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This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, production or support staff. You can include family members in your visa application.
You must
– Have a contract or other proof of your engagement
– Have access to enough money to support yourself and any dependents who travel with you during your stay in Australia
– Apply online
With this visa
you can
– Work in the entertainment industry in Australia as a performer, production or support staff
– Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid
– Include members of the family unit in your application
Entertainment activity categories
You apply for this visa under one of these categories:
– Performing in a film or television production subsidised by government
– Performing in a film or television production not subsidised by government
– Performing other than in film or television
– Working in a production role other than as a performer
– Working as support staff for an entertainer or group of entertainers
– Working as a performer or support staff for a non-profit engagement
– Working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market
Examples of eligible work
Eligible work could include:
– Acting in a television or film production
– Making a celebrity cameo appearance
– A contestant or worker on a reality tv program who receives a salary
– Stand-up comedian
– International musician or support staff
– Live theatre performer or support staff
– Singer
– Classical musician
– Internet video performer
– Cultural performer
– Documentary presenter
– Delebrity appearance in a commercial
– Non-performing production or technical crew
– Journalist or other media personnel covering an event
– Choreographer giving a dance workshop that includes a ticketed public closing performance
Other visas that might suit you
Consider a different Temporary Activity stream or a different visa if you are planning to work as:
– An entertainer attending a promotional event only, without performing ñ see the Invited Participant stream of this visa
– An artist creating visual art or holding exhibitions of their work – see the Invited Participant stream of this visa
– An author at a writer’s festival presenting work in front of an audience – see the Invited Participant stream of this visa
– A dance choreographer conducting a dance workshop that includes a closing non-ticketed performance – see the Invited Participant stream of this visa
– A journalist or other media personnel covering events for a non-Australian audience ñ see Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
– A competitor in a non-sporting competition for dance, music or online gaming – see the Invited Participant stream of this visa
– A contestant of a reality show not receiving a salary – see the Invited Participant stream of this visa or Visitor visas
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. The Home Affairs grant the length of stay based on the activity the Home Affairs approve you to do on the visa.
The maximum stay for this visa stream is 2 years.
The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The visa starts on the date the Home Affairs grant it.
If the Home Affairs grant the visa, the Home Affairs will let you know how long you can stay.
Stay longer
You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. Explore your visa options.
Include family
You can:
– Include members of the family unit in your application when you apply, or
– Add family members to your application at any time before the Home Affairs make a decision
Family members who apply for the visa with you must also meet the health and character requirements.
If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health requirements.
Subsequent entrants
If the Home Affairs grant you the visa, your family members might be able to apply to join you in Australia later as a subsequent entrant.
Cost
The visa costs AUD310 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the other costs.
Visa Application Charge concession
If your sponsor/supporter organisation is included by the Minister in a legislative instrument, you may be eligible for a Visa Application Charge concession. The organisation must be:
– Any registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
– Any foreign government agency, embassy or consulate
– Any state, territory or Commonwealth government agency; or
– Another organisation that has been listed by name in the instrument as they are managing an event that receives significant government funding.
You will not receive a concession if you are also contracted to other organisations that are not listed in the instrument for other events during your stay.
Check with your sponsor if you might be eligible for a visa application charge concession. If you are, ask them for evidence of this to submit with your application.
The Home Affairs might not process your application if you ask for a concession but don’t provide evidence you are eligible for one.
Apply from
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when the Home Affairs decide on your application.
Processing times
Your application might take longer to process if:
– You don’t fill it in correctly
– You don’t include all the documents the Home Affairs need, or they need more information from you
– It takes time to verify your information
The Home Affairs can’t process your application if you don’t pay the correct visa application charge. They will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.
Your obligations
You and your family must meet all visa conditions and follow Australian laws.
Your activities must not harm the work, training or job conditions of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
You must not change the times and places of engagements specified in the application. If you need to do so, you must ask the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs for permission before you make any changes.
You must ask permission from the Temporary Specialist Entry Centre to make any changes to your itinerary. This includes new events, changes in times or new venues. Send an email to entertainment.visas@homeaffairs.gov.au or let the Home Affairs know in ImmiAccount.
If your sponsor, supporting organisation or individual stops your activity or employment, you must do one of the following:
– If eligible, apply for a new visa; or
– Leave Australia within 28 days of stopping work for your sponsor/supporter, or earlier if your visa is expiring
Travel
You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.
