How to Verify if an Education Consultancy Is Legitimate (Step-by-Step)

With thousands of education consultancies operating globally — and a significant number of fraudulent ones — knowing how to verify a consultancy before engaging with them is an essential skill for any student planning to study abroad.

Here is a step-by-step verification process you can complete in under an hour.

Step 1: Check Government/Authority Registration

Every legitimate consultancy should be registered with the relevant authority in their country:

• Nepal: Licensed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST). Ask for their licence number and verify at the MoEST database.
• India: Look for AIRC (Association of International Recruitment Consultants) membership or AAERI affiliation.
• Pakistan: Check with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) or relevant provincial authority.
• Nigeria: Check with NAEC (Nigerian Association of Education Consultants).
• Ghana/Kenya: Look for registration with the national education ministry.

If the consultancy cannot provide a registration number, that is a serious red flag.

Step 2: Search for Independent Reviews

Search the consultancy name on:

1. ConsultancyCheck — our platform specialises in education consultancy reviews with verified student feedback

2. Google — search "[consultancy name] reviews" and "[consultancy name] scam"

3. Facebook groups for students studying abroad from your country — these communities are often the most candid

Look for patterns in negative reviews: visa rejections, disappeared after fees, false promises, document issues.

Step 3: Verify Their University Authorisations

Ask the consultancy to show you their official authorisation letters from the universities they represent. You can verify directly with the universities — most major universities have a list of their authorised representatives on their website.

If a consultancy recommends a university but is not on the official representatives list, their relationship with that institution may be commercial rather than authorised.

Step 4: Visit Their Physical Office

Before paying any fees, visit the consultancy's office in person. Check:

• Is it a permanent, professional office?
• Are staff members available to answer questions?
• Is the address the same as what is on their registration documents?

An unwillingness to have you visit, or an address that doesn't match any real location, are significant warning signs.

Step 5: Request References from Recent Graduates

Ask specifically for 2-3 students who received visas for your target country in the past 12 months. Contact those students directly. Ask them: "Was the consultancy honest with you? Were there any surprises? Would you recommend them?"

Step 6: Check Their Written Agreement

Before paying anything, ask for their service agreement in writing. It should clearly state:

• Services included and excluded
• Full fee schedule
• Refund policy in case of visa refusal
• Estimated timelines

If they cannot provide a written agreement, do not proceed.

Step 7: Cross-Reference Their Success Claims

If a consultancy claims "95% visa success rate," ask for supporting documentation. Many legitimate consultancies do track and can share this data. Those who cannot substantiate specific success claims may be exaggerating.

ConsultancyCheck Verification

ConsultancyCheck verifies consultancy profiles by email and publishes only reviews from students who have used the consultancy. We cannot guarantee every consultancy listed is ethical, but our review system lets the community surface problems quickly.

Search consultancies on ConsultancyCheck →

Related guides: 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Consultancy | 7 Scam Warning Signs

Frequently Asked Questions

Find a Verified Consultancy

Browse consultancies in your country with real student reviews — sorted by rating and visa success.

More from the Blog