482 Visa Interview Australia: Questions for Skilled Workers 2026

482 visa interview australia prep is less about tricks and more about proof. You need one clean story. That story must match your sponsor's papers, your CV, and your visa file. Since 7 December 2024, subclass 482 has been the Skills in Demand visa. The Department of Home Affairs states this clearly. Many applicants still use the old 482 or TSS label. Either way, the interview logic is the same. A case officer wants to know the job is real. They also want to know the sponsor is real. Then they test whether you can do the work. This guide gives you common questions, short answer frames, and a simple practice plan. For broader interview drills, see Interviewseek.

What the interview really tests

Your story must match your file.

Many subclass 482 cases are decided on documents alone. Still, prepare as if someone will test your facts live. First, learn the core checks. Home Affairs says the Skills in Demand visa can run for one to four years (Home Affairs). It also says applicants need the skills for the role. In addition, they need 12 months of work experience in the job or a related field (Home Affairs). Primary applicants also need minimum English results unless exempt (Home Affairs).

In plain English, the officer is checking five things. Can you explain your job? Do your past duties fit the nominated occupation in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, or ANZSCO? Do you understand your employer, salary, and work site? Can you explain how you got hired? Will every date match your forms, contract, CV, and reference letters? If one point breaks, more questions follow.

482 visa interview australia questions you should expect

Good answers sound specific, calm, and easy to verify.

Expect direct questions. They are not looking for long speeches. They want facts that line up fast.

• Why did this Australian employer choose you? Tie your answer to the skill gap, your past tasks, and the hiring process.
• What will you do day to day? Use the real role title, not a vague label like IT or trade work.
• Who will you report to? Name the manager, team, and business unit if you know them.
• Where will you work? Give the city, site, and whether the role is metro or regional.
• What salary were you offered? State the base figure, hours, and any clear extras from the contract.
• How does your past work match this role? Match two or three past duties to the ANZSCO-style duties in the nomination.
• How did you find the job? Explain the source, interviews, and why the employer made the offer.
• What licences or registration do you need? This matters for roles like Registered Nurse, Electrician, Early Childhood Teacher, and Civil Engineer.
• Why Australia, and why this company? Keep it about the role and team. Do not sound like you chose the visa first and the job second.
• When can you start? Answer with a realistic window and mention any notice period.

Here is a simple model. If you are a Software Engineer, name the systems you build. Name the stack too. Then say what problem the team hired you to solve. If you are a Diesel Motor Mechanic, talk about fault finding, service work, and fleet types. If you are a Registered Nurse, name the ward, patient mix, and any registration steps already underway.

Use STAR, PAR, and PEEL to shape answers

Structure beats rambling.

Use STAR for behavioural questions. That means Situation, Task, Action, Result. Use PAR for problem solving. That means Problem, Action, Result. Use PEEL for short fit questions. That means Point, Evidence, Explain, Link.

STAR works well for pressure, conflict, or safety questions. Example for a Registered Nurse: Situation: a busy aged care shift. Task: keep handover clear and reduce missed follow-ups. Action: you changed the handover sheet and flagged high-risk patients first. Result: the team worked faster and follow-ups were caught early.

PAR works well for trade and tech roles. Example for a Civil Engineer: Problem: delays on a drainage package. Action: you reset the site sequence and met the contractor each morning. Result: the job got back on track.

PEEL works well for visa-fit questions. For example: Why are you a match for this role? Point: I fit the role because I already do these duties. Evidence: In my current job, I handle the same client type and tools. Explain: That lowers training time. Link: It means I can add value early in Australia.

Keep each answer under 60 seconds first. Then stop. If the officer wants more, they will ask.

Match every answer to a document

If you say it, you should be able to prove it.

Build a one-page fact sheet before any call. Put your full role title on it. Add the employer legal name, work site, salary, manager name, start window, and key dates. Keep your CV beside you. Keep your contract beside you. Keep your nomination details beside you if your agent or employer shared them.

Moreover, check every date. Job start dates, promotion dates, test dates, and travel dates often cause trouble. Check your English test details if you needed one (Home Affairs). Check licences, registration, or skills assessment records if your role uses them. Home Affairs says complete applications help processing. That includes health and character checks (Home Affairs). If you are asked for health exams, the department issues a HAP ID and tells you which exams to book (Home Affairs).

This is where many good candidates slip. They know the job. They do not know the file. Learn both.

Practice plan and red flags

Most problems come from loose details, not hard questions.

For most people, 482 visa interview australia prep is a document-match drill. In addition, it is a speaking drill. Do three mock rounds. Round one covers your work story. Round two covers your sponsor story. Round three covers your documents.

Use this checklist:

• Record a 20-minute mock interview on your phone.
• Trim any answer that runs past 60 seconds.
• Check that your salary, title, and location stay the same each time.
• Replace broad claims with proof. Say what you did, who you reported to, and what tools you used.
• Fix old wording. Home Affairs says the Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024.

Finally, avoid five red flags. Do not guess. Do not recite a script. Do not give a different job title from the contract. Do not hide gaps that an officer can already see. Do not make big labour shortage claims unless you can tie them to your employer. Jobs and Skills Australia said Australia's labour market remained resilient (JSA, 2026). It also noted softer conditions in some sectors over the year to February 2026. That means clear employer need matters more than vague market talk.

FAQ

Short answers beat guesswork.

Do all subclass 482 applicants get an interview?
No. Many cases move on documents alone. Still, you should prepare in case Home Affairs asks to clarify facts.

Is subclass 482 still called the TSS visa?
No. The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024.

What documents should I keep beside me?
Keep your passport, CV, contract, role description, English test record if relevant, and any licence or registration details.

What if one answer does not match a form?
Fix it before the interview. If the form is wrong, get advice from your registered migration agent or employer contact and correct the record where possible.