An approved Temporary Activities Sponsor is an Australian organisation or government agency that Home Affairs has assessed as suitable to sponsor applicants for the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408). A 408 entertainment applicant needs one when they apply in Australia, or when they will stay more than 3 months. For shorter stays applied for from outside Australia a supporter is enough. TourHub Australia Pty Ltd can act as the sponsoring entity for parties with no Australian promoter.
What it is
Home Affairs describes an approved temporary activities sponsor as someone it has assessed as suitable to sponsor an applicant for a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408), the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream of the subclass 403, or to nominate and sponsor a Training visa (subclass 407) applicant. Approval is applied for separately from any visa, and the sponsorship then sits behind each visa application it supports.
When it is required
For the 408 Entertainment Activities stream the rule is two questions. If the applicant applies in Australia, a sponsor is required. If the applicant applies from outside Australia and will stay more than 3 months, a sponsor is required. Otherwise a supporter is enough. The sponsor or supporter guide walks through both.
Who can be approved
- an Australian organisation lawfully established and operating in Australia
- a Commonwealth, state or territory government agency
- a foreign government agency operating in Australia
Individuals cannot be sponsors. An Australian citizen or permanent resident can be a supporter for a short engagement, but not a sponsor.
What the sponsor provides
- The sponsorship application ID, transaction reference number, approval letter or lodgement receipt, attached to each visa application
- A written statement that it will meet the sponsorship obligations for the applicant and every dependent family member included
- Evidence that it is lawfully established and operating in Australia, and holds any licences the production needs
- For the performer, production staff and support staff categories, evidence of consultation with the relevant union before engaging the applicant
- For film and television performers, an Arts certificate from the federal arts department
Obligations
Sponsorship obligations run for the life of the engagement and are the reason many promoters prefer not to hold the approval themselves. They include not changing the approved engagements without permission, and the visa holder's position if the sponsor ends the engagement: they must apply for another visa if eligible or leave Australia within 28 days. Records of union consultation, itineraries and any change requests should be kept for each engagement.
Promoters, venues and festivals
A promoter or festival that brings in international acts every season is the natural sponsor, and 408visa can run the approval application and the ongoing obligations on its behalf. A venue or one-off event that does not want to carry the obligations can use TourHub Australia Pty Ltd, which operates 408visa, as the sponsoring or supporting entity instead. Either way the union consultation, letters and lodgement tracking sit with one desk.
Checked against the Home Affairs subclass 408 Entertainment Activities and bringing someone for temporary activities pages on 19 September 2026.
Questions on this page
Can a promoter become a Temporary Activities Sponsor?
Yes. An Australian promoter that is lawfully established and operating in Australia can apply to Home Affairs for approval as a Temporary Activities Sponsor. The approval is separate from the visa applications it later supports.
Can an individual be a Temporary Activities Sponsor?
No. Sponsors must be organisations or government agencies. An Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can act as a supporter for an applicant staying less than 3 months who applies from outside Australia.
Does a sponsor have to consult the union for every 408 applicant?
For the performer (film and television, and other), production staff and support staff categories, yes, before engaging the applicant, with evidence in the application. The non-profit and overseas-market documentary categories do not carry the requirement.