French CVs I see online are very colourful. Is that safe for online applications?

It depends on how you apply. Many French CV examples use two columns, icons and coloured sidebars, and they can work well when a person reads a PDF sent by email. Online portals that use applicant tracking systems may read complex layouts less reliably.

A safe approach:

• For online portals: a single-column layout, standard headings, no text in images or graphics.
• For email or networking: a little colour is fine, as long as the text is clear.
• Avoid skill bars and star ratings in both cases; they say little.

Single-column templates such as ATS Classic or ATS Professional in ResumeBuilder.ae are the safest default, and the ATS-readiness check gives an internal estimate of structure and completeness. If you like a designed look, keep two versions: a plain one for portals and a more visual one for direct emails, with exactly the same content and dates so nothing contradicts.