• The UK National Careers Service says not to include age, date of birth, marital status or nationality.
• Canada’s Job Bank says to leave out age, weight, height and marital status, and not to include a photo or your Social Insurance Number.
• Youth Central in Australia says you do not need your birthdate, gender, address or health details, and advises against photos.
• Make it in Germany says applicants in Germany are often expected to include a photo, depending on the industry.
• Europass suggests a professional photograph.

For international scholarships, include what the form asks for. Many application systems collect personal details separately, so your CV can stay focused on your education and experience. Never put sensitive numbers, such as national ID or bank details, on a CV.

Writing strong lines for either document

Whether you write a CV or a resume, each line should show action and result. Compare:

These examples are invented to show the style. Use your own real numbers and results; never exaggerate.

Format tips that work everywhere

• Use a clean layout. One clear font, consistent headings and enough white space. The UK National Careers Service suggests Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in size 11 or bigger.
• Put the newest first. Both Europass and Make it in Germany advise listing the most recent experience first.
• Save as PDF unless the application asks for another format, so your layout does not change.
• Name the file clearly, for example Lastname-Firstname-CV.pdf.
• Check spelling. Europass specifically advises checking spelling and grammar.
• Keep links working. If you add a portfolio or LinkedIn link, test it.

Common mistakes

• Sending a seven-page academic CV for a job that asked for a resume.
• Sending a one-page resume for a PhD scholarship that asked for an academic CV.
• Ignoring a page limit, such as two pages for UNU or three for Yale World Fellows.
• Using your own design when the programme requires Europass or its own template.
• Adding a photo in countries where official advice says not to, or leaving it out where it is expected.
• Using the same document for every application without tailoring it.

A simple plan for international students

1. Build a master CV with every course, project, job, award and skill, with dates.
2. Make a one-page resume from it for jobs and internships.
3. Make an academic CV from it for master’s, PhD and research applications.
4. Create a Europass profile if you plan to apply in Europe.
5. Update all three every few months, so you are ready when a deadline appears.

If you are just starting out, our guide on a CV for scholarships with no work experience shows what to include when you have little to list.

Frequently asked questions

Is a CV the same as a resume?

It depends on the country. In the USA and Canada, a resume is a short job document and a CV is a longer academic record. In the UK and Europe, “CV” is the normal word for a job application document. In Australia, the words are often used for the same thing.

How long should a resume be?

MIT’s career office gives one to two pages as typical. Canada’s Job Bank advises up to two pages, and US federal job applications have a two-page maximum.

How long should an academic CV be?

MIT’s career office says two to four pages is typical for a younger professional, and four to seven pages for someone with more experience. Always follow any page limit in the application.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. Canada’s Job Bank and Youth Central in Australia advise against photos. Make it in Germany says photos are often expected in Germany, and Europass suggests a professional photo. Follow the instructions of the place you apply to.

What should I send if a scholarship asks for a “CV”?

For master’s and PhD scholarships, send an academic-style CV focused on education, research and achievements, unless the programme gives a template or page limit. If it requires Europass or its own template, use that.

Is Europass required in Europe?

Not always. Europass is a widely used format, and some programmes, such as the European Parliament’s Schuman traineeships, require it. Others accept any format.

Sources

• National Careers Service (UK): CV sections
• Europass: create your Europass CV
• Job Bank (Government of Canada): how to write a good resume
• Make it in Germany: job application
• US Office of Personnel Management: two-page resume limit
• MIT Career Advising and Professional Development: CVs
• Youth Central (Victoria, Australia): how to write a resume