Acting : Work Permits for Acting in Different States by Stacy Pederson

You don't mention if you are not a US citizen or a minor. But for an adult US citizen there are no work permits needed. If you are a non US citizen with a US work permit that permit might be valid for all the states. Is that what you're asking?

Yes, thank you. I'm a US citizen so that helps!

I am under the impression that here in the United States we are free to work in all of them. Do you need a work permit in your State?

No, I was told that I needed one to work in New Mexico. (I live in Colorado. NOT a lot of acting work here. Have to go out of state to get good roles.) I'd never been told I needed a work permit before until yesterday.

Thanks for all your help, by the way.

Glad to help. Only minors and non-citizens need a work permit to work from State to State.

It was a requirement for the audition.

are you a minor? if so then yes, you need a work permit for NM... otherwise no. ( as long as you are a US Citizen ) CERTIFICATES A work permit certificate is required by state law, for the employment of children under sixteen (16) years of age AT ALL TIMES. (See Work Permits for youths on how to obtain one.) There is no provision in the law for age certificates for children sixteen (16) and older. An age certificate can be issued upon request to verify the child's age. Work permits and age certificates are proof of age only and do not authorize prohibited employment. NOTE: Children under the age of 18, working in the entertainment industry will need to complete a Pre-Authorization Certificate.

Thank you

As always, I should remind you .. I am not an attorney an you should alway seek legal advice from an attorney...

Stacy - I live in Arizona and like you I seek work in NM. I'm not sure who you spoke with regarding a work permit but I would ask for clarity. I have seen them say they want NM locals only- proof of an NM address, perhaps that's what the CD meant.

Sometimes production companies need to hire a quota of 'local' people to meet state funding requirements. I'm in Northern Ontario, Canada, and there are a lot of grants that are going to productions in Northern Ontario. It often works on a points system where production companies get cast and crew locally and get tax incentives. It allows for cast and crew from others areas to be on set as long as the minimum provincial (or state) hiring quotas have been met.

Yeah, there's no legal need for a work permit from state to state. It would only make a difference if the prodco is trying to hire locals and they need proof that you are a resident, which obviously you aren't. I live in CO and I have worked in NM. The only difference is that I had to pay taxes to NM, but didn't have to worry about that till tax time.

Oh Stacey, hi, lol! Only read the question and not who posted it. Congratulations on the out of town job! What did you book? I enjoyed your recent furniture row commercial!

Hi, Kathryn!!! So funny to meet you on-line like this. It was actually for an audition for a film. They said they needed one before anyone could audition. I don't think they know what they're doing, because it really threw me as I'd never heard that before.

That's an interesting situation. I'd never thought of getting a permit to work in another state. I've moved around a lot, have lived in Washington state, California, Tennessee, and now Texas (from Canada originally) but I've always worked in the state that I currently lived in. Keep us posted on what you learn, and best wishes :)

Greetings to All: There are 13 Right to Work States. Check with AFTRA about this Permit for Auditioning. You need Clarification. Your Rep should help too. All The Best.

Dear Stacey pederson I am an actor from England and have done some television work from drama to film and commercials. I am very interested in working in America and getting an agent there. I was wondering if you can give me some advice on going about it. Jet x

Hi Jet: Most of the larger Agency's in The USA , have a Sister branch in London. Try that route first. Save Time and Money. Polish that Reel and your EPK. Electronic Press Kit. Cheers,All The best.

Nope....

No. As long as you are a US citizine.

I agree with John. I've never heard of needing a work permit.

It's not a matter of US employment law, as others have pointed out. But if the production is SAG-AFTRA, then where you are based and where the production is based matters in terms of the contract provisions & protections you should receive. As also mentioned above, before auditioning or accepting, please check with a SAG-AFTRA rep on your questions.

I don't understand, Naomi. Are you saying that SAG-AFTRA may require a New Mexico work permit for an actor who lives in Colorado as part of their contract provisions & protections?

As far as I know, acting is not covered by state's labor laws except for safety issues.

My experience has been don't worry until you get the part. All the details will be covered once you do. Just have your passport, driver's license, and SSN ready to go and the rest the production office will help with.

On a union job, there are requirements on the producer's side that, if they are not hiring a local, they have to pay travel & per diem. If you are flying yourself in for a job for which you are not local, you're essentially helping a producer (whether they know it or not) undermine the contract, which makes it all the harder for everyone else out there who tries to stick to it.

very good point Naomi, unions for performers have bargained hard for everyone and we, as performers, should not undermine ourselves. I've participated in SAG and AFTRA negotiations a number of times and every gain for performers has been won through a great deal of hard work on the part of all concerned and all issues to be negotiated have come from performers.

Naomi, I understand pay travel & per diem. My company has a SAG-AFTRA agreement. I fully support all guilds and unions. I don't understand how a work permit is needed state to state. The question is about work permits.

A work permit isn't needed state to state if you're a U.S. citizen (or resident or have a valid work visa, etc). I was adding in a consideration that I think is pertinent to the discussion.