408 Visas for Film and TV Productions in Australia
Australia is a popular location for international feature films, streaming series, commercials and documentaries. If your production is bringing overseas actors, directors, heads of department or specialist crew to Australia, each of them needs a visa that allows the work, and the production company usually needs to act as sponsor or supporter.
This page is written for producers, line producers, production accountants and talent agents. It explains which 408 category fits each person, how the Arts certificate and union consultation work, when the 400 visa is an option, and how to build the visa timeline into your pre-production schedule. For the general rules of the stream, see the 408 Entertainment Activities visa guide.
Which category fits each person on your production?
The Entertainment Activities stream has seven categories. A screen production often uses four or five of them at once, so map your cast and crew early.
Actors and on-screen performers fall into category 1 if the production is government-subsidised (for example it receives Australian Government funding or support) and category 2 if it is not.
Both categories need union consultation with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). An Arts certificate is required for performers where the Foreign Actor Certification Scheme applies. The Office for the Arts assesses the certificate separately from the visa. The role, the type of production, how it is funded and casting circumstances are all relevant.
Arts certificate and union consultation
These two steps sit outside the visa application itself, and they are usually what takes the longest.
- Union consultation. The sponsor or supporter sends the relevant union (usually MEAA, or the Australian Directors Guild for directors) the details of the proposed engagement. MEAA can take up to 14 days to give its letter of opinion. The union does not decide the visa, but Home Affairs expects any concerns to be addressed, and the union often looks at the balance of Australian and overseas talent, especially where government funding is involved.
- Arts certificate. For performers covered by the Foreign Actor Certification Scheme, the production applies to the Office for the Arts using the current guidelines on the entry of foreign actors into Australia (updated July 2024). Certain foreign actor visas cannot be granted without this certificate.
- Visa application. Once the union letter and any Arts certificate are in hand, each person lodges a 408 visa application linked to the production as sponsor or supporter.
Industry guidance suggests the full process can take up to 12 weeks, so start well before principal photography.
Planning timeline for a shoot
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| As soon as overseas cast or crew are attached | Map each person to a 408 category; decide whether the production needs sponsor approval (stays over 3 months or applications made in Australia) or can act as supporter |
| 12 or more weeks before travel | Lodge temporary activities sponsor application if needed; start union consultation; prepare Arts certificate application for covered performers |
| 8 to 10 weeks before travel | Receive union letter of opinion and Arts certificate; finalise contracts, call sheets or shooting schedule |
| 6 to 8 weeks before travel | Lodge 408 visa applications for cast, crew, support staff and accompanying family |
| Before departure | Check each grant notice, visa period and conditions; arrange health insurance; brief cast and crew on what they can and cannot do |
| During the shoot | Ask Home Affairs in writing before changing listed dates or locations; record any schedule extensions and apply for further visas early |
These are planning guides, not official processing times. Allow more time in busy periods and for large groups.
When the 400 visa or a visitor visa may be enough
Not every trip connected to a production needs a 408 visa.
- An actor travelling only to attend a premiere or do publicity, without performing, may fit the promotional activity rules of the Short Stay Specialist (subclass 400) visa.
- Some work on productions that will not be shown in Australia may also be possible on a 400 visa. Check carefully, because performing or working on content shown in Australia is not allowed on a 400.
- Location scouts and executives attending meetings, without doing production work, may be able to travel as business visitors.
If the person will act, perform or do production work on content that will be broadcast, screened or streamed in Australia, assess the 408 Entertainment Activities stream first.
Common mistakes that delay productions
- Booking flights before the sponsor approval, union consultation and Arts certificate are finalised.
- Using the wrong category, for example treating a lead actor in a subsidised production as non-subsidised.
- Forgetting support staff such as an actor’s assistant or coach, who need their own visa.
- Shooting extra days or adding locations without written approval.
- Bringing crew in on visitor visas to “help out” on set, which is not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
Does every overseas actor need an Arts certificate?
Not every actor. The Arts certificate applies to performers covered by the Foreign Actor Certification Scheme, which depends on the production and how it is funded. Check the current Office for the Arts guidelines early in casting, because a certificate can be a condition of the visa grant.
Can our production company be the sponsor if it is a foreign company?
A foreign organisation lawfully operating in Australia can apply to become a temporary activities sponsor. Many international productions set up an Australian production entity or work through an Australian service company that sponsors the cast and crew.
How long can cast and crew stay?
A 408 visa can be granted for up to two years, usually matched to the production schedule. If the shoot is extended, apply for a further visa before the current one ends.
Can crew members bring their families?
Yes. Family unit members can be included in the 408 application and travel for the same period. Each person pays the visa application charge and must meet health and character requirements.
What if MEAA raises concerns?
Home Affairs can give the sponsor a chance to respond. A clear explanation of why the overseas performer is needed and how the production benefits Australian cast and crew usually helps.
Can a reality show bring overseas contestants?
Contestants and hosts in reality and competition programs can raise different issues. The right visa depends on whether they are performing, competing or appearing as themselves, so get advice before casting is confirmed.
Related entertainment visa guides
Keep reading to plan your visa with the rest of our entertainment visa guides: