Performers, production staff and support staff on film, television and live productions usually need the subclass 408 Entertainment Activities stream. The subclass 400 is for highly specialised, non-ongoing work that cannot reasonably be found in Australia, for up to 6 months, applied for from outside Australia, with no Australian sponsor. When a role could sit in either, the 408 is the safer fit for anything performed or produced.
Side by side
| Question | Subclass 408, Entertainment Activities | Subclass 400, Short Stay Specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Performers, production staff and support staff on film, television or live productions | Highly specialised, non-ongoing work that cannot reasonably be found in Australia |
| Maximum stay | Up to 2 years | Up to 6 months; over 3 months needs a strong business case |
| Australian sponsor or supporter | Required | Not required; employer contract or letter of offer instead |
| Apply from | In or outside Australia | Outside Australia only |
| Union consultation | Required for most categories | Not a requirement of the visa |
| Family | Members of the family unit can be included | Can be included, but cannot work or study |
| Home Affairs charge | From AUD 535 | From AUD 535 |
| Entry | Multiple entry while valid | Stay period starts on first arrival and does not restart on re-entry; arrive within 6 months of grant |
| Extend | Cannot be extended | Cannot be extended |
When a 400 makes sense
A single specialist flying in for a short, defined piece of work that no Australian can reasonably do: a manufacturer's engineer commissioning a bespoke rig, a technician who is the only person trained on a particular system, a consultant on a short brief. The employer provides a contract or letter of offer, there is no sponsor, and the person applies from outside Australia. Over 3 months the application needs a strong business case, and family included on the visa cannot work or study.
When it has to be a 408
Anyone performing. Anyone in a production role on a film, television or live production. Anyone supporting an entertainer: backing musicians, coaches, hair, make-up, dressing. Home Affairs lists these expressly under the 408 entertainment categories, and it also points journalists covering an event for a non-Australian audience to the 400 rather than the 408, which shows how the line is drawn: the 408 is about the entertainment activity itself.
Mixed parties
A touring party can legitimately split. The band, the techs and the tour manager on 408s under the performer, production staff and support staff categories; a visiting specialist for the staging system on a 400. 408visa maps every name on the manifest to a category and a visa on the first pass, so nobody is lodged under the wrong one and re-lodged later.
Facts checked against the Home Affairs subclass 408 and subclass 400 pages on 19 September 2026.
Questions on this page
Can a musician use a subclass 400 visa to tour Australia?
Performing is an entertainment activity, and Home Affairs lists international musicians and support staff under the 408 Entertainment Activities stream. A 400 is aimed at highly specialised, non-ongoing work that is not entertainment; a performing musician should be assessed against the 408 first.
Does the subclass 400 need a sponsor?
No. The subclass 400 has no sponsor or supporter. The employer provides a contract or letter of offer and the applicant applies from outside Australia.
Can family work on a subclass 400 visa?
No. Family members included on a subclass 400 are not permitted to work or study in Australia, other than a language training program. On a 408 the family are included as members of the family unit and conditions are set on grant.