Land with working internet, then get the Indian mobile number that unlocks everything, payments, deliveries, OTPs. Two simple options, and exactly how to set up each.
~5 mineSIM to land connected₹200-400local plan / month
In India, your phone is your wallet, your taxi, your maps and your front-door key. The plan is simple: land already connected with a travel eSIM, then get a local Indian number in your first days, because that number is what unlocks UPI payments, food & grocery delivery, ride-hailing and every OTP. Here's how to do both, step by step.
~5 min
eSIM, set up before you fly
₹200-400
Local plan / month (lots of data)
3
Networks: Jio · Airtel · Vi
KYC
Passport + visa + photo for a SIM
Do this before you fly
Buy and install an India travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, or your carrier's international eSIM). It takes ~5 minutes and means the moment you land you have maps, ride-hailing and a line to call home, no hunting for airport Wi-Fi. Then sort your local SIM in the first day or two.
Option A · before you fly
A travel eSIM, to land connected
An eSIM is a digital SIM, no plastic, installed from a QR code. It's the easiest way to be online the instant you land. It's usually data-only (no Indian number), so it's the bridge, not the destination.
1
Buy an India eSIM before departureFrom Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, or your home carrier's international eSIM plan.
2
Install it from the QR / appAdd it as a second line and label it “India”. Do this on home Wi-Fi before you fly.
3
On landing, switch it onEnable the India line and turn on data for it. You're online immediately, maps, Uber/Ola, WhatsApp.
4
Keep it runningLeave the eSIM active until your local SIM is fully working, so you're never offline.
Buy it before you land. Airalo and Holafly were removed from the Indian app stores (Jan 2024) and their websites are blocked locally, so you generally can't download or top up a travel eSIM once you're in the country, set them up before you land. Otherwise, get a physical Indian SIM (Jio / Airtel / Vi) on arrival with your passport, visa and a local address (below).
Option B · in your first days
A local SIM, for your Indian number
A local prepaid SIM gives you an Indian mobile number, essential for UPI, deliveries, bank OTPs and day-to-day life. The three networks are Jio, Airtel and Vi; Jio and Airtel have the widest coverage. Always buy from an official store, never a street vendor.
1
Go to an official storeA Jio/Airtel/Vi store at the airport or in the city. Avoid kiosks and resellers, they cause activation problems.
2
Bring your KYC documentsPassport, visa, one passport photo, and a local address (your hotel or new home works).
3
Complete KYCStaff verify your documents and register the SIM to you, this is a legal requirement for every SIM in India.
4
Wait for activationOften a few hours; occasionally up to 24 to 48h. Your eSIM keeps you online meanwhile. Then top up with a prepaid plan.
Your Indian number is the key to everything. Set it up early, UPI payments, Swiggy/Zomato & Blinkit deliveries, Uber/Ola, and bank/app OTPs all verify against an Indian mobile number. (See the Money & Banking guide for UPI.)
Want an Indian number before you even land? Services like Matrix deliver an Indian prepaid SIM to your home address before you fly, no airport queue. A standard tourist / visitor SIM at the airport kiosk runs ~₹900 to 1,000 (vs ~₹300 to 500 from a city store) and is fine for your first weeks. Once you can complete KYC, Jio and Airtel also offer their own Indian eSIM, a local number with no plastic SIM.
At a glance
Which, and what it costs
Option
Best for
Typical cost
Travel eSIM
Day-one connectivity, short trips
$5-30 / trip
Local prepaid SIM
Your Indian number & daily life
₹200-400 / mo
Local prepaid plans bundle generous high-speed data, calls and texts, mobile data in India is among the cheapest in the world.
Good to know
A few practical notes
Check eSIM support
Most recent iPhones & flagship Androids support eSIM. If yours doesn't, go straight to a local physical SIM.
Wi-Fi calling
Enable it to call home cheaply over Wi-Fi while you settle in.
Keep documents handy
Have digital + paper copies of your passport & visa for the SIM KYC.
Porting later
You can keep your number for years; prepaid recharges are instant via any app.
India runs on a handful of apps. Set up UPI first, it powers payments everywhere, then add the rest as you need them. You only need one payment app; they all do the same thing.
Pay · UPI
Google Pay · PhonePe · Paytm. Scan any QR or pay to a number. Set one up first and link your Indian bank + SIM.
Get around
Uber · Ola · Rapido, cars, autos and bikes at fair, fixed prices. Keep two installed.
Food & dining
Swiggy · Zomato to order in or discover places; EazyDiner / Dineout to book a table; Licious for fresh meat.
Groceries in minutes
Blinkit · Zepto · Swiggy Instamart · BigBasket for 10 to 20 min delivery; Country Delight for daily milk & dairy.
Health & pharmacy
Tata 1mg · Apollo 24/7 for medicines & tests; Practo to book a doctor or video consult.
Shop & travel
Amazon.in · Flipkart for everything; MakeMyTrip · Cleartrip and IRCTC Rail Connect for flights & trains.
Out & about
BookMyShow for films & events; Nykaa for beauty; Urban Company for home services, cleaning, repairs, salon-at-home.
Keep handy
WhatsApp (how India messages) · Google Maps · Google Translate · DigiLocker & Su-Swagatam for government & travel.
Pro tip: set up a UPI payment app first. Once your Indian number and bank are linked, everything else, food, rides, groceries, just works.
Your support
How IKAN helps
We advise the right eSIM and network for your phone and city
We help you get an official local SIM with KYC done correctly the first time
We connect your number to UPI & the daily-life apps you'll actually use
We're on hand if activation is slow, so you're never left offline
Connectivity · quick checklist
Install an India eSIM before you fly
Switch it on when you land, online immediately
Get an official local SIM (passport + visa + photo) in your first days
Use your Indian number to set up UPI & delivery apps
Keep the eSIM until your local SIM is fully active
Get this right and everything else in India gets easier, payments, taxis, deliveries all flow from your phone. We'll make sure you're connected from the moment you land. Questions any time.
Where expertise meets empathy, supporting your move to India, every step of the way. Reflects 2026 networks, eSIM availability and SIM-KYC practice; pricing and coverage vary by city and change over time, your consultant will confirm current specifics.
