Written By: Gouri Ghosh

Increasingly, students from India are seeking to study abroad each year. It's not merely to acquire a degree; they're seeking better opportunities, international prospects, and an enhanced standard of life. The increase is primarily because countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK have liberalized their immigration policies for international students.For investors, this is a huge opportunity. With more students traveling abroad, study abroad franchises in India are one of the top-performing business models. 

Of all the services they provide, visa counseling is proving to be the most profitable and reliable.

Understanding the Study Abroad Franchises Model

A study abroad franchises are a pre-established business that makes it possible for students to achieve their dream of studying abroad.

Most study abroad franchises provide these main services:

• selection – Assistance in advising students on the proper college and course selection.
• Application guidance – Assisting them with forms, SOPs, and key deadlines.
• Test preparation – Preparing for exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and more.
• Visa counseling – Ensuring students pass the most important hurdle successfully.

These services provide you with several ways to make money:

Consulting charges from students.

• Income from selling test preparation classes.
• Commissions received from partner universities.
• Premium fees for VIP or fast-track visa services.

Upselling is also prevalent. For instance, a student who enrolls in university counseling will gladly pay more for visa assistance, accommodation assistance, or post-landing services.

Why Visa Counseling is the Gold Mine

That's why visa services can command a premium — families place more premium on expertise here than anywhere else.

That's why visa counseling is the true profit engine in study abroad franchises:

• Lower competition: Fewer consultants possess the legal expertise and current training to manage visas well.
• Trust factor: Visa regulations change frequently; trained consultants are more trustworthy than self-research strategies.
• Recurring business: Siblings, friends, or even the same student (for post-study work visas) tend to go back to the same consultant.
• Add-on sales: Visa customers tend to buy additional services such as accommodation reservations, medical insurance, and post-arrival assistance.
• High conversion rates: Students with a preference for studying overseas hardly miss visa services — essentially a sure bet sale.
• Fewer seasonal dips: As much as admissions see peak seasons during intakes, visa inquiries run year-round for various nations.

For investors, this equates to increased profit margins, predictable cash flows, and a business model where the most profitable service also incurs the lowest cost of marketing.

Best Brands to Provide Visa Study Abroad Franchise in India — Cost & ROI

If you're looking to invest in a visa study abroad franchise in India, it's useful to understand what the big brands have to offer, how much they'll set you back, and what returns you can look forward to. The figures listed below are approximate and may fluctuate depending on your city, size of your outlet, and the specific business model you opt for.

IDP Education

• Franchise Cost: ₹10–15 lakh
• Franchise Fee: ₹3–5 lakh
• Average ROI Period: 12–18 months

Why it's a standout: IDP is possibly the most well-known name in the study abroad market. It's an official co-owner of IELTS and has direct partnerships with thousands of universities globally. It enjoys a strong brand reputation and attracts students without much effort, particularly those targeting English-speaking nations such as Australia, Canada, and the UK. As an IDP franchise owner, you get to leverage IDP's international marketing campaigns, proven operating systems, and trust factor of high degree — resultantly, quicker student conversion and fewer sales hassles.

International Opportunities

• Franchise Cost: ₹7–12 lakh
• Franchise Fee: ₹2–3 lakh
• Average ROI Period: 12–15 months

Why it's unique: With its well-established presence in both Tier-2 and Tier-1 cities, Global Opportunities has earned a reputation for having high visa approval rates and good counseling services. It has a large number of countries and courses to offer, so you can appeal to different student profiles. Their staff provides strong training and marketing assistance, which will make it less challenging for new franchisees to get established in a short time and start admitting students.

Edwise International

• Franchise Cost: ₹8–14 lakh
• Franchise Fee: ₹3–4 lakh
• Average ROI Period: 12–16 months

Why it stands out: Edwise boasts a large network of university tie-ups and one-stop-shop student services — career counseling to post-arrival services. This complete solution platform enables you to upsell several offerings, boosting your per-student income. Decades of presence in the market have given the brand excellent recall and credibility among students and parents.

