I've been sending CVs with a passport photo for years, but lately I see a lot of people don't include one. Here in Colombia it's still common to put it in, but I'm not sure if it's hurting or helping me. Is it still necessary in 2026?
I've seen that photos are still the standard here in Colombia, but what really matters is whether it actually represents you well or if it's outdated. An old ID photo or poor quality one can work against you, so if you're going to include it, better invest in a decent professional photo - nothing with filters or selfies or anything like that - that shows you looking confident and approachable. If the photo is generic or doesn't do you any favors, that's when I'd recommend leaving it out, because a mediocre image is worse than having none at all.
Don't remove it if in Colombia it's still the norm in your sector, because it could actually work against you if everyone includes one and you're the only one without it. What really matters is that it's a good, recent photo - actually professional, not some ID photo where you look weird - that does more harm than good. If you're sending applications to multinational companies or startups that clearly ask for a photo-free CV, then obviously respect that, but for most local Colombian companies, keeping the photo is the safe bet as long as it's good quality.
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