Visa label
The Home Affairs will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
If the Home Affairs grant you a visa, they will send you a grant notification letter containing the visa grant number. You can use this number to access your digital visa record.
Have a supporter or a sponsor
You need a supporter
You don’t need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you:
– Apply outside Australia, and
– Intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months
You must have a supporter to apply for this visa.
You need a sponsor
You need a sponsor to apply for this visa if you:
– Apply in Australia, or
– Apply outside Australia and intend to stay for more than 3 months
Have a contract or other proof of your activity in Australia
You must have a contract for your performance or work in Australia.
If you are here for a non-profit engagement, whether as a performer or production staff, you must be able to show the evidence of this.
If you are here to make an advertisement or documentary for an overseas market, you must be able to show the evidence of this such as a distribution contract.
Be able to support yourself and any dependants
You 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
You apply for this visa under one of these categories:
– Performing in a film or television production subsidised by government
– Performing in a film or television production not subsidised by government
– Performing other than in film or television
– Working as production staff
– Working as support staff for an entertainer or group of entertainers
– Working as a performer or support staff for a non-profit engagement
– Working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market
See what the eligibility requirements are for each category.
Performing in a film or television production subsidised by government
Apply under this category if you are performing in a production subsidised wholly or in part by an Australian federal, state or territory government, including as:
– A lead actor or major support actor in a television or film production
– A celebrity making a cameo appearance
– A reality-show host
Your sponsor or supporter must consult with the relevant union or unions before engaging you. They must also obtain an Arts certificate from the Department of Communications and the Arts.
Performer in a film or television production not subsidised by government
Apply under this category if you are performing in a production that is not subsidised in whole or part by a government in Australia, including as:
– Lead actor or major support actor in a television or film production
– Celebrity making a cameo appearance
– Reality-show host
Your sponsor or supporter must consult with the relevant union or unions before engaging you. They must also obtain an Arts certificate from the Department of Communications and the Arts.
Performer other than in film or on television
Apply under this category if you are performing in a production other than a film or television production, such as:
– A live theatre performance
– Stage comedy
– A classical music performance
– An online marketing or entertainment video
Your sponsor or supporter must consult with the relevant union or unions before engaging you.
Production staff
Apply under this category if you are a production or technical crew member such as:
– A director
– Camera or lighting crew
– Sound crew
Your sponsor or supporter must consult with the relevant union or unions before engaging you.
Support staff for an entertainer or group of entertainers
Apply under this category if you have been contracted to assist a performer with a performance or provide a personal service such as:
– Provide backing music or vocals
– Provide acting or voice coaching
– Hairstyling, dressing or makeup services
Your sponsor or supporter must consult with the relevant union or unions before engaging you.
Performer in or support staff for a non-profit production
Apply under this category if you are performing in or supporting a performer in a non-profit production.
The engagement can’t serve any commercial interest. Any profits made must be given to a non-commercial organisation, charity or patron.
Working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market
Apply under this category if you are working on a documentary or commercial for an overseas market that is not intended to be shown in Australia.
A documentary is a factual presentation of a real event, era or personís 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. A drama series about fictional characters would not be considered a documentary.
You might work as:
– Television or film crew
– An actor
– A presenter
– Production or support staff
– A still photographer
If the documentary or commercial will be shown in Australia, apply for this visa under one of the other entertainment activity categories such as:
production staff
– Performer in a film or television production subsidised by government
– Performer in a film or television production not subsidised by government
Meet health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the health requirement.
If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health requirement.
Meet character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet the character requirement.
The Home Affairs might also ask that other family members meet the requirement.
Have adequate health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Be a genuine temporary entrant
You can’t use the temporary visa program to maintain ongoing residency in Australia.
The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement helps the Home Affairs to make sure that you use temporary visas correctly.
The Home Affairs generally do not let temporary residents extend their stay in Australia beyond 4 years by applying for this visa.
The Home Affairs must be satisfied that you have a genuine intention to stay here temporarily.
When assessing your application, they will consider:
– Your situation
– Your immigration history
– Previous compliance with visa conditions
– Any other relevant matter
Have paid back debt to the Australian government
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must acknowledge the Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you apply for the visa.?
Declare you have not paid for visa sponsorship
You must declare whether you have ever engaged in conduct that could consitute a breach of the prohibition on paying for visa sponsorship when you apply for the visa.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia. Check if visa cancellation affects your eligibility.
