As Indian students continue to pursue global education in record numbers, fintech platform Niyo has reported a 30% year-on-year growth in the adoption of its zero-forex markup cards—nearly 1.7 times faster than the overall 17.67% growth in India’s outbound student segment.
Backed by MEA data showing 1.8 million Indians studying abroad in 2025 (up from 1.3 million in 2023), Niyo’s expanding student user base now forms 25% of its total clientele, up from 20% last year.
Driving this growth is Niyo’s deepening reach into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, which now account for a quarter of new applications, with cities like Jalandhar, Surat, Guntur, and Ernakulam showing rising demand.
Interestingly, students are using Niyo’s card even before departure, spending an average of $5,000 on application fees, visa costs, and accommodation—highlighting its growing role in the pre-departure financial ecosystem.
“Niyo is enabling India’s next generation to be financially ready for a global future,” said Vinay Bagri, Co-founder & CEO, adding that their suite of banking tools makes international ambitions “viable and seamless” for students and families alike.
