International Touring Visa Checklist for Artists and Crew
A world tour can fall over at the border. One crew member on the wrong visa, a petition filed too late or a certificate of sponsorship assigned for the wrong dates can cost you shows, fees and reputation. This checklist brings together what tour managers, promoters and artists’ teams need to do for Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and the UK, and when to do it.
Use it alongside our country guides: 408 Entertainment Activities visa, NZ Entertainers Work Visa, O-1 and P visas for artists, UK Creative Worker visa and Canada work permits for performers. For government fees in one place, see Entertainment visa costs compared.
Tour visa timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 to 12 months before | Confirm routing and dates; list every performer and crew member with nationality and passport expiry; identify who is visa-required in each country; start US evidence gathering for O or P petitions |
| 6 months before | Lodge Canadian visitor visas for visa-required members; request US union or peer group consultations; check Australian sponsor approval and New Zealand promoter or festival approval |
| 3 to 4 months before | File US I-129 petitions (no more than 1 year ahead); Australian sponsor lodges union consultation and any Arts certificate; UK sponsor confirms licence and plans certificates of sponsorship |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Lodge Australian 408 visas; UK sponsor assigns CoS; apply for UK Creative Worker visas where needed; New Zealand promoter notifies INZ at least 4 weeks before travel |
| 2 to 4 weeks before | Book US consular interviews as soon as petitions are approved; obtain ETAs (UK), eTAs (Canada) and NZeTAs; check every grant notice |
| Travel week | Print the travel pack: grant notices, approval notices, CoS references, invitation letters, contracts, itinerary, insurance and emergency contacts |
Start earlier for large groups, nationalities with long processing times, or members with past refusals or criminal records.
Country by country checks
- Is anyone performing or working on content shown in Australia? They need a 408 visa.
- Applying from overseas and staying 3 months or less? A supporter letter may be enough. Otherwise the organisation needs temporary activities sponsor approval.
- Union consultation for categories 1 to 5 and the net employment benefit for categories 3 to 5.
- Promotional only? Check the 400 visa.
Building your travel pack
Mistakes we see most often
- Treating crew as “just helping out” on a visitor visa.
- Adding shows without updating petitions, CoS or itineraries.
- Booking non-refundable flights before visas are granted.
- Forgetting that dual nationals must travel on the passport the visa or authorisation is linked to.
- Assuming one country’s approval helps in another. Each country assesses separately.
Frequently asked questions
How early should we start visas for a world tour?
Six to twelve months ahead is ideal, especially if the tour includes the USA or visa-required crew for Canada. Australia and the UK can usually be done closer to travel, but sponsors still need time for consultations and certificates.
Do support crew need the same visa as the artist?
Usually they need a visa in the support category linked to the performer, such as the 408 support staff category in Australia, O-2 or P-1S in the USA, or their own CoS in the UK.
Can one adviser handle visas for every country?
VisaEnvoy advises on Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and the UK, working with locally qualified practitioners where required, so you can coordinate the whole tour in one place.
What if a show is added mid-tour?
Tell your adviser straight away. In Australia the sponsor needs written approval for changes, in the USA the petition may need amending, and in the UK the CoS dates must cover the work.
Do children travelling with the tour need visas?
Yes. Children need their own visa or travel authorisation for each country, and minors who perform may need extra permissions under local child employment rules.
What should we do if someone is refused?
Get advice before reapplying. A refusal usually has to be disclosed in later applications, so a well-prepared fresh application matters.
Related entertainment visa guides
Keep reading to plan your visa with the rest of our entertainment visa guides: