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Indian telecommunications company Vodafone Idea, also known as ‘Vi’, recently expanded its eSIM offering to serve prepaid customers in New Delhi. Previously, the service was only available to residents in regions like Mumbai and Goa.
India’s enormous size means national coverage has been slow to roll out, but with all the excitement surrounding virtual SIMs, it’s little surprise Vodafone is taking strides to improve its eSIM offering country-wide.
eSIMs (embedded SIMs) are entirely digital SIM cards that connect to a network provider without a physical card. You can connect to the internet, watch videos, send texts, and more, all without inserting a plastic SIM card into your phone. This also means you can have two SIMs for business and personal—one physical card, and one eSIM.
To be eligible for the Vi eSIM, you need to have the right kind of phone and must be on the correct plan with Vodafone Idea. The Vodafone eSIM process is also different depending on your circumstances, and if you’re only visiting India, it isn’t a viable option. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to qualify for the upgrade.
Table of Contents
Who is eligible for the Vi eSIM?
You need to be on a Vodafone Idea prepaid or postpaid plan to be eligible for the Vodafone Idea eSIM. You must also be in one of the following regions to take advantage of the service.
- If you are a Vi Postpaid customer, you must be a resident of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Maharashtra/Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar & Jharkhand, UP (West or East), or Bengal.
- If you are a Vi Prepaid customer, you must be a resident of Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, UP (West), Bihar & Jharkhand, or Bengal.
In addition to these requirements, you must have a phone that supports eSIM for the process to work.
Vi eSIM compatible phones
Most modern phones are compatible with eSIM, though you should check to make sure yours is on this list. Compatible phones include but are not limited to:
- iPhones: iPhone XR and newer models.
- Google: Pixel 3 and newer models.
- Samsung: Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S24, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series, Galaxy A54 and A55.
- Huawei: Huawei P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro and Pura 70 Pro.
- Oppo: Oppo Find X3, Find N2 Flip, Oppo Reno 5A, 6 Pro, and 9A, Oppo Find X5 and X5 Pro, Oppo A55s 5G, Oppo Find N3 and N3 Flip.
- Sony: Sony Xperia 10 III Lite and IV, Xperia 10V, Xperia 1 IV, Sony Xperia 5 IV, Sony Xperia 1 V, Sony Xperia Ace III, and more.
- Motorola: Motorola Razr 2019, 2022, 5G, 40, 40 Ultra, and Razr+, Motorola Edge 2022, 2023, 40, 40 Pro, 40 Neo, 50 Pro, 50 Ultra, 50 Fusion, and more.
- Vivo: Vivo x 90 pro
Our advice is to do your research for your specific make and model. The list of compatible phones is always updating, so it’s important to check for yourself.
How to get the Vodafone eSIM (India)
As we mentioned, the Vodafone-Idea eSIM is only available for postpaid or prepaid Vi customers. You can only purchase these plans if you are physically in India, meaning you cannot order your Vodafone eSIM online if you’re looking to travel to the country as a tourist. However, we will provide alternatives below if you are travelling to India temporarily.
If you are living in India, the process to get your Vi eSIM is different depending on whether you are an existing Vodafone prepaid/postpaid customer, or a new customer looking to change to a Vodafone package.
Vi eSIM for prepaid and postpaid Vodafone-Idea customers
If you’re already an existing prepaid or postpaid customer and are a resident in an eligible region, you don’t have to visit a store to get the Vodafone Idea eSIM. Just follow these steps for Vi eSIM activation.
- Send an SMS with “eSIM [space] [your registered email address]” to 199. This will begin the Vi eSIM process.
- You will receive a confirmation SMS as long as your email ID is valid.
- Reply to the confirmation SMS with “ESIMY” to confirm your eSIM. Make sure you do this within 15 minutes of receiving the SMS.
- You will now receive another SMS from the same number requesting that you consent through a phone call.
- Consent via a phone call. A Vodafone eSIM QR code will then arrive in your email inbox. You will also get a final SMS confirming this.
- Go to your device settings and select Network & Internet.
- Choose “Mobile Network”. Click “Download a SIM instead”.
- Now, scan the QR code that you received in your email inbox.
- Follow any remaining prompts on the screen.
