Visa's for Canadian festivals?

[Knoxious]

Hey,

We're looking to do a week tour through Canada.

What's the deal with Visa's? Does everyone just go in under a visitors and hope they don't get grilled? Do festivals sponsor performers? is there a Carni Visa Exemption?

cheers,

Dave

https://www.FlameOz.com

[Isabella]

I think you're Australian.

I don't know if this applies to you. But, as an American, we are allowed to work at outdoor festivals in Canada without a permit, and I would guess that it is probably the same for Australians, perhaps more so since you are part of the Commonwealth.

What happens for us - we tell Customs we're working an outdoor festival and don't need a permit. They make us go wait in a room. They look at our passports. They come back and say, "you don't need a permit to work an outdoor festival."

Sometimes we need to present a contract that states the names of the performers, sometimes it doesn't matter. I'd have a contract handy, or a letter on letterhead inviting you by name and individually, in case you need it.

[gav]

Yep it's the same for Australians.
Don't say you'll be doing any busking outside of the festival work though.

[Frisbee]

and if it is a Buskers/Street Performer Festival, there are even seperate customs allowances for performers entering for these.

Also, from what I understand, in addition, again at least from the states, you can get a waiver so that you do not pay Canadian tax on artist fees (i.e. double taxes) you may get. you just take care of it when you get home as your regular income.

[Knoxious]

Thanks for all these replies chaps!

Hopefully we'll make it this year.

Any advice on good busking fests for fireshows?

cheers!

Dave

https://www.FlameOz.com

[miquee]

hello everyone,
Does anyone know if it's the same for american performers in canada as it was in 2007 when this thread was written. I'm going in July and just thought I'd check.
cheers in advance.
have fun
mike

[martin_ronda]

What about europeans???

thanks

[Aaron Gregg]

you lucky yanks.

Hi Miquee. Yes it's still the same for both Americans and Europeans (I had to check for a German friend recently).

I've got to be honest, it kind of irks me a little seeing as it's not reciprocal. Whenever I go down to the states (even though I'm not working) I get the third degree because they think I'm going to work. The fact that Americans can just come up here and works seems a little skewed in my opinion. All of the American performers I've met seem very sympathetic to this issue (but have yet to send a letter a congressman). What's makes it nasty for us Canadians is that most of us live within an hour of the US border.

-Aaron

[martin_ronda]

thanks for the answer! What about a visa for germans to work in the US?