Steps to Join

Here's what you need to qualify: 

Proof of Employment 
SAG-AFTRA membership is available to those who work in a position covered by a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement, provided that any person qualifying through work as a background actor must have completed three (3) days of work as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement. Membership is also available to those who work one (1) day of employment in a principal or speaking role (actor/performer), or as a Recording Artist in a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) covered production.

Employment Under an Affiliated Performers' Union
Performers may join SAG-AFTRA if the applicant is a paid-up member of an affiliated performers' union such as ACTRA, AEA, AGMA or AGVA for a period of one year, and has worked and been paid for at least once as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

Potential broadcast members should contact the National Broadcast Department or their local for information on joining.

Each application is vetted for legitimacy. That means your proof of employment will be fully investigated by SAG-AFTRA for validity. Your application for membership will be denied if you have falsified your credentials, or if your qualifying employment is not bona fide.

While it is your responsibility to ascertain the validity of your qualifying employment, the Union will be the sole arbiter in determining whether the employer was legitimate or bogus, and whether the qualifying employment which you performed was actual production work or work created solely to enable you to gain Union membership. Please be aware that false representation or deception on your part will jeopardize your chances to join SAG-AFTRA.

Moreover, if after your application has been granted the Union discovers such misconduct on your part, you may find yourself subject to disciplinary proceedings, which could result in your being fined, suspended and/or expelled from SAG-AFTRA.

Appointments for Admission 
If you are eligible under the conditions stated above, please contact your nearest SAG-AFTRA local so that we can advise you of the amount of your joining fees.

Submitting Proof of SAG-AFTRA Eligibility 
You may contact us about your eligibility status. If your file is not on record or incomplete, you may submit one of the following documents as proof of eligibility:

• Original paycheck stubs.
• Original activity print-out or report from the payroll company that states your name, social security number, the name of the production company, the title of the production, the salary paid in dollar amount, and the specific date(s) worked. The payroll company must submit this document directly to the SAG-AFTRA Membership Services Department.

Background vouchers and copies of paycheck stubs are not acceptable as proof of work. Submitting these types of documents will only delay verifying your SAG-AFTRA eligibility.

If you provide the Union with your original paycheck stubs, please make copies for your records before submitting them to the office.

In addition to enclosing proper eligibility documentation, you will need to include a separate piece of paper with your name, current address, current telephone number, and date of birth. A self-addressed stamped envelope must also be included so that we may return your documents to you. We ask that you print clearly to avoid input errors. Once verification is completed, you will receive a letter of eligibility from SAG-AFTRA.

Please mail your document to:

SAG-AFTRA
Membership Services Department – Proof of Eligibility
5757 Wilshire Blvd. 7th fl
Los Angeles, CA 90036

You may also deliver your documents in person to the 7th floor receptionist at the above address.

Once you have submitted your eligibility documents, please wait until you receive your original documents back in the mail before contacting us at (323) 549-6769 regarding joining fees. 

Thank you for your interest in joining SAG-AFTRA.

Have a question? See the FAQs below.