408 Visas for Touring Crew and Support Staff: Hair, Make Up, Security and Personal Staff

International acts rarely travel alone. Backing vocalists, dressers, hair and make up artists, tour managers, personal assistants and technical crew often come too, and each of them needs a visa. Most will use the 408 Entertainment visa, but not always in the same category as the headline act. This guide explains which category fits each support role and what the Australian promoter needs to provide.

Support staff or production roles?

Role	Usual 408 category
Backing musicians and backing vocalists	Support staff for profit
Voice and acting coaches	Support staff for profit
Hairdressers, dressers and make up artists	Support staff for profit
Personal assistants and other personal staff	Support staff for profit
Directors and producers	Production roles other than as a performer
Camera, sound and lighting crew	Production roles other than as a performer
Support staff for a genuine charity or free community show	May fit non profit engagements, case by case

The production roles category covers work on a film, television or radio production shown in Australia, a theatre or concert production in Australia, or a recording made in Australia. If you are unsure which category fits, look at what the person will actually do each day. See the 408 Entertainment Activities visa for all seven categories.

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Supporting an Australian performer

The person being supported does not need a 408 visa. Under policy, support staff can come to work with an Australian performer, or a performer holding another visa, as long as that performer has a performing contract. For example, a make up artist could come to work with an Australian lead in a touring stage production.

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What the promoter must provide

• an itinerary with the dates and places of the engagements;
• evidence that the relevant union was consulted, and its response, if any. See union consultation for 408 entertainment visas;
• an explanation of the net employment benefit, such as the local crew and venue staff engaged for the tour;
• evidence that the sponsor or supporter holds any licences needed for the production;
• the sponsor or supporter letter, setting out each person’s role, dates, pay and who covers travel and accommodation.

Each crew member generally lodges their own application. Condition 8109 applies to every entertainment 408, including support staff, so their engagements cannot change without the Department’s prior written permission. See changing a tour itinerary on a 408 visa.

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Security and close protection

Bodyguards and security staff are common on major tours. Security work is licensed by each state and territory, and policy notes that close protection without the right licence may be illegal. Check the licensing rules in every state on the itinerary before the visa is lodged, and keep evidence of how the requirement will be met.

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Sponsor or supporter

If the support staff apply from outside Australia for a stay of 3 months or less, the promoter can be a supporter. Longer tours, or applications made in Australia, need an approved temporary activities sponsor. From 1 July 2026, the 408 visa application charge is $535 for each applicant aged 18 or over.

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What you should do now

• List every person travelling: include crew and personal staff, not just the performers.
• Match each role to a category: support staff and production roles have different descriptions.
• Consult the union for the whole group: include support roles in the consultation.
• Check security licensing: if the tour brings its own security team.