Traveling is easier if you are equipped with proper phone connectivity, along with mobile data for accessing the internet. For a foreigner, In a place that is not your hometown like India, it is easy get a tourist SIM Card in India as you may need to track routes, connect to local transport operators, hotels, etc. Besides being connected with your family and friends is also essential when you are traveling. Hence, it is crucial to understand where you can get a SIM card, how you can get it, and the formalities or documentation required for acquiring a SIM card.
Foreign visitors to India can easily get get a tourist SIM Card in India – either immediately upon arrival at any International Airports or from telecom shops in the city. Major providers like Airtel, Jio, and Vi (Vodafone-Idea) offer tourist SIMs. You will need to show proper documents (passport, visa, photo) and complete a verification process. Below is a step-by-step guide covering the process of obtaining a tourist SIM Card in India including the process at the airport and nearby options, where to buy a SIM, which companies to consider, required documents, cost, and available plans, activation times, popular plans, and tips to ensure a smooth experience.
This post will also make it easy for getting to know the best providers for short-term use of a a tourist SIM Card in India.
variety of SIM cards for an International Traveller visiting IndiaEnabling roaming entails higher charges and sometimes goes beyond the budget of the planned travel. Purchasing a local SIM card in India is much cheaper than availing the unnecessary roaming charges,
In this article, we will discuss in detail the various ways and means of getting a SIM card for an international traveler.
Where in airport can a foreigner get a a tourist SIM Card for India ?
In the International Arrivals area of all major Indian airports, there are telecom kiosks that serve foreign travelers:
Kiosks for Purchase
After you collect your baggage and clear customs, you will see a small group of service booths of Airtel and Idea (Vi) counters readily available for new SIM purchases. In other words, look for the mobile operator booths between the customs zone and the main arrival exit – they are usually near other services like tourist information or taxi counters.
ALSO SEE- 4 Airports in Kerala- How to Choose for your holiday?
Availability & Hours: The Airtel counter at COK is reported to be open even for late-night arrivals. For example, some of our guests arriving around 3:00 AM found the Airtel kiosk operational and have purchases SIMs. Generally, major airport SIM kiosks operate extended hours to cater to incoming flights. If in doubt, airport staff at the helpdesk can direct you to the SIM card booth.
Domestic Terminals
If you are arriving on a domestic flight (after already entering India elsewhere), the international arrival hall kiosks might not be accessible. In such cases, plan to visit a provider store in the city. However, most foreign tourists will be coming through the international terminal where the services above are available.
City Retail Stores
If you don’t get a SIM at the airport, you can purchase one in the city from official operator stores or authorized dealers. In Kochi, you’ll find Airtel and Jio stores in areas like MG Road, Edappally (near Lulu Mall), or Fort Kochi, and Vi stores as well. Major shopping malls often have mobile network kiosks. When buying in the city, ensure you go to an official store or a reputable multi-brand mobile shop (avoid tiny corner stalls that promise “SIM for foreigners” without paperwork – if they don’t do proper registration, the SIM can get deactivated later
ALSO SEE –Shopping in Kochi – 8 Best Places
Different types of mobile services in India
In India, there are two types of mobile services – Postpaid and Prepaid. You need to decide whether you want to opt for a long-term connection or a short-term connection. Prepaid is a pay-as-you-go service, and you can top up whenever you need. So, if you are planning for a short vacation to India, then opt for a prepaid connection. The hassles of documentation are less; an ID proof is what is needed, and it can be your passport.
But if you indeed are planning to come back frequently to this country, then it’s better to go for a postpaid connection. The initial documentation will be time-consuming, and you may need some local connections and address proof for acquiring the same. But consider this as the first step or decision in getting a SIM card for an international traveller.
A word of caution for the tourists traveling from the USA. Many phones in the USA are locked and not open to be used in India. Ensure you check those phones before traveling to India. You may try to unlock or buy a new phone from India. There are plenty of options to buy phones in India. You can buy an inexpensive phone and use it while traveling in India.
SIM Card Providers in India- Airtel, Jio and Vi
India has four main telecom operators: Airtel, Reliance Jio (Jio), Vodafone-Idea (Vi), and BSNL. Here’s what you should know about getting get a tourist SIM Card in India:
All these SIMs will work throughout India (no national roaming charges) as long as the plan is active. A SIM bought in Kerala will work in other states seamlessly for calls/data (India has unified roaming now)
If you opt for Postpaid, select the plan appropriately depending on the coverage required and the speed of internet and data. Nowadays, there are a lot of discount options and deals from the service providers, hence, you need to be careful of your requirements before selecting the right SIM card provider.
