Delhi airport SIM cards for tourists are sold at the Airtel counter in Terminal 3, the only telecom provider listed in the airport’s official directory for that terminal. To buy it, you need to bring your passport and Indian visa, and expect registration and activation to take some time.
This guide on buying a SIM card at Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi) covers where the counter is, what travelers report paying, what to bring, how long activation takes, what other travelers recommend, and when an eSIM is the simpler choice.
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Yes, you can buy a SIM card at Delhi Airport from Airtel, the only telecom provider listed in Delhi Airport’s official services directory for Terminal 3. Terminal 3 is the only terminal at Delhi Airport that handles international flights, so you’ll find the counter after you clear customs. Recent travelers report paying around ₹500 to ₹800 there, depending on the plan and when they bought it.
Many travelers say the airport is the easiest place to get a SIM as a foreign visitor, because the counter staff deal with tourist registrations every day.
The Airtel counter for international passengers is in the Terminal 3 International Arrivals area, according to Delhi Airport’s official directory. Travelers describe it as being after customs, around Exit Gates 4 and 5, with an SBI ATM nearby if you need rupees.
If you can’t spot it, ask airport staff before you walk out through the exit gates. Travelers advise sorting out your SIM before you leave the arrivals hall, because getting back inside to ask a question at the counter may not be easy. Jio, Vi and other networks don’t have counters listed at Terminal 3, so Airtel is your option at the airport.
Yes, the Airtel counter at Delhi Airport is open 24 hours a day, according to the airport’s official directory. That means you can buy a SIM even if your flight lands in the middle of the night.
The counter is usually staffed by only a couple of people, so travelers report short waits when few flights land and longer queues when several international flights arrive together. If you’d rather not queue after a long flight, an eSIM installed before you fly lets you get online straight away.
Travelers report paying around ₹500 to ₹800 for a SIM at the Delhi Airport counter. In recent reports, that has usually included about 1.5GB of data per day for around a month, along with calls within India. The counter doesn’t post a public price list, so it’s worth confirming the plan and the total before you pay, and asking for a receipt that shows both.
For reference, these are Airtel’s own prepaid recharge prices as listed on its website in October 2026:
| Validity | Data | Calls | Recharge price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 days | 1.5GB/day | Unlimited within India | ₹349 |
| 1 month | 2GB/day | Unlimited within India | ₹379 |
| 84 days | 2GB/day | Unlimited within India | ₹979 |
Keep in mind that these are plan recharges, not the price of buying a new SIM at the airport. They may differ by region and can change at any time. Several travelers note that the airport price is higher than what they’d pay for a similar plan in the city, which is the trade-off for getting connected the moment you land.
Foreign visitors generally need to provide their original passport and a valid Indian visa or e-Visa to register a SIM card. It also helps to bring:
Travelers report that staff photocopy or scan their passport and take their photo at the counter, so you usually don’t need a printed one. Your phone also needs to be unlocked.
Under a July 2024 rule from India’s Department of Telecommunications, an Indian contact number is optional for foreign visitors, and the verification code may be sent to your email instead when phone-based verification is not possible. Experiences still vary: some recent travelers bought a SIM with just their passport and visa, while others say they were asked for a local contact. Having your hotel’s details ready, or asking your hotel in advance whether staff there can be your local contact, can save time.
Activation often takes around 20 to 30 minutes, based on traveler reports, but it can take several hours or longer depending on verification. A few travelers say their SIM only started working the next day.
Before you leave the counter, it’s worth checking that calls, texts and data are all working. If something isn’t active yet, ask the staff what to expect and when, because it’s easier to sort out a problem at the counter than after you’ve left the airport.
You can get through the process faster if you know the order of steps before you land:
An India eSIM is easier if you mainly need mobile data, because you set it up before you fly and skip the counter and paperwork. Gigago’s India eSIM connects to Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi) or Jio, depending on your location. Plans range from $2.5 (500MB per day for 1 day) to $131.5 (2GB per day for 30 days), and 3GB for 30 days costs $10.5. You’ll receive a QR code by email, and our support team is available 24/7.
Before you buy, check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
The eSIM is data-only, with no Indian phone number. Some travelers prefer a local number so they can receive calls and text codes from local services, such as drivers or delivery apps. In that case, an Airtel SIM is the better fit, and you can use the eSIM as a backup until the SIM is active. Many recent phones support a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time, but this depends on the model, so check your device specifications. You can also keep your home SIM in your phone for messages from your bank if your device supports dual SIM.
Below is a quick comparison between a SIM cart at Delhi Airport (Airtel) and an India eSIM from Gigago:
| Airtel SIM at Delhi Airport | Gigago India eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Airtel counter, T3 International Arrivals | Online, before you fly |
| What you need | Passport, Indian visa, local details | eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone |
| Indian phone number | Yes | No, data only |
| When it works | After registration and activation | Once installed and you’ve arrived |
Yes. If you don’t get a SIM at the airport, you can visit an official Airtel or Jio store in Delhi with your passport, visa and hotel address. Requirements can vary from store to store, and travelers report that some smaller franchise shops are less familiar with registering foreign visitors.
Travelers in Delhi forums also warn against buying a SIM that a shop registers under someone else’s name or ID, because you won’t have proper control of that number. Getting the SIM in your own name at an official store or the airport counter is the safer route. Having an eSIM ready in the meantime means you’re online while you sort it out.
If you only need internet for a short time after landing, our Indira Gandhi Airport WiFi guide explains how to connect to the free airport WiFi.
Card payment at the Airtel counter isn’t guaranteed, so bring some rupees in cash as a backup. Travelers mention an SBI ATM near the counter if you need to withdraw cash.
Yes. You’ll need your original passport and a valid Indian visa or e-Visa to register a SIM card as a foreign visitor.
Yes. An Airtel prepaid SIM comes with an Indian mobile number that you can use for calls and texts within India. Gigago’s India eSIM is data-only, so it doesn’t include a number.
Travelers report that the Airtel counter can issue an eSIM instead of a physical SIM, or convert your SIM to an eSIM once it’s active, using your email address. Ask the staff when you buy, since availability may vary.
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