--- page_version: 6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860 content_date: 2026-10-25 entity_id: profession:software-developer:countries entity_type: profession_comparison name: Software developer profession data by country canonical_url: https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/ json_url: https://immigrationdb.com/data/move-as/software-developer/countries.json markdown_url: https://immigrationdb.com/data/move-as/software-developer/countries.md snapshot_id: approved-static-48d32b636f07abc8 generated_at: 2026-10-25 last_verified: 2026-10-25 citation_schema: immigrationdb-citation-v1 citation_canonical_url: https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/ citation_title: Software developer profession data by country citation_author: ImmigrationDB citation_publisher: ImmigrationDB citation_snapshot_id: approved-static-48d32b636f07abc8 citation_version: "6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860" citation_retrieval_date: "2026-10-25" citation_build_date: "2026-10-25" citation_license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ license_url: https://immigrationdb.com/about/copyright/ --- # Software developer profession data by country The list holds the 38 countries with at least one official record for software developer: a regulated-professions register entry, a recognition record or a shortage-list row. National occupation names are joined to this profession through a reviewed crosswalk, country by country; a name the crosswalk does not match is left out rather than guessed. Salaries are not shown until a profession-level salary is collected for the country. - Countries with records: 38 - Profession records: 38 - Exact canonical records: 36 - Shortage-list records: 25 ## Country answers | Country | Regulation | Recognition route | Shortage list | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Australia | Regulated | Where an ICT occupation requires an ACS migration skills assessment, applicants use the eligible ACS pathway matching their qualification and work experience; General Skills is one pathway and its criteria vary. | — | | Austria | Not marked regulated | No formal profession recognition for ordinary employee role; qualifications are assessed from documents in selected RWR/Blue Card route. | — | | Belgium | Not marked regulated | No statutory professional diploma-recognition or registration procedure applies to the ordinary software-developer role on the federal non-regulated-professions page. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Bulgaria | Not marked regulated | Employer assesses the foreign professional qualification for the generic non-regulated role. NACID academic-degree recognition may be requested separately where a foreign degree needs equivalence; it is not a professional licence. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Canada | Not marked regulated | — | — | | Croatia | Regulated | — | — | | Cyprus | Not marked regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Czechia | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Denmark | Not marked regulated | No mandatory occupational recognition route for the generic title. A voluntary assessment of a foreign educational qualification may be requested from UFSN; the employer decides whether the applicant fits the job. | — | | Estonia | Regulated | — | — | | Finland | Not marked regulated | For a generic role the employer assesses skills; apply to EDUFI only if the post has a statutory degree-level eligibility condition. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | France | Regulated | For general software-development employment, the employer assesses qualifications; an ENIC-NARIC level statement, if needed, is not legal equivalence or a professional licence. | — | | Germany | Not marked regulated | No mandatory professional licensing/recognition process is required for the generic role. Optional qualification assessment may be requested; a ZAB Statement of Comparability evaluates a university degree and does not grant a professional licence. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Greece | Regulated | — | — | | Hungary | Regulated | Where a foreign higher-education credential needs formal recognition for work, OH-MEIK can determine qualification level and professional qualification; activity-specific legal authorisation, if any, remains a separate check. | — | | Iceland | Regulated | — | — | | Ireland | Not marked regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Italy | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Latvia | Not marked regulated | — | — | | Lithuania | Not marked regulated | For a non-regulated occupation, the general regulated-profession recognition process is not required; an applicant can apply directly to an employer. | — | | Luxembourg | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Malta | Not marked regulated | — | — | | Netherlands | Not marked regulated | No profession-wide foreign-professional recognition application is required for the title where the Dutch RegProf catalogue does not list it. Optional IDW diploma valuation compares an academic credential but is not a practice licence. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | New Zealand | Not marked regulated | No profession-wide statutory foreign-recognition application is identified for software-development jobs; employers may assess qualifications and experience. | — | | Norway | Not marked regulated | No profession-wide foreign professional-recognition application is identified for this broad title in the checked official list. Voluntary HK-dir education recognition assesses level/credits and is not a licence to practise. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Poland | Regulated | — | — | | Portugal | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Romania | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Saudi Arabia | Not marked regulated | — | — | | Slovakia | Not marked regulated | No professional-qualification recognition application applies to the generic unlisted software-developer title; voluntary education recognition is not a practice license. | — | | Slovenia | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | South Korea | Regulated | — | — | | Spain | Regulated | — | — | | Sweden | Regulated | — | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | Switzerland | Not marked regulated | Ordinary software-development/IT work in the cited ESTI scope does not require foreign-qualification reassessment or a profession-specific exercise permit. | Listed on an exact shortage-list record | | United Arab Emirates | Not marked regulated | — | — | | United Kingdom | Not marked regulated | — | — | | United States | Regulated | Contact the prospective employer for its credential-review instructions. The employer may evaluate credentials itself or request a private credential evaluation; where a legal license applies, follow the relevant state or territorial board process. | — | ## Sources General Skills Assessment Pathway, occupation eligibility and assessment process. — https://www.acs.org.au/msa/assessment-pathway/general-skills.html ILOSTAT mean earnings by occupation (EAR_EMTA_SEX_OCU_CUR_NB) — https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator?id=EAR_EMTA_SEX_OCU_CUR_NB 2026 salary/points/labour-market test and formal-recognition section (lines 98-103). — https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-key-workers/ Country work-route threshold — https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration-red-white-red-card/eu-blue-card.html Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=AT Official professions list identifies software developer as non-regulated. — https://business.belgium.be/nl/11 NCO.json key=1; A=AT; B=2025; C=2143; D=Environmental engineers; E=Shortage; F=Low — https://eures.europa.eu/living-and-working/labour-shortages-and-surpluses-europe_en Country work-route threshold — https://emploi.wallonie.be/en/home/actualites/actualites/autorisations-de-travail-et-permis-de-travail-b--seuils-salariaux-a-respecter-par-les-employeurs.html Annex 1 of the current register, amended in State Gazette No.72 of 11 August 2026; 2026 occupation title/scope compared without an adjacent-title substitution. — https://www.navet.government.bg/bg/media/spisak-na-regulirani-profesii-reshenie-na-ms-11-08-26.pdf Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=BG Job Bank NOC 21232 requirements page: occupation not regulated. — https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/requirements/22548/ca Foreigners Act Article 13 inserts Article 92.a, paragraphs 1–8; standardised Croatian/Latin-script exam at A1.1 and covered/exempt permit-holder groups. — https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2026_05_55_692.html Country work-route threshold — https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/full/2025_03_40_545.html Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=HR 2024 list row 62–63; public-sector teacher scope. — https://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/dl/dl.nsf/All/7FA6A9333991B5F1C22580A4002B6F42?OpenDocument=&print= Country work-route threshold — https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/eu-blue-card/ Employee Card: at least 15 hours/week and wage not below minimum-wage rate; Blue Card: gross pay at least 1.5x published annual wage. — https://up.gov.cz/en/employer-s-procedure Country work-route threshold — https://e-sbirka.gov.cz/sb/2026/44 UFSN education section lists Teacher of the Danish Folkeskole and Upper Secondary School Teacher as regulated professions. — https://ufsn.dk/english/education/recognition-and-transparency/regulated-professions/list-of-regulated-professions/ Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=DK Aliens Act §§107(1)-(1³), 178(1)-(1⁴), 181(1)(5), 181(2), 190⁷; base checked against Statistics Estonia. — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/public-api/api/v1/akt/130062026103/blob-html Country work-route threshold — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/510042023008/consolide/current Healthcare