SIM Card Setup Guide for Expats in India (2026)

Quick answer: Buy an Airtel prepaid SIM at Delhi Airport Terminal 3, near the arrivals exit. Bring your passport, visa, one photo, and a hotel booking as address proof. Activation takes 30-60 minutes at the airport. Cost is Rs 299-599 depending on the plan. You'll have data and calling by the time you reach Gurugram.

Why you need an Indian SIM on day one

This isn't just about making phone calls. India runs on OTP verification. Food delivery apps, ride-hailing, UPI payments, even your apartment society's visitor management system: they all need an Indian mobile number.

Without a local number, you can't register on Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, or Ola. You can't set up UPI through your bank. You can't receive the one-time passwords that unlock almost every digital service in the country.

WhatsApp still works on WiFi with your home country number. But for everything else, an Indian SIM is the first domino.

Documents you need (checklist)

Keep these ready before you land:

• Passport (original, not a copy) with at least 6 months validity
• Valid Indian visa (tourist, business, or employment, stamped or e-visa printout)
• One passport-size photo (some stores have a photo booth, but bring your own to be safe)
• Local address proof: a hotel booking confirmation, Airbnb reservation, or a letter from your landlord/company works. The address doesn't need to match your final apartment.

Two things that trip people up: first, you need a physical photo, not just a digital one on your phone. Second, the "local reference" requirement. Airport counters almost never ask for one, but some city stores do. If asked, your company HR or landlord can provide their Indian phone number as a reference.

Where to buy: airport vs city store

Delhi Airport (IGI Terminal 3) — recommended

Both Airtel and Jio have counters in the arrivals area, near the customs exit. Airtel's counter is close to Gate 1 and operates around the clock.

Why the airport wins: The staff handles foreign passports daily, so the KYC process goes smoothly. Activation is usually 30-60 minutes. You walk out with a working SIM.

Watch out for: Long queues after international flight waves (typically 4-7 AM). Lines can stretch to 30-40 minutes during peak hours. If you're arriving late at night, the wait is usually shorter.

City store (Airtel or Jio gallery)

Every Gurugram sector has multiple telecom stores. The process is the same: hand over documents, fill out a form, wait for activation.

City stores take longer for foreigners because manual KYC verification goes through a different queue. Expect 4-24 hours before your SIM activates. Some people report same-day activation; others wait a full day.

Good option if: You missed the airport counter or want a specific plan that isn't available at the kiosk. The Airtel store at Ambience Mall (Gurugram) is a reliable choice with English-speaking staff.

Airtel vs Jio vs Vi: which one?

Airtel is the clear winner for foreigners. Here's why:

Jio offers slightly cheaper plans and has the widest 4G coverage nationally. But the activation process for foreigners is slower and more bureaucratic. Some travelers report being turned away at Jio stores for lacking certain documents.

Vi (Vodafone-Idea) works fine once activated, but their network in the Golf Course Extension Road area is less reliable than Airtel or Jio.

Our recommendation: Start with Airtel. You can always add a Jio SIM later if you want a dual-SIM setup for backup data.

Best prepaid plans for expats (April 2026)

You want data-heavy plans. Video calls with family, Google Maps, food delivery apps, and streaming eat through data fast.

Airtel plans worth considering

Jio plans worth considering

All plans include unlimited domestic calls and SMS. International calling packs are separate (more on that below).

Pro tip: For your first recharge, pick the Rs 359 (Airtel) or Rs 349 (Jio) plan. It gives you enough data to survive the first month while you set up home WiFi. Recharge through the Airtel Thanks or MyJio app after that. Both accept international credit cards.

The eSIM option

Both Airtel and Jio support eSIM, but here's the catch: foreigners still need to visit a store for KYC verification. You can't activate a local eSIM remotely.

The process: visit an Airtel or Jio store, complete KYC with your passport, request eSIM instead of a physical SIM, and receive a QR code to scan on your phone. Same activation timeline as a physical SIM.

Travel eSIMs (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad)

These are different. Travel eSIM providers sell data-only plans that work on Indian networks through roaming partnerships. No KYC required: you buy online, scan a QR code, and connect the moment you land.

