How to Get an eSIM in India: Jio, Airtel and Vi Step by Step (2026)

To get an eSIM in India, request it in your carrier’s app (MyJio, the Airtel app or the Vi app), enter your phone’s 32-digit EID, verify the OTP, and answer the carrier’s confirmation call. Then download the eSIM profile in your phone’s settings. Jio, Airtel and Vi all support this for existing numbers, and the whole process can be done without visiting a store.

Last verified: 19 September 2026, against the official eSIM pages of Jio, Airtel and Vi (linked at the end).

Jio, Airtel and Vi eSIM at a glance

What you need before you start

• An eSIM-compatible phone. Check your exact model in our list of eSIM compatible phones in India, because some regional variants differ.
• An active number in your name with the carrier you are converting.
• Your phone’s EID. This is a 32-digit code unique to the device. Dial *#06# to see it, or find it under Settings > About. Always copy it from the phone that will hold the eSIM.
• A registered email address. Jio and Vi send your eSIM details there, so update it in the carrier app first.
• Wi-Fi or mobile data. The phone needs a connection to download the profile.

How to get a Jio eSIM

Jio says there is no charge to upgrade a physical Jio SIM to an eSIM.

1. Open the MyJio app, search for ‘Switch to eSIM’ and select it.
2. Confirm your email address and enter the OTP Jio sends to it.
3. Enter the 32-digit EID of the phone that will hold the eSIM.
4. Enter the OTP sent to your Jio number.
5. Wait out the 2-hour cooling period that Jio applies under DoT guidelines. Then answer the automated call from +91 2235072222 and press the number it asks for. If you miss the call, SMS ‘RECALL’ to 199 to get another one.
6. Jio says processing then takes about 2 hours. You will get an eSIM notification on the phone or a QR code by email from [email protected]. Install it as described below.

Plan for a few hours, not a few minutes, because of the cooling period and the processing time.

How to get an Airtel eSIM

1. Open the Airtel app and log in with the number you want to convert.
2. On the Home page, scroll to shortcuts and tap ‘Upgrade to eSIM’.
3. Choose ‘this device’ or ‘another device’, then enter the 32-digit EID.
4. Enter the OTP sent to your Airtel number.
5. Answer the confirmation call, which arrives about 10 minutes after you submit the request.
6. Download and enable the eSIM profile on your phone within 4 hours. If you don’t, Airtel cancels the request automatically, and your physical SIM keeps working meanwhile.

Airtel says the eSIM activates within 2 hours of the profile download. After activating it, remove the physical SIM and restart the phone. Airtel also blocks incoming and outgoing SMS, including OTPs, for 24 hours after the request completes.

How to get a Vi eSIM

Through the Vi app:

1. Log in to the Vi app and go to Help > Activate eSIM.
2. Select ‘same device’ or ‘another device’ and enter the 32-digit EID.
3. Enter the OTP sent to your Vi number.
4. Send the SMS ‘eSIMY’ to 199 within 15 minutes. Vi added this step to prevent fraud.
5. After about 15 minutes, go to Settings > Add eSIM on your phone and choose the ‘VI INDIA’ plan. Use a strong Wi-Fi connection.
6. Activate the profile, remove the physical SIM and restart the phone.

Through SMS: from your Vi number, send an SMS to 199 in the format eSIM [EID] [1 for iOS or 2 for Android] [email ID]. Reply ESIMY to 199 within 15 minutes, answer the verification call by pressing 1, then use the profile or QR code Vi emails you from [email protected].

Vi says its eSIM is not yet available to customers in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, the North East and Assam. It also blocks SMS and OTPs for 24 hours after activation (and iMessage and FaceTime on iPhones).

