If you're planning to visit India, then we wouldn't recommend using your overseas mobile call and data plan in India. It is relatively very expensive to use your overseas mobile plan in India as compared to getting a SIM in India. Mobile data in India has become quite cheap in the recent years especially after the entry of Reliance's Jio product. At the same time, in the year 2018, there have been many regulation changes related to getting a mobile SIM in India. This created confusions in the NRI community about getting a SIM in India. Until May 2018, it was mandatory for all Indian residents to link their mobile numbers to their Aadhaar card, but NRIs, OCIs and PIOs were exempted as they are eligible for an Aadhaar card. However, since May 2018, Aadhaar card is not required even by Indian residents to get a mobile SIM in India. Lets see here the process of getting a SIM in India.

Purchasing a mobile SIM card in India:

You can purchase a new SIM card in India either from a general retailer or directly from a Telecom Service Provider (TSP) like Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, etc. While buying a SIM, you will need to submit self-attested copies of the following documents:
• A valid Passport
• A valid Visa/OCI card/PIO card
• Overseas address proof
• Two self-attested photographs

After buying your SIM card, you need to then call your TSP to activate it. The process for verifying a SIM differs if you are an NRI or OCI/PIO.

Verifying a mobile SIM in India as an OCI or PIO:

You will need to visit a TSP terminal, or a TSP representative could come to you. The TSP representative will authenticate themself. You will then receive a TSP initiated 4-digit authentication code on your new mobile phone to confirm that it is physically with you. After that, the TSP agent will:
• Validate the authentication code you just received.
• Fill out the appropriate information in the TSP’s online Customer Application Form (e-CAF).
• Submit a scanned copy of your passport and visa/OCI card/PIO card.
• Take your picture

After the successful submission of the e-CAF with details, you will receive another One Time Password (OTP) code from the TSP, which you need to share with the TSP representative along with the following declaration:
• The information provided by you is correct.
• This OTP authentication can be treated as your signature.
• You’re the existing user of this mobile number, and its SIM card is in your possession.

The TSP agent will once again authenticate themselves along with the declaration that, “I hereby confirm having seen the subscriber and the details provided by subscriber have been entered in the CAF by me. I have captured the photograph of the subscriber.” On authentication, your mobile number will be successfully verified.

Verifying a mobile SIM in India as an NRI:

The mobile number verification process for an NRI is relatively complicated as compared to an OCI or PIO. As an NRI, you will need to enter the mobile number on the TSP’s website which is applicable for NRIs only and fill out the declaration saying:
1. I am an Indian National, however currently an NRI.
2. I neither have an Aadhaar card nor my mobile number registered with UIDAI.
3. The documents uploaded by me are authentic and if found forged, actions as per the law of the land will be applicable to me.

You will then receive a 4-digit code on your mobile which you will need to enter on the website. If the code matches, an e-CAF will be displayed. On this form, you are required to fill out your personal details, upload a scanned copy of your Passport, foreign visa and a latest colour photograph.

After the successful submission of the e-CAF with details, you will receive another One Time Password (OTP) code from the TSP, which you need to share with the TSP representative along with the following declaration:
• The information provided by you is correct.
• This OTP authentication can be treated as your signature.
• You’re the existing user of this mobile number, and its SIM card is in your possession.

As an NRI you should note that the whole re-verification process should be done within 96 hours of getting a new SIM.

We hope you found this information useful. Please do share it with your friends and family if you think they will too.