Membership Application
You may be granted an Education Credit if you received a degree or diploma in Acting from one of the qualifying programs listed below.
Education Credits must by registered within one (1) year of graduation. Accreditation earned before the approved date will not be considered.
The qualifying programs are:
- University of British Columbia – Bachelor of Fine Arts/Acting (approved 2011)
- University of Victoria – Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Theatre Acting (approved 2011)
- Studio 58 at Langara College – Diploma in Theatre Arts/Acting (approved 2011)
- Vancouver Film School – Diploma in Acting for Film and Television (approved 2011)
- New Image College – Film Acting Conservatory, 2-year diploma program (approved 2011)
- Capilano University – Acting for the Stage and Screen Diploma, or Musical Theatre Diploma (approved 2011)
- Vancouver Acting School – Acting: Film, Television & Voice-Over combined with Comedy Conservatory or Theatre Conservatory (approved 2014)
- Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (Vanarts) – 1-year Acting for Film and TV Program (approved 2015)
- Art Institute of Vancouver – Acting Program, completion of all 5 levels (approved 2015)
- Simon Fraser University – Theatre (Performance Stream) Bachelor of Fine Arts (approved 2021)
- Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts (VADArts) – Acting for Film & TV Diploma (year 1) combined with Actors Intensive: Working with Directors, Year 2 (approved 2015)
- Canadian College of Performing Arts – Performing Arts Certificate, Performing Arts Diploma or Applied Performing Arts Diploma (approved 2023)
- Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts (VADA) – Dramatic Arts Program 1 combined with Dramatic Arts Program 2 (approved 2023)
Note: This list does not imply endorsement by UBCP/ACTRA.
Have questions? Contact Member Services! [email protected]
A Canadian Actors Equity Association (CAEA) member may apply to be a Full Member of UBCP/ACTRA after having worked on at least one residual bearing role on a UBCP/ACTRA production. Under a reciprocal agreement, CAEA members are entitled to a $475.00 discount off the UBCP/ACTRA initiation fee.
In order to apply for Full Membership based on your current membership with CAEA, please submit the documents listed below to [email protected]
- Copy of your CAEA membership card
- The completed Full Member Application Form
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency Status (accepted documents are: Passport, Birth Certificate, Certificate of Indian Status Card, Citizenship Card or Permanent Resident Card)
- Proof of at least one qualifying Acting Credit (contract and paystub)
- Headshot for the Membership Card
- Payment* of the Initiation Fee (minus discount) and Full Member Annual Dues (we’ll inform you of your total joining cost after reviewing your documents)
A member in good standing with SAG-AFTRA or Equity UK may apply to be a Full Member of UBCP/ACTRA after having worked on at least one residual bearing role on a UBCP/ACTRA production.
In order to apply for Full Membership based on your current membership with SAG-AFTRA or Equity UK, please submit the documents listed below to [email protected]
- Copy of your current membership card or letter in good standing
- The completed Full Member Application Form
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency Status (accepted documents are: Passport, Birth Certificate, Certificate of Indian Status Card, Citizenship Card or Permanent Resident Card)
- Proof of at least one qualifying Acting Credit (contract and paystub)
- Headshot for the Membership Card
- Payment* of the Initiation Fee and Full Member Annual Dues (we’ll inform you of your total joining cost after reviewing your documents)
There is an avenue to apply for Full Member status based on Exceptional Circumstances. You must prove that you are an established professional and are very well known in the media and that your name is widely recognized.
This clause is usually accessed by performers from other countries where work in recorded media may not be unionized, and where UBCP/ACTRA does not have a reciprocal agreement in place. Non-union work done in a country where a union exists will not be considered when reviewing an application for membership based on Exceptional Circumstances.
In order to apply for Full Membership based on Exceptional Circumstances, please submit the documents listed below to the Membership Committee ([email protected])
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency Status (accepted documents are: Passport, Birth Certificate, Certificate of Indian Status Card, Citizenship Card or Permanent Resident Card)
- Letter detailing the request
- Resume
- Headshot
- Letters of recommendation
- Copies of professional engagement contracts
All applicants will receive the decision in writing. If your application is successful, you will be invited to join as a Full Member.
All questions and documents are to be emailed to [email protected]
In order to become a member you need to be a Canadian citizen or have permanent residency status.
The Union can offer Temporary Membership once you have applied for Permanent Residency. As a Temporary Member you do not have member status per se, however you will have a Temporary Member status marker put on your UBCP/ACTRA account. This means you are able to hold a maximum of three (3) qualifying credits to use towards Full Membership once you receive Permanent Residency status.
For further clarity you are still considered a non-Member, non-Canadian when it comes to preference of engagement and work permits.
In order to submit a request for Temporary Membership, please submit the documents listed below to [email protected]
- Confirmation that your application for Permanent Residency is under way (The Canadian Government generally provides a confirmation email that includes a file number)
- Copy of your work VISA issued by the Canadian Government
- Proof of at least one qualifying Acting Credit (Contract and Paystub) obtained within the past 6 weeks
No, we only accept one of the following documents: Canadian passport; Canadian birth certificate; Certificate of Indian Status card; Citizenship card; or Permanent Resident card.
No, we require a valid Permanent Resident card.
General Membership
Only if the project is signatory to our Ultra Low Budget Program or any other UBCP/ACTRA or ACTRA agreement.
Please submit a completed and signed copy of the Change of Name Form. to [email protected]. We will notify you when the change has been processed.
Please submit a completed and signed copy of the Branch Transfer Form along with proof of residence in your new province to [email protected]. We will notify you, and your new branch, when the transfer has been processed.
Please contact your current home branch and request a Branch Transfer Form. Your transfer will be processed by your current home branch.
Membership Status
Annual Dues are due April 1 and must be paid no later than April 30 every year. Members who miss the April 1st deadline. Will have a 10% charge added to their account.
If Annual Dues remain unpaid by April 30, Background and Apprentice memberships are cancelled, Active Full Members will be suspended, and Suspended Full Members who have not paid the Annual Dues for more than two (2) consecutive years automatically become Resigned Members.
Once a Background or Apprentice Membership is cancelled, it cannot be reactivated. To become a Member again, you have to re-apply.
To become a member in good standing you must pay all outstanding Annual Dues and Late Fee charges.
Suspended Members cannot work as a performer; should work occur, they will pay non-refundable work permit fees, not receive the producer insurance and retirement contribution amounts, and pay a service fee of 25% on all Film & Television residual payments and 10% on all Commercial use fee payments. A Member who is suspended for two consecutive years for non-payment of Annual Dues automatically becomes a Resigned Member.
Only Full Members who have been in good standing for at least one (1) year may put their membership on Withdrawn status.
Withdrawn Members may audition but may not work in either union or non-union productions. If work is booked, the membership must be reactivated before the first day of work.
If you decide to proceed, please submit a completed and signed copy of the Withdrawal form. We will contact you to pay the withdrawal fee which is 25% of the Annual Dues.
To reactivate your membership you must pay the current prorated Annual Dues. You do not pay Annual Dues for the time your membership has been on Withdrawn status.
You need to send a completed and signed copy of either the Background Member Cancellation Form or the Apprentice Member Cancellation Form to [email protected]. We will notify you when the cancellation has been processed.
We strongly recommend that you review the UBCP/ACTRA Bylaws and ACTRA Bylaws and Constitution which outline the consequences of changing your member status to Resigned.
We also encourage everyone to contact their benefits provider before making a decision, as the insurance and retirement accounts might be affected.
Resigned Members remain Members as per the Union Bylaws and Constitution and are therefore subject to possible discipline and fines upon reinstatement or reactivation of membership ie. Should instances of participation in non-union productions be found.
To proceed send a completed and signed copy of the Voluntary Resignation Form to [email protected]. We will notify you when the change has been processed.
Yes, Resigned Members may request that their membership be reactivated and must submit a Reinstatement/Reactivation Declaration Form to do so. Please contact Member Services for a copy of the form and further information about the process.
No, you cannot include days of work on non-union productions.
You can only submit background performer vouchers for performance/on-camera days. Vouchers for Covid test days, wardrobe fittings make-up and hair test are not eligible for membership.
Your count starts from the date you became a Background Member. If you don’t remember when you became a Background Member, please contact the Membership Department.
