Biodata for Marriage: CV Template & Biodata Format

You've built a life you're proud of. Now, you're ready to share it. In many cultures, a marriage biodata—or marriage CV—is vital in this journey.

In this article, I’ll show you how you can craft a marriage biodata that truly represents you and attracts the right connection.

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What is a biodata?

Biodata is short for biographical data. In South Asia, particularly in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, it’s commonly used in two ways: for job applications and marriage proposals.

A biodata for marriage, also known as a marriage CV, is a formal document used when searching for a life partner. It’s a personal profile that outlines your background, values, lifestyle, and what you’re looking for in a partner. A marriage biodata format will still include insights into your education and current job title, but it’s more about describing who you are as a person.

What to include in a marriage CV

Life is already complicated enough, so don’t overcomplicate your marriage CV. I’ll now show you what goes into a biodata for marriage. Don’t worry, you don’t need to include everything—just what feels right for you and your situation.

1. Personal information

This is the foundation of your biodata for marriage. A lot of personal information goes here, from your name and age to your caste. Here is what you may include in your CV for marriage:

• Full name: Use your full official name as you'd like to be introduced to families.
• Contact information: Include your email and mobile number.
• Date of birth and age: Age is an important part of compatibility; you may also choose to include your time of birth if astrology is important in your tradition.
• Place of birth and residence: These details can give a sense of your cultural background and current living situation, which may matter for visa status, relocation preferences, or regional compatibility.
• Nationality: Clearly state your citizenship (e.g., British, dual national).
• Height and weight: Gives some idea of your general visual appearance.
• Mother tongue: This helps others understand your cultural and linguistic background.
• Languages spoken: List any additional languages you’re fluent in—it’s a great asset, especially in global or multicultural families.
• Marital status: State whether you're single, divorced, or widowed. If previously married, it’s best to be upfront, with a respectful explanation if needed.
• Education qualifications & occupation: These may appear again later in detail, but a brief mention here gives a snapshot (e.g., “BA in Economics, Financial analyst at Morgan Stanley”). Adding your current job is especially important for men, as about 61% of women want their grooms to be well-established and have a high income.
• Religion, caste, subcaste, or gotra: These are important in some communities, especially when families prefer compatibility in spiritual or cultural traditions. If it’s not relevant to you, it’s fine to leave it out.
• Rashi: Commonly included in biodata for marriage, where astrology is considered important in matchmaking.

And don’t forget to add a photograph. Take a professional and recent one. Dress up in nice-looking formal or formal-casual attire. Avoid informal photos, especially those that show other people with you.

The digitisation of the matrimonial landscape granted everyone access to a much larger pool of candidates. But just as it is with dating apps, those benefits also come with significant drawbacks. You should be aware of potential discrimination practices, for example, by caste or skin colour, which are deeply rooted issues in matrimonial advertisements.

2. Family background

Marriage is seen as a union between two families. Including family details in your biodata helps others understand your values, upbringing, and lifestyle.

Write this part of a biodata for marriage in the following order:

• Parents’ names and occupations: Start with your father, then your mother. A short line on each parent is enough (e.g., "Father: Mr. Sameer Ali, Retired NHS Consultant").
• Siblings and their status: Mention how many siblings you have, their professions, and whether they are married. Use a chronological order, starting with your oldest sibling first.
• Family structure: Briefly mention whether you come from a nuclear or joint family setup.
• Social class: whether you come from a lower, middle, or upper class.
• Place of residence: To let your potential spouse know how close or far away your family is to your place of residence.

3. About me section

The "About me" section is one of the few places in your marriage CV where you can write in full sentences and express your personality in a natural tone. It’s your chance to go beyond checkboxes and let the reader feel like they’re getting to know the real you.

While the rest of the biodata for marriage may be more structured, this part offers a chance to be a little more human. This section is usually a short paragraph—around 4 to 6 sentences—which makes it similar to a job CV introduction.

