Guide · applying in another country
Resume format for Japan
What employers in Japan usually expect on a resume, what they usually don't, and where that guidance comes from.
Many Japanese companies ask for a rirekisho, a fixed form that is often filled in in Japanese, sometimes together with a separate work-history document called a shokumu keirekisho. Employers that post jobs in English, and many foreign-owned companies, usually expect an English résumé. Check the job posting to see which one it asks for. Our check reads English text, so the table below is for an English résumé.
These notes are about what employers may ask or require, not about what you must do. The ministry's fair-recruitment page is written for employers. It lists what employers should not collect from applicants, such as birthplace, family matters and religion, and it does not list nationality. The ministry's standard résumé form is a model, not a binding rule. The ministry made it in April 2021 after the Japan Standards Association withdrew its own form in 2020. Guidance, not legal advice.
Usually or often left out in Japan
- Birthdate or age
- Religion
- Place of birth
- Photo
- Government ID numbers (national ID, tax or social security)
- Parents, spouse or children
Commonly included in Japan
Objective statement. Michael Page Japan lists an objective and a summary in its English résumé layout, and the Japanese rirekisho has a motivation box, so our check doesn't flag an objective.
Not flagged
- Nationality. Japan's lists of things employers should not ask applicants about (the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's fair-recruitment page and its Employment Security Act guideline) do not name nationality. Japanese employers must check that a foreign worker's residence status allows the job before hiring, so recruiters often look for your residence status and its end date. If you already live in Japan, you can state your residence status and expiry date. If you are applying from outside Japan, you can say where you are based and whether you would need visa sponsorship. Nationality is optional on an English résumé.
Detail by detail
| Detail | In Japan | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Birthdate or age | Often left out. Michael Page Japan and Robert Walters say to leave it off an English résumé. The rirekisho has a date of birth and age box. A Daijob English CV guide lists date of birth, so sources differ. | Robert Walters Japan — Resume for the Japan market (Aug 2025) Recruiter advice, not law. It says not to include age or marital status and suggests a city, phone and email as contact details. TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. Hello Work — Standard résumé form (履歴書) The rirekisho form has a date of birth and age box. A Daijob English CV guide lists date of birth, so sources differ. |
| Civil status | Worth a look. Not on the ministry's rirekisho form. TokyoDev, Japan Dev and Robert Walters say to leave it off. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — 2021 revision of the standard résumé form (履歴書様式例) The form is a model; it is not binding. TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Standard résumé form and how to use it (2021) |
| Religion | Usually left out | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Basics of fair recruitment and selection (公正な採用選考の基本) Written for employers: it lists what they should not ask applicants about. It does not tell you what to write. |
| Height and weight | Worth a look | Hello Work — Standard résumé form (履歴書) The form is a model; it is not binding. |
| Sex or gender | Worth a look. The ministry's rirekisho form makes this box optional and allows it to be left blank. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — 2021 revision of the standard résumé form (履歴書様式例) The form is a model; it is not binding. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Standard résumé form and how to use it (2021) |
| Place of birth | Usually left out | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Basics of fair recruitment and selection (公正な採用選考の基本) Written for employers: it lists what they should not ask applicants about. It does not tell you what to write. |
| Nationality | Not flagged | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Basics of fair recruitment and selection (公正な採用選考の基本) Does not list nationality among the things employers should not ask about. Employers must check a foreign worker's residence status before hiring. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Employing foreign workers (June 2026 leaflet) Says employers must confirm that a foreign worker's residence status allows the work before hiring. Immigration Services Agency — Leaflet for employers on checking residence cards Employers must check the residence card, including its work restriction. |
| Photo | Usually left out. TokyoDev, Japan Dev and Michael Page Japan advise leaving it off an English résumé. The rirekisho has a photo box for when a photo is needed, and Hello Work says a photo is commonly attached to a rirekisho. | TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. Japan Dev — English résumé for Japan (Mar 2026) Job-board advice, not law. Hello Work — Checklist for foreign nationals looking for work (July 2020) Says it is common to attach a photo to a rirekisho so the employer can confirm who you are. Hello Work — Standard résumé form (履歴書) The rirekisho form has a photo box for when a photo is needed. |
