German CV Requirements 2026: Complete Checklist
What sections are mandatory, optional, and forbidden on a German Lebenslauf in 2026. A practical checklist for professionals, expats, and international job seekers.
Lebenslauf Requirements by Category
✅ Mandatory — Always Include
- ✓Full name
- ✓Address (full postal address is still standard in Germany)
- ✓Phone number and email address
- ✓Date of birth (Geburtsdatum) — traditionally expected
- ✓Place of birth (Geburtsort) — traditionally expected
- ✓Work experience in reverse-chronological order — no unexplained gaps
- ✓Education / qualifications (Ausbildung or Studium)
- ✓Language skills with CEFR levels
- ✓IT skills / technical skills relevant to the role
- ✓Signature (Ort, Datum, Unterschrift) at the bottom
- ✓Submitted as PDF
⚪ Optional — Include if Relevant
- ○Professional photo (Bewerbungsfoto) — traditional; expected at most German companies; skip only for international/startup roles
- ○Nationality — traditional; increasingly optional for international applicants
- ○Marital status (Familienstand) — traditional; younger professionals and expats commonly omit it
- ○LinkedIn / XING / portfolio URL
- ○Professional certifications and licences
- ○Driving licence (Führerschein) — relevant for field sales, logistics, trades
- ○Club memberships and professional associations
- ○Volunteering (Ehrenamt) — carries genuine weight in Germany
- ○Significant hobbies — only if clearly relevant to the role or demonstrating character
- ○Publications / presentations — academic or technical roles
❌ Forbidden / Not Standard — Do Not Include
- ✗References on the Lebenslauf — these are submitted separately as Arbeitszeugnisse
- ✗Profile or summary paragraph — not part of the tabellarisch German format
- ✗Skill bars or progress rings — subjective and considered unprofessional
- ✗Salary expectations on the Lebenslauf — this belongs in the Anschreiben or is discussed at interview
- ✗Reasons for leaving previous jobs — addressed at interview if asked
- ✗Photograph that is not a professional Bewerbungsfoto (selfies, casual photos)
- ✗Health information or disability status — protected under German anti-discrimination law (AGG)
- ✗Religious affiliation — unless specifically relevant (e.g., applying to a church-affiliated organisation)
- ✗Unexplained employment gaps — always account for every period
Specific Requirements for International Applicants
Work Authorisation
Mention your right to work in Germany. EU/EEA citizens can simply note this. Non-EU applicants should state their visa status or note "German work visa in process" where applicable. This is not typically placed on the Lebenslauf itself — it belongs in the Anschreiben.
Qualification Recognition
If your foreign qualification has been formally recognised by the relevant German authority, note "Anerkennung durch [Behörde]" (Recognised by [authority]) next to your qualification. Even WES or NARIC evaluation is worth noting if formally assessed.
Language Level — Be Precise
German employers take language claims seriously. Use CEFR levels (A1 through C2) and be honest. Claiming C1 when you are B2 will be exposed at interview. If you are actively learning German, note the current level and that you are in active training.
International Education Formatting
Name your degree exactly as on your certificate, then add the German equivalent in brackets where helpful: "Bachelor of Engineering (entspricht Diplom-Ingenieur)" helps German HR understand where your qualification fits.
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