What Does the Asia Pacific Group Do?

If you have searched for a migration agent or an education consultant in Australia, you have probably seen the name Asia Pacific Group. Most people ask the same thing next: what does this company actually do?

It is a fair question. Visa and study advice is a field where you should know who you are dealing with before you share your passport, your money or your plans.

So here is a straight answer. This guide explains what Asia Pacific Group (APG) does, who it helps, which services it offers and where its offices are.

Asia Pacific Group: Quick Snapshot

Here is the short version, before the detail.

Asia Pacific Group: How It Started

APG began in 2009 and grew from one office in Melbourne into a network. Today APG has 13+ offices across 6 countries, and it says it has helped over 120,000 people with their Australian plans.

The company was founded by Vikas Sharma and co-founded by Sunil Sharma. Both are registered migration agents, and their registration numbers are public on the agent register run by the government. We will come back to that, because it matters more than any slogan.

The idea behind APG is simple. Moving to Australia, or studying here, involves two systems that do not always talk to each other: the education system and the immigration system. A course choice today can affect your visa options years later. APG sits across both, so one team can look at the full picture.

Asia Pacific Group: Three Doors Into Australia

Here is an easy way to picture it. Imagine Australia has three main doors. Most clients walk through one of them.

Many people use more than one door over time. A student may start with a course, finish with a Professional Year, and later move to a skilled visa. APG’s pitch is that it can walk with you through each stage.

Asia Pacific Group Services at a Glance

This table shows the main services listed on the APG website and who each one suits.

What Asia Pacific Group Does for Students

Study is the biggest part of the business. APG’s education team includes counsellors holding the QEAC certification, which is the industry credential for education agents.

Asia Pacific Group Admissions Support

The counsellor looks at your past study, your budget and your goal. Then they suggest courses and institutions that fit. After that, APG prepares the application and keeps track of the offer.

It lists courses across diploma, bachelor and master’s levels. The range includes nursing, early childhood education, social work, cyber security, business analytics, accounting, engineering and several trades. You can browse them on the APG course page.

Before you accept any offer, check that the course is listed for international students on the CRICOS register. A good agent will do the same.

Asia Pacific Group Scholarship Help

APG helps students apply for scholarships that lower tuition, and eligible students may receive scholarships of around 20% to 30%. The exact amount depends on the institution, the course, the length of study and your academic profile, so do not assume one scholarship fits every case.

Read more on the scholarships page.

Asia Pacific Group Student Visa Extension

Plans change. A course may run longer, or you may switch to a new one. APG’s agents help prepare the extension, including the reasons, funds, health cover and enrolment papers.

Asia Pacific Group Professional Year Program

This one is for graduates in IT, accounting or engineering. The Professional Year is a structured program with workplace training. APG notes that completing it can add 5 points on the PR points test. Rules change, so confirm the current points on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Asia Pacific Group PTE and Student Tools

APG also links to PTE coaching for English tests. On the site you will find a student visa funds calculator and a points calculator. These are handy for a first estimate, but they do not replace advice on your own case.

Asia Pacific Group Migration Services

The second big area is visas. APG’s registered migration agents handle a long list of visa types. In Australia, immigration assistance must be given by a registered migration agent (lawyers are the main exception), so this is the part where registration really counts.

Asia Pacific Group Skilled Visa Help

Skilled migration is a large share of the work. The list includes the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and regional visas such as the 491 and 191.

Most of these start with an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and a positive skills assessment. APG helps with both steps and with choosing between state options.

Asia Pacific Group Employer Visa Support

For businesses and workers, APG lists the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the 186 and 494 employer pathways, labour agreements and DAMA pathways. These suit employers who cannot find local staff and want to sponsor.

Asia Pacific Group Family Visa Help

The family list covers partner visas, parent visas, child visas and several others. These cases rely on documents and evidence of a real relationship, so careful preparation matters.

Asia Pacific Group Business and Visitor Visas

There is also a business visa stream for investors and owners, and a visitor visa service for short stays, including the ETA and eVisitor options.

Asia Pacific Group Visa Refusal Support

A refusal or cancellation is stressful, and time limits for review can be short. APG’s agents look at the refusal reasons and explain the options, which may include a review application. Move fast if this is your case.

Asia Pacific Group Branches in Australia

APG’s head office is in Melbourne, with seven more offices across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. New offices are opening soon in Tarneit, Brisbane and Clayton.