Airtel
Airtel is one of the best choices for tourists and has a dedicated presence at Kochi Airport. The Airtel kiosk in the arrivals area is convenient for foreigners – staff speak English and are accustomed to handling tourist SIM registrations. Airtel has excellent coverage in India and Kerala (including Kochi and popular spots like Fort Kochi, backwaters, Munnar, etc.) and offers fast 4G/5G data service. If you want a quick, hassle-free option on arrival, Airtel is highly recommended
Reliance Jio
Reliance Jio is another top provider with wide 4G coverage and very competitive pricing. However, Jio does not currently have a dedicated kiosk at Kochi Airport (as of latest reports). This means if you prefer Jio, you would need to visit a Jio store or multi-brand mobile shop in the city. Jio stores are available in Kochi city and even in towns near the airport (Aluva/Angamaly), and they do offer SIMs to foreigners at the same prices as to locals
Vodafone-Idea (Vi)
Vi (the merged Vodafone and Idea) is also available – in fact, Kochi Airport’s arrivals area historically had both an Airtel and an Idea/Vodafone counter
Vi’s network in India is decent in cities and along main routes, though some travelers report it can be slightly less reliable in rural or remote areas compared to Jio/Airtel. Some travel experts do not recommend Vi as the first choice for foreigners (due to past hassle in activation or slightly lesser coverage)
BSNL
BSNL is the state-run telecom provider. It has very wide coverage in rural areas (useful in remote villages or hill stations) but generally slower data speeds. BSNL does not typically have a presence at the airport for selling SIMs to arriving tourists. However, there is a special Government initiative: foreign tourists arriving on an e-Visa might be eligible for a free BSNL tourist SIM card at certain airports
Most foreign tourists go for Airtel or Jio plans in that ₹300–₹500 range for a month of service, as these give plenty of data (40–60 GB over 28 days) which is more than enough for maps, ride-hailing, social media, and video calling home.
Documents required for a tourist SIM Card in India
Documents required for getting a SIM Card for an international traveller
The following are the documents required for a SIM card:
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Minimum age to get a sim card in India is 18 years for foreigners
- Original Passport and Indian Visa need to be shown for verification and validation. You need to submit the Xerox copies of both as proof for obtaining the SIM card
- A reference from a resident will be needed, especially if you want to avail of the postpaid connection
- You will need four passport-sized photographs as part of the submission
- The passport serves as an identity proof and as proof of residence in the home country. It is better to keep your driver’s license and proof of residence in your home country as additional documents.
- A form needs to be filled up along with the KYC details and a photograph as a formality
- If you are staying at the address of a resident, then you need to show the address and details of the residence. If you are staying in a hotel, then you must get a confirmation letter from the hotel as proof of your stay there. Else if you are staying in an Airbnb, then provide the details of the owner so that proper verification can be done by the representatives of the service provider
How to activate a SIM Card for foreigners in India?
SIM cards are normally activated after 24 hours once the request is registered by the service provider. Numbers are provided for support and help on each SIM card. If the card is not activated, then you can call the helpline numbers for help and support.
ALSO SEE –India to provide free SIM cards to travellers with e-visa!
However please note that activation times can vary: often within 15-30 minutes up to a few hours. At airports, many report it’s very fast now. In the worst case, it might take until the next day – but that scenario is less common now with streamlined processes. Before you leave the airport counter, confirm with the agent whether the SIM is active or if there’s anything you need to do. In many cases they’ll say, “It should start working in X hours” or “Please dial this number to activate in 2 hours.” Follow those instructions. If it’s already active, test it: try a quick call or check if mobile data is working before walking away
Please note: Ensure all the relevant formal processes are followed by the dealers. Any miss will lead to the disconnection of your connectivity.
Most foreign tourists go for Airtel or Jio plans in that ₹300–₹500 range for a month of service, as these give plenty of data (40–60 GB over 28 days) which is more than enough for maps, ride-hailing, social media, and video calling home.
e-SIM options for an international traveller
If you face difficulties in buying a SIM card, then try for e-SIM options. There is less hassle of inserting a SIM card into your phone. Both prepaid and postpaid services are available in an e-SIM, hence you can avail of either of them. There is no physical SIM card, which is an advantage. The disadvantage is that you will not have a local phone number and make local calls. You can access the internet and call outside the country. FlexiRoam is a good option for e-SIM. It offers a FlexiShare option through which a shared plan can be used by a group of people. Data can be shared among the members. They offer both fixed and unlimited plans, with the price of 1 GB of data starting from USD 3.50. Another e-SIM option is GigSky, which is US-based. They offer data plans that range from 100 MB to 10 GB, with the highest price being USD 49.99.
Always test your SIM card before leaving the counter or shop. Try a simple action: enable mobile data and load a webpage, or call the person next to you. Airport staff often will do this with you. This ensures that the SIM is properly activated and your phone se
Things to consider while getting a SIM card for an international traveller in India
- The age of the applicant for the SIM card should be 18 years and above. For applicants above the age of 18, the SIM card has to be in the name of one of the parents or a guardian
- Withdraw some cash to buy the SIM card
- Install the app of the service provider on your mobile phone to top up or recharge your prepaid connection
- Most of the service providers in India offer 5G services, so avail of the same
The internet speed and bandwidth may vary from city to city, so be patient with it. In the rural and hilly areas, the connectivity may not be as stable as in the cities