How to install the eSIM profile on your phone

Once your request is approved, the profile shows up on the phone or arrives as a QR code. Menu names vary by software version, but these are the usual paths:

• iPhone: tap the ‘Mobile Plan Ready to Be Installed’ notification, then Continue and follow the steps. You can also go to Settings > Mobile Service > Add eSIM.
• Google Pixel and Motorola: Settings > Network & Internet > tap + next to Mobile network > Download a SIM.
• Samsung: Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM.
• Vivo: Settings > Network & Internet > SIM card & mobile network > eSIM > + Add eSIM.
• Oppo and OnePlus: Settings > Mobile Network > eSIM, turn it on and follow the prompts.

Do not tap ‘Delete’ on the eSIM profile. It removes the eSIM and you lose calls and data until the carrier issues a new one. Also, don’t share your EID or QR code with anyone, since it could let someone take over your number.

What to do if your eSIM request fails

• iPhone shows Error Code 999 on Jio: your email is not registered with Jio. Update it in the MyJio app and try again.
• Activation fails on Vi: a wrong EID is the usual cause. Dial *#06# on the phone that will hold the eSIM and re-enter it.
• You missed Jio’s confirmation call: SMS ‘RECALL’ to 199.
• Airtel request expired: the profile has to be configured within 4 hours. Start a new request.
• No SMS or OTP after switching: Airtel and Vi block SMS for 24 hours after activation. This is expected.
• You deleted the eSIM by mistake: Airtel says to visit a nearby store with ID proof.
• No ‘Add eSIM’ option on the phone: your model or regional variant may not support eSIM. Check the compatibility list.

Moving your eSIM to a new phone, or back to a physical SIM

iPhone to iPhone: on the new iPhone, go to Settings > Mobile Service > Add eSIM > Transfer from Nearby iPhone, then approve the transfer on the old one. Airtel lists iOS 26 or later on both phones as a requirement.

Involving Android: raise a new eSIM request in your carrier’s app and enter the EID of the new phone. Vi also asks you to delete the profile from the old handset after moving.

Back to a physical SIM: Airtel says to visit a store with ID proof. A lost phone with an active eSIM is also a store visit for Airtel and Vi.

New connections and visitors to India

The steps above are for converting a number you already have. For a brand-new Airtel eSIM connection, Airtel asks you to visit a store with an ID proof such as Aadhaar. Jio and Vi handle new connections through their own new-connection pages. If you are visiting India, a local eSIM generally needs in-person ID verification, so many travellers use an international travel eSIM instead. Check each carrier’s current rules before you rely on either.

eSIM in India: frequently asked questions

How do I get an eSIM in India?

Request it in your carrier’s app, enter your phone’s EID, verify the OTP, confirm on the verification call, and download the profile in your phone’s settings. Jio, Airtel and Vi all support this.

Is there a charge to convert a SIM to an eSIM?

Jio states that upgrading to an eSIM is free. For Airtel and Vi, check the app or the carrier’s current terms before you start.

How long does it take to get an eSIM?

Expect a few hours in total. Jio applies a 2-hour cooling period and about 2 hours of processing. Airtel activates within 2 hours of the profile download. Vi lets you download the profile after about 15 minutes.

Can I get an eSIM without going to a store?

Yes, for a number you already have. Convert it through the carrier’s app or SMS. New connections may still need a store visit.

What is an EID and where do I find it?

The EID is a 32-digit code that identifies the eSIM hardware in your phone. Dial *#06# or look under Settings > About. Enter the EID of the phone that will use the eSIM, since a wrong EID makes activation fail.

Will my physical SIM stop working?

It keeps working while the request is processed. After you activate the eSIM profile, the carriers tell you to remove the physical SIM and restart the phone.

Can I use the same eSIM on two phones?

No. A number is active on one device at a time, so transfer the eSIM to the new phone instead.

Which phones support eSIM in India?

Many recent iPhones, Pixels, Samsung Galaxy and other Android models do. See the full eSIM compatible phones list for India. For watches, see our guide to eSIM for smartwatches.

Official sources

Steps and timings on this page come from the carriers’ own pages, which can change: Jio eSIM, Airtel eSIM and Vi eSIM activation. If a carrier’s page says something different from this guide, follow the carrier.