The question comes up constantly: do you put a photo on your CV or not?
The answer depends on where you are applying and how you are sending it. There is no single rule for Europe, and getting this wrong can hurt your application in ways that have nothing to do with your qualifications.
Why this is even a question
In some parts of the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom, putting a photo on your CV is considered unusual and in some cases actively discouraged. The concern is that photos can introduce unconscious bias into the hiring process, and many companies have policies against it.
Europe is more divided on this. Some countries still expect a photo. Others have moved away from it. And then there is the separate question of whether you are applying through an online system or sending your CV directly to a person.
What the ATS does with your photo
If you are applying through a job portal or a company careers page, your CV goes through an ATS before anyone sees it. This is where the photo question becomes straightforward.
ATS systems cannot read images. When the system encounters a photo in your CV, it either ignores it completely or, in some cases, struggles to parse the document correctly because the image takes up space in the layout. In either scenario, the photo does not help you. It only adds risk.
For any online application going through an ATS, leave the photo out.
The country breakdown
When you are sending your CV directly to a recruiter or hiring manager, the country matters.
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are the clearest cases where a professional photo is still widely expected. Not including one can make your application feel incomplete in these markets. The photo should be a proper professional headshot, not a casual image.
France has shifted significantly in recent years. Photos are no longer standard and many French companies have moved away from requesting them. Including one is generally neutral, but it is not expected.
Spain, Italy, and Portugal follow a similar pattern to France. Photos are increasingly optional and not including one will not raise questions. In some sectors, particularly corporate and finance, a professional photo can still be a positive signal.
The Netherlands and Scandinavia are firmly in the no-photo camp. Professional norms in these markets align more closely with the UK and US approach, and photos are genuinely uncommon.
When the role matters as much as the country
Even within the same country, the industry and role type can change the calculus.
Client-facing roles in sales, hospitality, consulting, or anything involving significant external contact sometimes have different informal expectations around photos. Not because appearance should be a hiring criterion, but because those industries have historically been more likely to include them.
Technical roles, back-office positions, and most remote-first jobs are much less likely to have any expectation around photos regardless of country.
The practical rule
If you are applying through an online portal: no photo. The ATS cannot use it and you eliminate any formatting risk.
If you are sending directly to a German, Austrian, or Swiss recruiter: include a professional photo. It is expected.
For every other European market and direct application: a professional photo is optional. If you include one, it should be genuinely professional. If you leave it out, it will not be held against you.
One more thing worth knowing
Some job seekers ask whether they can have two versions of their CV, one with a photo and one without, depending on where they are applying. This is exactly the right approach and the one most career coaches recommend.
Resumelyn lets you choose whether to include a photo when you optimize your CV. If you are applying to a German company directly, you can add it. If you are submitting through a portal, you leave it out. Same underlying CV, right choice for the situation.