| Full home address | Worth a look. Robert Walters suggests city, phone and email, and TokyoDev says to leave out your street address. The rirekisho asks for a full address. | Robert Walters Japan — Resume for the Japan market (Aug 2025) Recruiter advice, not law. It says not to include age or marital status and suggests a city, phone and email as contact details. TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. Hello Work — Standard résumé form (履歴書) The rirekisho form asks for a full address. |
| Government ID numbers (national ID, tax or social security) | Usually left out. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says an employer cannot ask for a My Number before an employment contract is signed. Your passport and residence card numbers are checked on the original card when you are hired. | Personal Information Protection Commission — Guidelines on specific personal information (My Number), business operators edition Guidance for businesses on when they may ask for a My Number: for employees, when the employment contract is made. It does not mention applicants or resumes. Passport and residence-card numbers are not covered by this guideline. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Notice on My Number and hiring Says an employer cannot ask for a My Number before an employment contract is signed, for example at an interview. |
| Parents, spouse or children | Usually left out | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Basics of fair recruitment and selection (公正な採用選考の基本) Written for employers: it lists what they should not ask applicants about. It does not tell you what to write. |
| Objective statement | Fine to include. Michael Page Japan lists an objective and a summary in its English résumé layout. The rirekisho has a motivation box. | Michael Page Japan — Resume advice (English résumé guide, Apr 2024) Recruiter advice, not law. Its English résumé layout has an objective and a summary and leaves out date of birth and photo. Hello Work — Standard résumé form (履歴書) The rirekisho form has a motivation box. |
| Character references with phone numbers | Worth a look. Japan Dev advises leaving a references section off. Robert Walters and Michael Page Japan suggest "References available on request". | Japan Dev — Japanese CV: rirekisho and shokumu keirekisho (Sep 2023) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving a references section off. Robert Walters Japan — Resume for the Japan market (Aug 2025) Recruiter advice, not law. It says not to include age or marital status and suggests a city, phone and email as contact details. |
| Residence status or visa (if you have one in Japan) | Fine to include. Japanese employers must check that a foreign worker may do the job before hiring. If you hold a residence status in Japan, you can give its name and end date. If you are outside Japan, say so and say whether you would need visa sponsorship. | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Employing foreign workers (June 2026 leaflet) Says employers must confirm that a foreign worker's residence status allows the work before hiring. Immigration Services Agency — Leaflet for employers on checking residence cards Employers must check the residence card, including its work restriction. TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. Japan Dev — Japanese CV: rirekisho and shokumu keirekisho (Sep 2023) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving a references section off. |
| Japanese language level | Fine to include. Say what you can do in plain words, and add your test level in brackets if you have one. | TokyoDev — How to write resumes for jobs in Japan (undated) Job-board advice, not law. It advises leaving the photo, birth date, gender and marital status off an English résumé. |
If an employer asks for the Japanese form
These points come from Hello Work's guidance for job seekers. Write the date you submit it. Use era years or Western years, not both. Write your address in full. Many companies accept a typed form, and Hello Work suggests typing for IT and foreign-owned companies; follow the posting if it asks for handwriting. Attach a photo only if the form or employer asks for one: front view, upper body, plain background, taken within about six months. The 2021 ministry form has no boxes for spouse, dependents or commuting time, but older templates still do.
Everywhere
Leave government ID numbers off your resume: national ID, tax and social security numbers. Most employers don't need them to decide whether to interview you, and they can be misused. Share a passport number only when an employer asks for it.
Other countries: United States · Canada · Singapore · Philippines. See all resume guides.
Guidance, not legal advice. When an employer asks for something specific, follow their instructions.
Check your own resume for Japan with the Country check: we flag each item with the reason and let you remove it in one click.
Start free