408 Visa for Musicians and Bands Touring Australia

Most overseas musicians who perform in Australia need a work visa, even for a short tour. For paid concerts, festival slots and club shows, the usual option is the Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa in the Entertainment activity type. This guide explains how the 408 visa for musicians works for headline acts, backing musicians and touring crew, and what the Australian promoter or venue needs to do.

Which 408 category fits each person on the tour?

The Entertainment activity type has seven categories. For a music tour, most people fall into one of three:

Person	Usual 408 category	Key requirements
Headline artist, band members, soloists, conductors	Performing in productions not related to film or television	Performing contract, itinerary of dates and venues, union consultation, net employment benefit
Backing musicians and vocalists	Support staff for profit	Usually mentioned in the performing contract; union consultation; net employment benefit
Tour manager, sound and lighting crew, wardrobe, hair and make up, personal assistants	Support staff for profit, or production roles other than as a performer	Itinerary, union consultation and net employment benefit
Musicians performing at a genuine charity or free community event	Non profit engagements	Itinerary; no performing contract needed

Choosing the right category matters, because the evidence differs. If you are not sure, list every person on the tour and what they will actually do in Australia, then match each role. Our guide to the 408 Entertainment Activities visa explains all seven categories.

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Sponsor or supporter: who lodges what?

Each musician needs either an eligible supporter or an eligible sponsor in Australia, usually the promoter, venue or festival.

• Supporter: available if the musician applies from outside Australia and the stay is 3 months or less. A supporter can be an Australian organisation, a government agency, or an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The supporter provides a letter of support.
• Sponsor: needed if the stay will be longer than 3 months or the musician applies in Australia. The sponsor must be an approved temporary activities sponsor.

The letter should set out the organisation’s name and ABN, each applicant’s details, the dates, every venue, the activities, any fee or wage, and who pays for travel and accommodation.

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Union consultation

Consultation is required, but the union does not have a veto. For musicians and conductors, the promoter must consult the Musicians Union of Australia. For other performers and crew, the relevant union is generally the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). The promoter provides evidence of the consultation, and any union response, ideally when the visa applications are lodged. See union consultation for 408 entertainment visas.

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Net employment benefit and the Australian support act

For performers, production crew and support staff, the tour must bring a net employment benefit to the Australian entertainment industry. In plain terms, more Australians should be employed in the industry because the overseas act is performing than if an Australian act did the same shows. Under Department of Home Affairs policy, engaging an Australian support act for an international touring production would generally satisfy this. Local crew, venue staff and production companies also help to show the benefit.

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The itinerary and condition 8109

The promoter must provide an itinerary with the date and venue of every performance. Entertainment 408 visas carry condition 8109, which means the times and places of engagements cannot be changed without prior written permission from the Department. If you add a show, move a venue or extend the tour, ask for permission before it happens. See changing your tour itinerary on a 408 visa.

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Playing in clubs, pubs and hotels

Policy generally does not support overseas performers for ongoing entertainment in clubs, restaurants or hotels. A headline act, featured artist or a specific event over a short period, around 1 to 2 weeks, is different. A residency in a hotel bar, for example, is likely to be refused. See performing in clubs, restaurants and hotels on a 408 visa.

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Costs and timing

From 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for a 408 is $535 per applicant aged 18 or over, and $135 for a child under 18. If the promoter needs to become a temporary activities sponsor, the sponsorship fee is $420. Engagements at certain charity events listed in a legislative instrument may attract a nil visa application charge. Allow time for union consultation before lodging, and lodge well before the first show. See entertainment visa costs compared.

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When the Entertainment activity type is not needed

• promotional appearances with no performance can usually use the Invited Participant activity type;
• amateur groups such as choirs and youth ensembles performing on a recreational basis usually use a visitor visa;
• musicians performing at religious events as part of worship can usually use the Invited Participant activity type.

See 400 and visitor visas for performers for the details.

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What you should do now

• Map every person on the tour: list the artist, band, crew and personal staff and match each to a 408 category.
• Confirm the itinerary: lock in dates and venues before lodging, as changes need permission later.
• Start union consultation early: send the details to the Musicians Union of Australia or MEAA as soon as the tour is confirmed.
• Book an Australian support act: it helps show a net employment benefit.