Each branch has its own page and map below. Phone numbers are shared across the Sydney, Parramatta and Blacktown offices.

Asia Pacific Group Melbourne Office

Address: Level 7, 278 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 03 7003 8216
Visit the Melbourne branch page

Asia Pacific Group Williams Landing Office

Address: Suite C04, Level 1, 100 Overton Road, Williams Landing VIC 3027
Phone: 03 8521 8080
Visit the Williams Landing branch page

Asia Pacific Group Thomastown Office

Address: 179 High Street, Thomastown VIC 3074
Phone: 03 8376 0808
Visit the Thomastown branch page

Asia Pacific Group Sydney Office

Address: Suite 601, Level 6, 447 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 7201 8800
Visit the Sydney branch page

Asia Pacific Group Parramatta Office

Address: Suite 3.04, 87 Marsden Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: 02 7201 8800
Visit the Parramatta branch page

Asia Pacific Group Blacktown Office

Address: 3 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown NSW 2148
Phone: 02 7201 8800
Visit the Blacktown branch page

Asia Pacific Group Adelaide Office

Address: Level 4, 29 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 08 7160 3110
Visit the Adelaide branch page

Asia Pacific Group Perth Office

Address: Level 1, 22 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 (Condor Tower)
Phone: 08 8318 6300
Visit the Perth branch page

Asia Pacific Group Overseas Offices

APG also works outside Australia. The website lists offices in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Mohali and Kochi (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Makati (Philippines). Students often meet the team in their home country first, then continue with the Australian offices when they arrive.

Asia Pacific Group Team and Credentials

Credentials are the first thing to check with any agent. Here is what APG lists.

Do not just take our word for it. Search any agent’s name and number on the official register of migration agents. You can also read the agents’ code of conduct to see the standards they must follow.

You can meet the people behind the company on the APG team page and read about its background on the about page.

One honest note. APG is a migration and education consultancy, not a law firm. Its agents give migration advice, not legal advice. If your case needs a lawyer, a good agent should say so.

How Asia Pacific Group Works: Step by Step

The path looks different for each client, but most follow a similar order.

Before you sign anything, ask for the fee in writing and a clear list of what it covers. A registered agent must give you a written agreement.

Asia Pacific Group Events and Expos

APG also runs expos and seminars. At the time of writing, its events page lists an Education and Migration Expo in Melbourne on 19 and 20 November, and an Adelaide expo on 27 November from 11 AM. Registration runs through the events page.

An expo is a low-pressure way to meet agents and counsellors face to face and ask questions before you decide.

Who Should Use Asia Pacific Group

APG may suit you if you:

• are an overseas student who wants help choosing a course and applying
• are a graduate planning a Professional Year or a skilled visa
• need a skills assessment for your occupation
• are an employer who wants to sponsor a worker
• want to bring a partner or parent to Australia
• had a visa refused and need to understand your options

It may not be the right fit if you only need a quick form check. In that case, the Home Affairs website and a registered agent’s one-off consultation may be enough.

Whoever you choose, compare at least two agents, ask about fees and check the registration number. A short chat with APG costs little, and the education side is free to start, according to its website.

Asia Pacific Group: FAQs

What Is Asia Pacific Group?

Asia Pacific Group is an Australian education and migration consultancy that started in 2009. It helps students and migrants with course admissions, visas, skills assessments and related services.

Does Asia Pacific Group Charge for Advice?

APG says education consultations are free at its branches and migration services carry a fee. Ask for the fee and the scope in writing before you sign.

Where Is the Asia Pacific Group Head Office?

The head office is at Level 7, 278 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

Which Countries Does Asia Pacific Group Work In?

Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Can Asia Pacific Group Guarantee a Visa?

No agent can promise a visa. The Department of Home Affairs makes every decision. A good agent prepares your application well and tells you the risks honestly.

Asia Pacific Group: Final Word

So, what does Asia Pacific Group do? In plain words, it helps people study in, move to or visit Australia. It handles course admissions, scholarships, student visas, skills assessments, employer and family visas, and review support after a refusal, through offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and other cities.

The company’s strongest point is that it covers both education and migration under one roof. The most useful habit for you is to check things yourself: the agent’s registration number, the course on the CRICOS register, and the fee in your written agreement.

If you want advice on your own situation, speak with a registered migration agent Australia team that can look at your study history, work experience and goals together. Book a consultation with APG, bring your questions and decide for yourself.