Here’s what to include:

Who are you professionally

Start with a short line about what you do and what you studied. This gives context to your current stage in life and signals how you balance work and personal goals. Mentioning your profession and even touching on your work experience also gives the other person a sense of your routine and lifestyle. For example, it tells them whether you work standard hours, do shift work, or travel for your job.

What your day-to-day life is like

Share a bit about how you spend your free time. This might include your hobbies and interests, weekly routines, or the kind of social life you enjoy. It helps others imagine what it might be like to spend time with you and highlights shared interests or lifestyle compatibility.

Your values and outlook

Include a few words about what matters to you. This could be your approach to relationships, your views on family life, or qualities you value in yourself and others—like kindness, humour, independence, or faith.

Subtle mention of what you’re looking for

You don’t need to list demands or deal-breakers here. Instead, close the paragraph with a gentle hint about what you hope to find in a partner—perhaps shared values, mutual respect, or a willingness to grow together. This creates a sense of direction without sounding transactional. Be very brief, you’ll build on your preferences in a moment.

Overall, your “About Me” section should feel conversational and sincere. You don’t have to be poetic or quirky, like on a dating app.

4. Partner preferences

This section of your marriage CV gives others a sense of what you're looking for in a life partner. Think of it as a way to express what kind of values, lifestyle, and connection would make a good match for you. Don’t treat it as a list of demands; no one likes demanding and entitled people. You may mention:

• Age range: Most people include a preferred age bracket: something realistic and flexible. A general range (e.g., 27–33) is more welcoming than a single age.
• Religious or cultural compatibility: If your family or you place importance on shared religious practice, caste, or cultural background, it’s fine to note this here. Phrasing matters; avoid sounding exclusionary and focus on shared values.
• Education and career outlook: If you value education or career ambition in a partner, this is the place to say so. Keep the wording kind and realistic, acknowledging that career paths vary. You might reference a field, work ethic, or education level (e.g., “someone with a professional background and growth mindset”).
• Personality and lifestyle: This is where you might mention qualities you value, such as honesty, open-mindedness, family orientation, or good communication. If shared interests (like travel or fitness) matter to you, feel free to mention them.
• Location and willingness to relocate: Mention whether you’re open to moving within the UK, abroad, or prefer someone already based in your area. This can be particularly relevant for work, visa status, or family commitments.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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Marriage CV template

Just like an English CV, a biodata for marriage should be clear, well-structured, and easy to skim through. A good marriage CV format will help you keep all sections neat. Whether you're using a CV template or building your marriage biodata format from scratch, here are some simple rules and smart ways to structure your CV for marriage:

• Keep it short: A good marriage CV length is 1–2 pages. Page one should be reserved for all the most important parts, like your personal information, partner preferences, and the “About Me” section. A second page is fine if you’re including a horoscope or family details that require more space.
• Use a clean, professional layout: Stick to standard CV fonts (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) and avoid unnecessary graphics. Use consistent spacing and section headings.
• Use bullet points for clarity: Lists of qualifications, family details, or interests are easier to scan in bullet format.
• Stick to neutral language: Keep the tone warm but formal—you're introducing yourself to entire families, not just individuals.
• Use section headings: Break up the text into sections like “About Me”, “Family Background”, and “Partner Preferences” so readers can find key details quickly.

A great trick to simplify formatting is to think of your marriage CV like a lightly adjusted version of a job CV. You can even jump into our CV builder and make the following adjustments to create the perfect marriage CV template:

• Personal Profile → About Me: Swap your CV summary for a personal introduction. This is where you briefly explain who you are, what you do, and your values or outlook on life.

• Skills Section → Personal Information: Instead of “team player” and “project management”, mention your details like age, caste, etc.

• References → Family Background: This section was designed to highlight details of other people, which is perfect for briefly describing your family.

• Additional Information → Partner Preferences: With this section, you can include bullet points or write a brief paragraph to describe your preferences.

