Cast and crew
visas for a shoot.

International cast and crew working on a film or television production in Australia use the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408), Entertainment Activities stream. Performers apply under one of two film and television categories depending on whether the production is government subsidised, and both require the sponsor or supporter to consult the union and obtain an Arts certificate. Directors, camera, lighting and sound crew apply as production staff, which requires union consultation only. A documentary or commercial made for an overseas market and not shown in Australia has its own category with neither requirement.

The categories that apply

• Lead and major supporting actors, celebrity cameos, reality hosts on a production subsidised wholly or partly by an Australian federal, state or territory government: performing in a film or television production subsidised by government
• The same roles on a production with no Australian government subsidy: performing in a film or television production not subsidised by government
• Directors, camera, lighting and sound crew and other non-performing production or technical crew: working in a production role other than as a performer
• Acting and voice coaches, hair, make-up and dressers attached to a performer: working as support staff for an entertainer
• Documentary presenters, still photographers, crew and actors on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market that will not be shown in Australia: working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market

Whether the production is subsidised is a question for the producer, and it should be answered before anyone lodges, because it decides the category name on the application.

Union consultation and the Arts certificate

For both film and television performer categories, and for production staff and support staff, the sponsor or supporter must consult the relevant Australian union or unions before engaging the applicant, and evidence goes in the application. For the two performer categories the sponsor or supporter must also obtain an Arts certificate from the federal arts department. Production staff do not need the Arts certificate.

These two items are the most common cause of delay on screen productions, because they sit with the Australian side and are often started after the cast is announced rather than before. 408visa starts both the week contracts are signed.

Overseas-market documentaries and commercials

Home Affairs defines a documentary as a factual presentation of a real event, era or person's life in a television, film, online or radio program; light entertainment and reality can qualify if they portray real events or people, a fictional drama series cannot. If the documentary or commercial will not be shown in Australia, the applicant uses the overseas-market category, which carries neither the union consultation nor the Arts certificate requirement, but does require evidence such as a distribution contract. If it will be shown in Australia, the ordinary performer or production staff categories apply.

The Australian side

An Australian co-producer or service production company is the natural supporter or sponsor. Under 3 months and applied for from outside Australia, supporter; otherwise an approved Temporary Activities Sponsor. Where a foreign production has no Australian entity at the point visas need lodging, TourHub Australia Pty Ltd, which operates 408visa, can act as the local supporting or sponsoring entity.

Short specialist visits

A specialist who is not part of the production activity, for example an engineer commissioning a proprietary camera system for a few days, may fit the subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa instead, which has no sponsor and is applied for from outside Australia. Anyone performing or in a production role stays on the 408. The 408 vs 400 guide sets out the line.

Checked against the Home Affairs subclass 408 Entertainment Activities page on 19 September 2026.

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