You have now activated your eSIM with Vi. Know that the Vi eSIM process is free—it comes included with your postpaid or prepaid plan.
If you are not an existing Vi postpaid or prepaid customer.
In this case, you will need to purchase a postpaid or prepaid plan with Vi before you continue. The good news is that you can do all of this in-store and get an eSIM in-person the same day.
To get started, just visit your nearest Vi store. Make sure to carry proof of identity. The assistant in-store will guide you through the process of setting up your postpaid or prepaid plan. You can request an eSIM during set up and activate it immediately.
Price of Vi eSIM in India
If you’re already on a Vi prepaid or postpaid package, upgrading to eSIM is completely free—you won’t need to pay anything.
If you need to purchase a prepaid or postpaid package to access your Vi eSIM, prices will vary. In terms of prepaid SIMs, Vi offers a few packs:
- 2 GB/day + 100 SMS per day + Unlimited calls= ₹299/month
- 3 GB/day + 100 SMS per day + Data rollover = ₹349/month
- 1.5 GB/day + 100 SMS per day + Data rollover = ₹579 per two months
As for postpaid, Vi offers several bundles:
- 50GB + Unlimited calls + 3,000 SMS + STD and National Roaming = ₹451/month
- 90GB + Unlimited calls + 3,000 SMS + STD and National Roaming = ₹551/month
- Unlimited data + Unlimited calls + 3,000 SMS + Several other perks = ₹1201/month
If you’re not currently with Vi, you’ll need to buy one of these plans to unlock access to their eSIM service.
Vi eSIM for international visitors
If you’re planning on moving to India for an extended period, you can opt to buy a Vodafone prepaid or postpaid Vodafone SIM card from a local Vi store in your location. You can then get the Vi eSIM the same day that you start your new plan.
That said, these plans usually come with a 12-month clause, so they are only helpful if you are planning on moving to India for the long term. If you are travelling to India as a tourist, this isn’t a valid option, and you cannot get the Vi eSIM online. Instead, we recommend opting for an international eSIM without a subscription clause.
Vi eSIM alternatives for tourists
If you are travelling to India and want an eSIM without visiting a shop in the country and committing to a lengthy 12-month clause, the best approach is to opt for an international eSIM instead.
You can order these eSIMs from reputable providers like Holafly. Once you’ve chosen the length of your trip and paid the fixed price, a QR code will arrive in your email inbox. You can then scan this at any time to activate your SIM when you arrive in India. Holafly’s eSIMs also come with unlimited data and great coverage, making them an excellent choice for tourists who don’t want to pay expensive India roaming fees.
As ever, you need to have the right phone for this to work properly. Check your make and model to make sure you’re eligible for this service.
FAQs about the Vodafone India eSIM card
What is the Vi eSIM?
The Vi eSIM is a recent eSIM launched by Vodafone Idea in India. It is an entirely digital SIM that allows you to connect to a network without any need for a physical SIM card. This reduces plastic waste and also allows consumers to connect to two different networks on the same device, eliminating the need for separate business and leisure phones. You need to be a Vodafone Idea prepaid or postpaid customer to access the eSIM.
Is eSIM available for Vi prepaid and postpaid customers?
Yes. You can upgrade to a Vodafone-Idea eSIM card for free as long as you’re on an eligible Vi postpaid or prepaid plan. You just need to send an SMS with “eSIM [space] [your registered email address]” to 199. You will then need to consent via SMS and a phone call. After that, you’ll receive your eSIM in an email for you to scan.
How much does Vi eSIM cost?
It is completely free to upgrade to an eSIM If you are an existing customer on a Vi prepaid or postpaid plan. If you need to subscribe to a Vi plan first, you’ll usually pay around ₹299/month to ₹1201/month depending on the package you opt for. Once you’ve paid for your plan, you can unlock your eSIM for free by following the steps in this guide.
Can I use Vi eSIM with smartwatch and other devices?
In some cases. The Vodafone-Idea eSIM card is only compatible with the Apple Watch. Sadly, the Galaxy Watch isn’t yet compatible. If you have the Vi eSIM on your iPhone, you can sync this with your Apple Watch by opening the watch app on your device. Once you’ve logged in, you can tap to create an access code to share your postpaid or prepaid number.