If you need space for additional parts, such as to expand on your job, education, or spiritual side, you can create and add custom sections to your marriage CV.

Marriage CV examples

Sometimes, the best way to learn is by seeing a real example. Below, you’ll find two sample marriage biodatas—one for a male and one for a female. See how your marriage biodata will look when you create it with LiveCareer.

Marriage biodata sample for a male

Marriage biodata sample for a female

Biodata format for a job

Biodata is also used in job applications, particularly in South Asian communities and for certain formal or public sector roles. A job biodata is similar to a CV but places more emphasis on personal background and factual information rather than narrative or achievements.

In the UK, most employers request a CV, but if you're applying to roles within community organisations, care roles, government-linked services, or in cultural contexts where biodata is the norm, it’s worth knowing how to structure one properly.

Here’s how to create a job biodata in a clear, UK-appropriate format.

1. Include personal information

This section appears at the top and outlines your personal details. Include:

• Full name
• Date of birth and age
• Gender
• Marital status
• Nationality and place of birth
• Current address and postcode
• Contact information (email and phone number)
• Languages spoken

Keep the presentation simple and easy to read. A bulleted or tabular layout works best.

2. Feature your education

List your academic background in the education section of your job biodata, starting with the most recent qualification. Make sure your entries are clear and include:

• Name of qualification (e.g. MSc in Data Analytics)
• Institution name
• Dates attended or graduation year
• Classification (e.g. 2:1 Honours)
  
  

For UK-based roles, it helps to include recognisable equivalents if your qualifications were completed abroad.

3. Showcase employment history

This section should summarise your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include:

• Job title
• Employer’s name
• Dates of employment (month/year – month/year)
• A brief summary of your qualifications

When listing your qualifications, do it in the form of bullet points. Start each point with an action verb to convey impact. For a strong biodata for a job, feature as many quantified work accomplishments as possible. If you have limited experience, include internships, placements, or volunteer work.

4. List key skills on your job biodata

Include a focused list of 5–8 relevant skills that directly match the requirements of the role you're applying for. Prioritise a mix of technical abilities (like data analysis or software knowledge) and core soft skills (such as teamwork or time management).

Where possible, back up your skills with brief context or evidence—for example, tools you’ve used, certifications you've earned, or results you've delivered.

Avoid listing overly broad traits like “hardworking” or “motivated” without proof. Focus instead on skills you can demonstrate through your work history or training.

5. Add bonus sections to your job biodata

While job biodatas are typically brief and factual, there’s room to include extra information, as long as it’s relevant to the role or required by the organisation. These optional sections can help round out your profile and give employers a fuller picture of your background.

Consider including:

• Certifications or Courses: Especially useful if they’re job-related (e.g., First Aid, IT skills, NVQs).
• Hobbies and Interests: Only include these if they reflect useful qualities (e.g., teamwork through sport, commitment through volunteering).
• Languages Spoken: Particularly valuable in customer-facing, healthcare, or community-based roles.
• Right to Work/Visa Status: If you’re applying in the UK and your status isn’t clear from your nationality, it may be helpful to note.

Keep in mind: every section should serve a purpose. Avoid adding anything that distracts from your skills and suitability for the job.

A quick note: In the UK, a traditional CV is almost always preferred for securing jobs, particularly in private companies and competitive sectors. I recommend you learn how to write a CV from our dedicated guide.

If you’re certain you need a job biodata, see the example below. It features a finished biodata for a job you can get inspired by, and adapt for your own needs.

Biodata format for a job—example

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• Vasumathi, B., and P. Subbakrishna. "Socio-Cultural Analysis of Marriage: Introspection into Matrimonial Advertisements." International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention 7, no. 11 (2018): 64-69.
• Chattopadhyay, Dhiman, and Sriya Chattopadhyay. "Colorism and Love for Fair Skin." Asian Communication Research 16, no. 1 (2019): 105–138.