Canada · Resume rules
Photo on a Canadian Resume: Should You Add One? (Short Answer: No)
Don't put a photo on a Canadian resume. Job Bank, the Government of Canada's job service, says a photo isn't the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. The same advice covers your age, marital status, religion and Social Insurance Number: leave them all off. The only usual exceptions are jobs where appearance is part of the work, such as acting or modelling.
You've probably done everything "right" back home. Neat headshot in the corner, date of birth, maybe your marital status. Then you move to Canada, send out your resume and hear nothing. Could the photo be the problem?
It might be part of it. In Canada, a resume that shows a picture or personal details unrelated to the job can look unfamiliar to recruiters, and some may set it aside rather than risk looking biased. I can't tell you how any single employer behaves, and the rule isn't a law that bans photos. But every Canadian source we checked gives the same advice, so it's the safest choice.
- Why Canadian employers don't want a photo
- What to leave off a Canadian resume
- If photos are normal in your home country
- Convert your CV to Canadian style in 6 steps
- Before and after: the header (fictional)
- What about LinkedIn and application forms?
- Frequently asked questions
- Your next step
- Your next steps
Why Canadian employers don't want a photo
The reasoning is about fairness. Employers want to judge you on skills and experience, not on how you look. According to Hire Diverse, a photo puts recruiters in the position of seeing information they're trying not to consider, and some reject resumes with photos to avoid any accusation of discrimination. Physical appearance isn't a valid basis for hiring, and a photo doesn't strengthen your application. Canadian employers also work under human-rights rules that protect applicants from discrimination, so recruiters are careful about information like age, race or religion showing up on a document.
Many applicant tracking systems also can't read images, which adds a technical reason. See our guide on whether ATS systems reject resumes with photos.
What to leave off a Canadian resume
| Remove this | Why | Put this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Not the norm; Job Bank says it can lower your chances | Nothing. Use a professional photo on LinkedIn instead. |
| Age or date of birth | Can introduce bias | Nothing; dates of jobs and education are enough |
| Marital status, children | Not relevant to the job | Nothing |
| Religion, politics, ethnicity, nationality | Can introduce bias | Nothing; mention language skills if relevant |
| Social Insurance Number | Job Bank says never include it | Nothing |
| Passport or ID numbers | Only needed in formal immigration or hiring paperwork | Nothing |
| Full home address | Privacy; a city is enough for most employers | City and province, e.g. Brampton, ON |
| References | Job Bank says provide them only when requested | Keep a separate list ready |
| Reasons for leaving jobs | Not needed | Dates and achievements |
Your top section should contain your name, city and province, a phone number, a professional email and, if you have one, a LinkedIn link. That's it. For the full layout, see our Canada resume format guide with a free template.
If photos are normal in your home country
Many newcomers arrive from places where a photo, date of birth and marital status are customary on a CV, such as Germany and a number of countries in Latin America and Asia. That's exactly why this catches people out. Your old CV isn't wrong; it's just written for a different market. The same thing happens in reverse, so before you apply elsewhere, check the local rules for the UK, the USA or Europe.
Convert your CV to Canadian style in 6 steps
- Delete the photo and any text box or table that held it.
- Remove personal details: date of birth, marital status, nationality, ID and passport numbers.
- Change the address line to city and province (or your current city and country if you're still abroad).
- Cut it to one or two pages. Job Bank recommends two at most and advises shortening jobs older than about 15 years.
- Rewrite duties as achievements with action verbs and, where true, numbers.
- Use Canadian wording. Match job titles to local equivalents and skip "References available upon request".
Not sure what Canadian employers expect for the rest? Our guide to adapting your resume for Canada goes deeper.
Before and after: the header (fictional)
| Before (common abroad) | After (Canadian style) |
|---|---|
| [Photo] CARLOS MENDOZA Born 12 May 1992, Bogotá, Colombian Single Calle 45 #12-30, Bogotá Passport: [number] | CARLOS MENDOZA Toronto, ON | 416-555-0123 carlos.mendoza@example.com | linkedin.com/in/carlos-mendoza-example |
What about LinkedIn and application forms?
- LinkedIn: a professional photo on your profile is normal and helps people recognise you. The resume is the document that stays photo-free.
- Online forms: if a form has a photo upload, it's usually optional. Skip it unless the employer clearly asks.
- Acting, modelling or similar work: these are the typical exceptions, where the employer needs to see your appearance.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on my resume in Canada?
No. Job Bank advises against it, saying it isn't the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. The exception is work like acting or modelling.
Is it illegal to include a photo on a Canadian resume?
No, it isn't illegal for you to include one. The issue is that employers want to avoid bias, so a photo can work against you.
Should I include my age or date of birth?
No. Age, marital status, religion and similar details can introduce bias, and Canadian career guidance says to leave them out.
Do I include my Social Insurance Number?
Never. Job Bank says not to put your SIN on your resume. Employers ask for it only after a job offer, for payroll.
Should I include my full address?
Not necessarily. City and province (or city and country if you're abroad) is enough for most applications.
Can I use a photo on LinkedIn?
Yes. A professional photo on LinkedIn is normal. The advice applies to the resume document.
Does the no-photo rule apply in Quebec?
The sources we reviewed give general Canadian advice. If you're applying in Quebec, check the employer's instructions and Quebec-specific guidance before you send your resume.
Your next step
Open your current resume and delete the photo, birth date, marital status and any ID numbers. Then change the address to city and province. It takes five minutes and puts you in line with what Canadian recruiters expect.
Keep going
Your next steps
Sources
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