Immigration Act regulations have long been criticised for making it difficult for local and foreign companies to bring in the skills they need.

The list, published on Friday, is the first time that government has specified the professional categories that work permit quotas will apply to since the new Immigration Act was adopted.

The quotas and categories were developed by the home affairs, trade and industry and labour departments after consultation with business.

Professionals in the specified categories will be able to apply for quota work permits without having first secured permanent employment in the country.

Once approved, the successful applicants will be able to seek work in their professions.

This is a major departure from the system that required proof that a South African could not have filled the post.

Democratic Alliance home affairs spokeswoman Sandy Kalyan welcomed the announcement by Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

She said it was a step in the right direction in terms of attracting skills to the country which were in short supply or not available at all.

The key to the success of the whole exercise would be how easily the applications were processed and how long it would take, Kalyan said.

Examples of some of the categories announced are: 500 places for aeronautical engineers; 5000 construction or civil engineers; 200 astrophysicists; 5000 industrial engineers; 1000 mechanical engineers; 1000 silicon and microchip developers; 1000 maths and science teachers; 3000 biological science technicians; 300 research and development pharmacologists; 250 virologists; 1000 plant pathologists and 500 veterinarians.