AECC Global

• Franchise Cost: ₹6–10 lakh
• Franchise Fee: ₹2–3 lakh
• Average ROI Period: 10–14 months

Why it stands out: AECC is a fairly young but rapidly expanding global player. It puts a lot of investment into digital marketing and lead generation, meaning as a franchise partner, you can receive student leads directly from the corporate team. The technological focus of the brand also makes it easier to run operations and maintain efficient service delivery.

KC Overseas

• Franchise Cost: ₹8–15 lakh
• Franchise Fee: ₹3–4 lakh
• Average ROI Period: 12–18 months

Why it excels: KC Overseas deals with more than 30 destinations for studies, allowing you to be able to serve a wide pool of students. It has superior CRM facilities, which help you deal with student applications, follow-ups, and visa process much more easily. Its training programs ensure that franchisees remain abreast of evolving visa regulations, making it a good choice for those who wish to concentrate a lot on the visa success part of the business.

Growth Opportunities & Future Trends

The Study Abroad Franchise 2025 industry is evolving rapidly, and intelligent investors can gain an advantage by recognizing these changes ahead of the curve.

AI and automation in visa documentation

Technology is accelerating and simplifying the visa process. AI software is able to read documents, verify compliance, and identify mistakes prior to submission. This translates to reduced rejection, quicker approvals, and more satisfied clients. For the franchise owner, that also translates to your ability to work more cases without having to employ a large staff.

Niche specialties

Specializing in high-need niches can yield greater profits and less competition. Some examples are:

• Canada’s STEM programs are linked to post-study work opportunities.
• Australia’s PR-friendly vocational courses.
• Destination-specific programs like hospitality in the UK or health sciences in New Zealand.

University tie-ups

Partnering with universities can speed up admissions, reduce application fees, and give you priority processing. 

Industry consolidation

Suppose you operate a well-managed franchise with high visa approval rates. In that case, you may become an acquisition prospect in the future, or you can leverage this trend to expand by purchasing smaller agencies yourself.

Other trending developments:

• End-to-end online counseling experiences with video calls, e-signatures, and online document portals.

How to Invest in a Study Abroad / Visa Advisory Franchise

If you are interested in pursuing this business, follow the step-by-step guide below:

Step 1 — Assess the brand

You should look for the best franchise in India that offers visas for studying abroad. 

Step 2 — Verify profitability

Request ROI figures, conversion ratios, and visa approval rates. A quality franchise should disclose performance figures.

Step 3 — Get to know the fees

Study abroad franchise India price can vary from ₹5–15 lakh, location, training, and tech support depending on it. Some models even provide a study abroad franchise in India with no investment, where you pay only per student.

Step 4 — Be aware of the red flags

Steer clear of brands with:

• High student complaints.
• Old technology.
• No well-defined operating manual.
• Overlapping franchise territories.
•  

Step 5 — Prepare your finances and plan to launch

Ensure that you have sufficient working capital for at least 6–12 months, even if the initial revenue is sluggish. Collaborate with the franchisor to develop a launch marketing plan so that you can begin immediately attracting students.

Conclusion

Visa counseling isn't another service; it's the lifeblood of a successful study abroad franchise in India. With high margins, consistent demand, and strong trust factors, it's poised to be one of the most resistant business models in education services.

If you’ve been exploring visa study abroad franchise fees in India and wondering whether now is the right time, the answer is yes. The market is growing fast, the demand curve is strong, and the industry is moving toward professional, brand-backed operations.

Get in early, choose the best study abroad franchise in India for your goals, and you’ll be well-placed to profit from this booming sector in 2025 and beyond.

Disclaimer: The brands mentioned in this blog are the recommendations provided by the author. FranchiseBAZAR does not claim to work with these brands / represent them / or are associated with them in any manner. Investors and prospective franchisees are to do their own due diligence before investing in any franchise business at their own risk and discretion. FranchiseBAZAR or its Directors disclaim any liability or risks arising out of any transactions that may take place due to the information provided in this blog.