professions; registered nurse and midwife entries — https://www.oph.fi/en/services/recognition-qualifications/regulated-professions-finland Ministry page on academic comparability and non-equivalence. — https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/eees-les-instruments-de-la-politique-46489 Country work-route threshold — https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000051738426/2026-04-28 Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=FR Specific software-development training occupation is not regulated; evidence is limited to this named role profile. — https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/en/interest/finder/profession/228/profile Country work-route threshold — https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/pdf-blaue-karte-eu Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=DE Ministry lines 107–118 (E.4 contract term/pay floor) and lines 54–67 (annual quota); current statutory minimum-wage schedule checked on the linked Ministry minimum-wage page, effective 1 April 2026. — https://ypergasias.gov.gr/en/labour-relations/individual-employment-relations/work-for-third-country-nationals-in-greece/ Country work-route threshold — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/eu-blue-card/eu-blue-card-greece_en Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=EL OH-MEIK foreign higher-education recognition page identifies the competent recognition centre for employment/professional use. — https://www.oktatas.hu/kepesitesek_elismertetese/kulfoldon_szerzett_oklevelek/felsofoku_oklevel Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=HU Regulation No. 707/2023, Articles 1–3 and Annex; codes 2512 and 2514. — https://island.is/reglugerdir/nr/0707-2023 Recognition overview; competence authority; EU/EEA/Swiss and third-country scope; unregulated profession guidance — https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/publications/recognition-of-professional-qualifications/ Annex 2 exact ISCO-08 four-digit Critical Occupations List; report methodology and Annex 3 scope cross-checked. — https://www.lavoro.gov.it/sites/default/files/news/ITA_GSP_Labor_Market_Assessment_FINAL.pdf Country work-route threshold — https://esploradati.istat.it/SDMXWS/rest/data/IT1,92_1225_DF_DCCN_ANA1_7,1.0/A.IT.D11_D_W2_S1_R_FT.Z.Z.Z.V.N.Z.2026M9?startPeriod=2025&endPeriod=2024 Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=IT Named professions in the current legislation. — https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/26021-on-the-regulated-professions-and-the-recognition-of-professional-qualifications Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=LV Current page updated 2026-05-06: says Lithuania has 44 regulated professions, names the regulated list and says recognition is not required for an unregulated profession. — https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/point-of-single-contact/requirements-and-regulations/ Employer route for a third-country highly qualified worker; six-month minimum contract and EUR 65,652 current gross annual threshold; cites the 2026-02-23 ministerial regulation. — https://guichet.public.lu/de/entreprises/ressources-humaines/recrutement/ressortissant-pays-tiers/plus-3-mois/salarie-hautement-qualifie.html Country work-route threshold — https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/immigration/vivre/non-luxembourg/immigration/pays-tiers/hautement-qualifie/salarie-hautement-qualifie.html Named profession and competent-authority rows in the official register; statutory route pages for profession-specific controls. — https://mfhea.mt/list-of-regulated-professions-and-competent-authorities/ Country work-route threshold — https://nso.gov.mt/labour-market-main-page/ Dutch catalogue results for the exact generic titles; national records cross-checked in the 188-row country-filtered register. See evidence.md for matching titles and scope. — https://api.tech.ec.europa.eu/regprof20/prodmigration/professions?lang=EN&id_country=10&pagenum=1&maxrows=200 Nursing and midwifery titles require registration; the frozen family also includes enrolled/nursing-associate occupations and does not map to one blanket title. — https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/80506.htm Household Labour Force Survey income by occupation (2024 Q2) — https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Research/Evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-Household-Labour-Force-Survey-income-variables/evaluating-the-use-of-admin-data-as-a-substitute-for-household-labour-force-survey-income-variables.pdf Regulated-professions list and profession entries; title-level matches and named authorities checked. — https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/lists-and-databases/regulated-professions Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=NO Minimum-wage Regulation 2026 effective 2026-01-01; MOS unified permit comparable-pay rule; MOS Blue Card 2026 gross threshold and contract condition. — https://mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/baza-pytan-i-odpowiedzi/zezwolenia-pobyt-i-praca/ Country work-route threshold — https://www.mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en/question-and-answer-database/permits-residence-and-work/eu-blue-card/ Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=PL Current national directory of generic regulated-profession titles and sectoral competent authorities; directory checked 2026-10-12. — https://www.dgert.gov.pt/lista-das-profissoes-regulamentadas-e-autoridades-competentes Country work-route threshold — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/nama_10_fte?geo=PT&unit=EUR&lang=en Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=PT Current national directory of sectoral and other regulated-profession authorities and named professional titles. — https://cnred.edu.ro/en/competent-authorities/ Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=RO Country profession source — https://moe.gov.sa/en/education/highereducation/Pages/Cert-equivalence.aspx Current official CRD index and title-specific profession profile. — https://uznavanie.minedu.sk/en/regulated-professions-list/21?sort=version Gross statutory minimum wage EUR 1,481.88/month for work from 2026-01-01. — https://www.gov.si/novice/2026-01-28-dolocen-znesek-minimalne-place-za-2026/ Country work-route threshold — https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2026-01-0572 2026 E-7 notice, category E-7-1; MOJ occupation examples include SW developers. — https://www.immigration.go.kr/bbs/immigration/211/488810/download.do SEPE official Q2 2026 catalogue scanned by occupation code; INE CNO-11/ISCO-08 crosswalk: CNO 2611. — https://www.sepe.es/dam/jcr%3A02b4aeea-0c5b-4e9e-883b-d4b104d7309c/catalogo-ocupaciones-dificl-cobertura-2T26.pdf Country work-route threshold — https://www.inclusion.gob.es/documents/d/unidadgrandesempresas/umbral-salarial.pdf Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=ES Workbook Yrkesbarometer, rotation 2026-1 (June 2026), lan_namn=Nationellt; exact listed YB occupation rows and SSYK keys: 2141, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2146, 2183; mapped frozen ISCO overlap: 2141, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2146, 2151, 2152, 2153. — https://arbetsformedlingen.se/download/18.28feed2519e47aff4a527f2/1781072408824/arbetsformedlingens-yrkesbarometer-2026-juni.xlsx ESTI information sheet, section on non-regulated professions: IT/telematics/automation fields do not require recognition or practice permit. — https://www.esti.admin.ch/inhalte/pdf/NIV_I/Deutsch/Publikationen/2015-03_anerkennung_EU-EFTA_d.pdf Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_25) — https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/earn_ses22_25?lang=en&format=JSON&freq=A&sex=T&indic_se=ERN&sizeclas=10-49&unit=EUR&geo=CH Country profession source — https://www.moe.gov.ae/En/EServices/ServiceCard/Pages/CertEquivalent.aspx The official register names registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates under the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Frozen ISCO codes span registered nursing/midwifery and associate groups; registration scope and national remit vary by exact title. — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professions-regulated-by-law-in-the-uk-and-their-regulators/uk-regulated-professions-and-their-regulators Schedule A Group I, lines 103-122; physical therapists and professional nurses listed. — https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-656/subpart-B/section-656.5 ## Cite This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. ### APA ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 25). Software developer profession data by country [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/ Retrieved 2026-10-25. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ### BibTeX ```bibtex @misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_software-developer-profession-data-by-country_de2caff8c1db, author = {ImmigrationDB}, title = {Software developer profession data by country}, publisher = {ImmigrationDB}, year = {2026}, date = {2026-10-25}, version = {6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860}, url = {https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/}, note = {Retrieved 2026-10-25. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/}, } ``` ### Markdown [Software developer profession data by country](https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860; retrieved 2026-10-25; built 2026-10-25. - Citation schema: `immigrationdb-citation-v1` - Canonical URL: https://immigrationdb.com/move-as/software-developer/ - Title: Software developer profession data by country - Author: ImmigrationDB - Publisher: ImmigrationDB - Snapshot: `approved-static-48d32b636f07abc8` - Version: `6f122bc140a3b53466cc114b4362b860` - Retrieved: 2026-10-25 - Built: 2026-10-25 - Compilation license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) ## Boundary A blank field is not an estimate or a negative answer. Verify current requirements with the responsible authority.