Reference: In 1999, Ireland gained the world lead in growth of software development industry. Annual requirement for new programmers in the industry equals to 56 000 persons! The real hidden motive of the strong IT-sector professionals deficit is a boom in IT and SW industries over the last 10 years, which for insular Ireland state looks quite attractive.

     Attached to such an activity splash in this market, it is impossible to cope by with own limited human resources. Irish government passed a new immigration program, under which six thousand visas will be granted annually to different IT professionals from outside EC (for supplementary information visit the official site of Irish government). This decision is imposed by at this point considerable and still increasing shortage of specialists (especially SW developers). Minister Mary Harney also mentions other specialists who can qualify under the new visa regulations and they are: civil engineers, architects, programmers and telecommunications professionals.

     The program implies that the visa process for such specialists (provided with an official invitation from one of Irish companies and proved by a diploma about a third-level degree in the corresponding field) will take from 1 to 3 days - up to one week in real time. The family within this program may join the departing specialist but not earlier than in three months after his/her start with the Irish company. The visa holder's husband/wife has no official right to work. However in reality one can find an employer who would like to hire this person and try to obtain a work permit without leaving Ireland. The main thing is ability to speak decent English.