Fifteen terms that come up on every Australian entertainment visa application, defined in one sentence each and traced to the Home Affairs page they come from.
- Subclass 408
- The Temporary Activity visa. A single visa with several streams, two of which matter for entertainment: Entertainment Activities, and Other Social and Cultural Activity (Invited Participant).
- Entertainment Activities stream
- The 408 stream for working in the Australian entertainment industry as a performer, production staff or support staff on film, television or live productions. Up to 2 years, multiple entry, family can be included.
- Invited Participant stream
- The 408 Other Social and Cultural Activity stream for people invited to take part in a community-based event without working as an entertainer: promo appearances without performing, exhibiting artists, authors at festivals, speakers, unticketed workshops. Up to 3 months.
- Subclass 400
- The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa. Highly specialised, non-ongoing work not reasonably available in Australia, up to 6 months, applied for from outside Australia, with no sponsor.
- Supporter
- An Australian organisation, government agency, or an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who stands behind a 408 application when the applicant applies from outside Australia and will stay under 3 months. Provides the letter of invitation and itinerary.
- Temporary Activities Sponsor
- An Australian organisation or government agency approved by Home Affairs to sponsor 408 applicants. Required when the applicant applies in Australia or, on the Entertainment stream, will stay 3 months or more. Carries obligations for the engagement.
- Union consultation
- The requirement that a sponsor or supporter consult the relevant Australian union or unions before engaging a 408 Entertainment applicant in the performer, production staff or support staff categories. Evidence goes in the application.
- Arts certificate
- A certificate from the federal arts department that the sponsor or supporter must obtain for a performer in a film or television production, subsidised or not.
- Temporary Specialist Entry Centre (TSEC)
- The Home Affairs unit that must give permission before a 408 visa holder changes the times, places or venues of the engagements in their application. Contacted by email or through ImmiAccount.
- ImmiAccount
- The Department of Home Affairs online account through which visa applications are lodged, documents uploaded and correspondence received.
- Genuine temporary entrant
- The requirement that an applicant genuinely intends to stay in Australia temporarily. Home Affairs generally does not let temporary residents extend their stay beyond 4 years by applying for the 408.
- Members of the family unit
- The partner and dependent children who can be included in a 408 or 400 application. They must meet health and character requirements and attract an additional charge.
- Substantive visa
- A visa that is not a bridging visa, criminal justice visa or enforcement visa. To apply for a 408 from inside Australia, the applicant must hold one or have held one that ceased within the last 28 days.
- Registered migration agent
- A person registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). In Australia only a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person can give immigration assistance.
- Visa Application Charge
- The Home Affairs fee for lodging a visa application. From AUD 535 for the main applicant on the 408 and 400 as at 19 September 2026, plus a charge per family member. Usually changes on 1 July.
Facts checked against the Home Affairs subclass 408 Entertainment, Invited Participant, subclass 400 pages on 19 September 2026.