The trade-off: Travel eSIMs don't give you an Indian phone number. You get data but can't receive OTPs, register on Indian apps, or set up UPI. They're a good bridge for your first 24-48 hours while your local SIM activates.

Pricing: Airalo offers 1GB for $4.50, 3GB for $11, and 10GB for $26 (India plans). Holafly has unlimited data plans starting at $19 for 5 days.

Best strategy: Buy a travel eSIM before you fly (for instant data on arrival) + get a local Airtel SIM at the airport (for your Indian number). Run both on a dual-SIM phone.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Problem 1: "We need a local reference." Some store employees ask for an Indian resident's phone number as a reference. This happens more at city stores than at airports. Solution: ask your company HR, landlord, or even your Airbnb host to provide their number.

Problem 2: KYC rejection or delay. If your passport photo page is unclear or your visa type doesn't match what the system expects, KYC can get stuck. Solution: carry a clean photocopy of your passport bio page and visa page. Some stores accept a scanned copy on your phone, but a paper copy speeds things up.

Problem 3: SIM works for calls but not data. After activation, you may need to manually set APN (Access Point Name) settings. For Airtel, go to Settings > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names > Add "airtelgprs.com". For Jio, the APN is "jionet". Most modern phones configure this automatically, but if data isn't working after an hour, check this first.

Problem 4: Number not working after 24 hours. Call the carrier's customer support from another phone. Airtel: 121 (from Airtel number) or 9876012345 (from any number). Jio: 199 or 18008899999.

What to do while you wait for activation

Your SIM might take a few hours to activate. Don't panic. Here's how to stay connected:

Hotel/Airbnb WiFi covers most needs. WhatsApp, email, and web browsing all work fine. Most serviced apartments in Gurugram have decent WiFi.

Travel eSIM as mentioned above: buy one before you fly. Airalo and Holafly are both reliable.

Airport WiFi at Delhi IGI is free for 30 minutes (register with your passport number). After that, you can buy hourly access.

Your home country SIM on roaming works but is expensive. Japanese carriers charge around JPY 3,000/day for data roaming in India. Korean carriers are similar at KRW 15,000-20,000/day. Use this only as emergency backup.

현재 입주 가능

M3M Heights

M3M Heights 2BHK

Golf Course Extension Road, Gurugram

₹1,05,000/월(약 167만원)

2 침실 2 욕실

WhatsApp 문의자세히 보기

International calling: what actually works

Skip international calling packs. They're overpriced and unnecessary. Here's what expats actually use:

WhatsApp calls and video calls work perfectly over data or WiFi. This handles 95% of international communication. LINE (popular with Japanese expats) and KakaoTalk (Korean expats) also work fine over Indian data.

Airtel ISD packs exist if you need to call landlines back home. The Rs 148 pack gives you about 30 minutes to Japan or Korea. But honestly, almost nobody uses these anymore.

Your home country number: Keep your Japanese or Korean SIM active on a minimum plan. Some banking apps and two-factor authentication still require your home number. Pop it into your second SIM slot or keep an old phone charged with that SIM.

After your SIM is active: first 3 things to do

1. Set up UPI. Open your Indian bank app and link your new number. Test with a small Rs 10 payment at a local shop. UPI is how India pays for everything from groceries to rent.

2. Register on essential apps. Swiggy/Zomato (food delivery), Uber/Ola (rides), Blinkit/Zepto (groceries). All need OTP verification with your Indian number.

3. Update your society registration. Your apartment complex needs your Indian number for the visitor management system and emergency contact list. Give it to the security desk and your building's management office. Societies like M3M Heights and Conscient Elevate use app-based visitor management that requires a verified Indian number.

For a full walkthrough of first-month essentials including banking and utilities, see our relocation guide for expats.

Quick recap

Sources

• https://www.airtel.in/recharge/prepaid/
• https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-home/
• https://dot.gov.in/access-services/subscriber-verification
• https://gigago.com/delhi-airport-del-sim-card/
• https://simology.io/blog/india-simesim-registration-tourists-kyc-documents-time-limits-2025
• https://indiasomeday.com/en/how-to-get-a-local-sim-card-in-india-for-foreigners/