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To undertake work in Australia’s entertainment industry (including film, TV or live performance), if an individual is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a temporary work visa for the duration of their stay will be required. Usually, the most suitable visa will be the Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408) in the entertainment activities stream. This article outlines the requirements to be considered and factors that are important to be aware of, whether you are an individual media and entertainment industry personnel or a production company arranging, ensuring the smooth operation and logistical compliance of a Film, TV or live performance production.

Temporary Activity (Subclass 408) Visa – Entertainment Stream

The Subclass 408 Visa allows people working directly in the Arts to live and work in Australia for the length of the production/project (up to two years). The visa includes various streams for individuals participating in specific activities. One of these streams, the Entertainment stream, is tailored for individuals who are involved in the entertainment industry and can be utilised in different ways:

• Performing Artists: actors, musicians, dancers, and other entertainers invited to Australia to perform at concerts, festivals, theatre productions, and other creative events.
• Entertainment Crew: individuals involved in the technical and support aspect of entertainment productions – sound and lighting technicians, stagehands and production assistants.
• Film and Television Production: directors, producers, crew members.
• Festivals and Events: artists and performers invited to participate in festivals or events.
• Touring Performances: entertainment groups or bands touring Australia.

Process and Requirements

To apply for the Subclass 408 Visa under the Entertainment Stream, there are a number of requirements however, some key requirements are as follows:

There must be a supporter or a sponsor for the application, which one is required is dependent on the circumstances of each application;

The Applicant Must:

• have access to enough money during your stay in Australia to support yourself and any dependent family members who travel to Australia with you
• intend to work in an eligible entertainment activity category
• have adequate health insurance
• meet health and character requirements. While health and police checks are not always required, they can be requested at any stage during the visa processing, so it is advisable to be prepared. Requests will be made mostly when the Applicant is known to have a health condition, a criminal record, or is travelling from certain countries, which is part of the disclosure requirements of the application process.

Other Information

• Members of the Visa Applicant’s family unit can be included in the Visa application.
• Applicants can apply for the Visa in or outside of Australia, but not in Immigration clearance.
• The Visa application fee is currently $415AUD plus a Government credit card surcharge. The Australian Department of Home Affairs reviews this fee at the start of every financial year. See here for updated information.
• Extensions to the Visa are possible after arrival if required.

This article is designed as an overview of the legislative visa requirements for this industry and particular applicants. We recommend that you seek advice from a qualified entertainment industry immigration practitioner about your particular requirements or those of the specific production. Immigration requirements may vary depending on the nature of the production.

See our next article on how the Temporary Skill Shortage (“TSS”) (Subclass 482) Visa may also be used for longer-term projects and positions.

How We Can Assist You Navigate Visas for the Australian Entertainment Industry

If you are a professional in the media and entertainment sector planning to work in Australia or you are in the planning or commencing a production in the near future, we highly recommend consulting a qualified entertainment industry immigration practitioner about your specific requirements or those of your production. Immigration requirements can vary based on the nature of the production. At Ramsden Lawyers, we have significant experience working with the entertainment industry, helping individuals and organisations meet the correct Visa obligations and secure their Visas in time for production. If you would like to discuss your options with our experienced team, please do not hesitate to contact us.