Temporary Activity Visa (SC 408)- Entertainment Activities
The 408 visa stream has many streams catered for individual circumstances. And one of its stream is the Entertainment Activities stream. You can apply for this visa to work in the entertainment industry, encompassing roles in film, television, or live productions, whether as a performer, production staff, or in a support capacity. Additionally, you have the option to include your family members in the same visa application. You can apply for this visa while you are in or outside of Australia. Once you are granted the visa you can stay up to 2 years.
Eligibility requirements
- Have a supporter or a sponsor
- Have a contract or any proof for the activity that you are about to take part
- Be able to support yourself and any dependents
- Work should be in one of the eligible entertainment activity category
- Have health insurance
- Meet health and character requirement
- Be a genuine temporary entrant
Ensure your performance, tour, or event goes smoothly
We will manage all the paperwork
Eligible entertainment activity categories
Applicants may be eligibl under one of the seven main categories
Performer in a film or television production subsidised or not subsidised by the government
- Individual must be a
- lead actor or major support actor in the production
- celebrity making a cameo appearance
- reality-show host
- Performance must be in a production that is not partially or fully funded by the Australian government
- Consult relevant unions
- Obtain a Arts certificate from the Department of Communications and the Arts
Performer other than in film or television
- If the performance is a production other than a film or television.
- It can be a performance in a
- live theatre
- stage comedy
- classical music
- online marketing video
- Entertainment vidoe
- Consultation of relevant unions by the sponsor or supporter is required
Production staff
- Be a production or technical crew member
- It can be
- directors
- camera crew
- lighting crews
- sound crew
- Consultation of relevant unions by the sponsor or supporter is required
Support staff for an entertainer or group of entertainers
For an individual who
- provides backing music or vocals
- provides acting or voice coaching
- hairstyling, dressing or makeup services
Additionally sponsor or the supporteer should consult with the relevent unions as well.
Performer or support staff for a non-profit engagement
- Have a performance in a non profit production
- Have no commercial interest
- profits made be given to non commercial organization, charity or patron
Working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market
- The documentary or commercial not be intended to be shown in Australia
- The documentary can be a
- factual presentation of a real event, era or person’s life in a television, film, online video or radio program
- Light entertainment and reality tv can be considered documentaries if they portray real events or people
- drama shows centered around non fictional people.
- The positions that you can work
- television or film crew
- an actor
- a presenter
- production or support staff
- a still photographer
- If the documentary will be shown in Australia apply under one of the above categories
Sponsorship
- The sponsor will have to submit certain documents along with the visa application. The sponsor may submit a sponsorship application ID number or sponsorship transaction reference number (TRN) or a sponsor approval letter or receipt for lodging the sponsorship application.
- The sponsor must also certify in writing that they will fulfill their sponsorship duties for the visa applicant and any dependent family members you listed of the visa applicant.
- The sponsor should submit documents to show that they are an organisation that is lawfully operating in Australia.
- The sponsor should also provide all the licenses required for them to carry out the project.
- If the project is a non profit engagement, the sponsor’s non profit status must be accepted by the Australian Taxation Office or a state or territory agency
- Evidence must be provided that the sponsor has consulted with the relevant unions.
- If the applicant is performing in a film or television then the sponsor needs to get an Arts Certificate from the Department of Communications and the Arts.
Visa Application Charge Concession
You will be eligible for a Visa Application Charge Concession if the organisation is included by the Minister in a legislative instrument and the sponsor’s organisation is a
- charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
- any foreign government agency, embassy or consulate
- any state, territory or Commonwealth government agency
- any other organization that is specifically mentioned in the document because it oversees an event that is substantially funded by the government.
