Getting a SIM card in India
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Getting a SIM card in India
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Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#2> First off, to get a SIM card as a foreigner in India, you need to have a copy of your passport and visa, a passport sized photo, and a local to act as a reference
Except the local reference part, you go through a similar procedure in Saudi Arabia... in fact.. you need to supply your Iqama (work permit) or passport number over the phone every time you need to topup your SIM. All this in the name of curbing "terrorism"
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#3Sheesh,
To compare that with getting a SIM in Thailand.
You go to one of the three vendors, who set up a stall at BKK hand over your phone and they insert the SIM and configure it (useful if you want Internet access). 5 minutes later and 1'000 bt (ca. 30USD) poorer (depending on the plan) you are on your merry ways.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#4> First off, to get a SIM card as a foreigner in India, you need to have a copy of your passport and visa, a passport sized photo, and a local to act as a reference Except the local reference part, you go through a similar procedure in Saudi Arabia... in fact.. you need to supply your Iqama (work permit) or passport number over the phone every time you need to topup your SIM. All this in the name of curbing "terroris…
Ha - there's another post right now that's talking about how tough it is to open bank accounts in the UK due to the "terrorism" protection laws. It's usually the common folk who get screwed with the new processes.
If it gets too hard to do this people just come up with hacks around it. Similar to how a stranger at the hotel just vouched as a reference without knowing me very well.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#5Getting a SIM card is equally arduous even for Indian citizens. You need to have an ID proof, address proof and of course a photo. If you are a married woman and have changed the middle/last name after marriage, you also need to give a marriage certificate copy! And you have to provide these docs at regular intervals.
Despite this, some unscrupulous people manage to get hundreds of SIM cards activated, some times for crime, some times just to vote on Reality TV shows on behalf of a contestant.
300 for a SIM is too much. Reliance charges INR 10 ($0.16) for SIM.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#6I know the process in Europe (Germany & Italy, at least) is similar, without the need for a local reference or visa. I was very surprised (and frustrated) to discover the need for a photocopy of my passport, but the need for connectivity and the inexpensiveness of the plans finally won me over.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#7I know the process in Europe (Germany & Italy, at least) is similar, without the need for a local reference or visa. I was very surprised (and frustrated) to discover the need for a photocopy of my passport, but the need for connectivity and the inexpensiveness of the plans finally won me over.
while nominally the process in Germany is similar, if you do get a SIM from a touristy area, they don't really put you through the paperwork. I went into a store and brought a SIM card and they didn't even ask for an address, the shop assistant put his own store's address into the customer address field on the point of sale system.
In the UK there are vending machines at the airport.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#8Getting a SIM card is equally arduous even for Indian citizens. You need to have an ID proof, address proof and of course a photo. If you are a married woman and have changed the middle/last name after marriage, you also need to give a marriage certificate copy! And you have to provide these docs at regular intervals. Despite this, some unscrupulous people manage to get hundreds of SIM cards activated, some times for…
That's surprising. I'd think locals would know where to go and who to talk to get everything working. As a foreigner it's tough to know what to expect and different places will tell you different things.
I guess the 300 rupees was the foreigner tax.
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#9The procedure is same for Indian citizens too. All operators ask for address proof, ID proof and a passport size photo. You'll immediately get SIM card and it would be activated after 24 hours, sometimes much sooner. Moreover, if you're buying a postpaid or Internet connection, then operators send somebody to the address you've given during purchase to verify if it's genuine.
All these steps are in place to prevent criminals/terrorists getting SIM cards with fake identities:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-17/hyder...
This link has some info for travelers:
http://www.indiamike.com/india-articles/buying-a-prepaid-sim...
Re: Getting a SIM card in India
#10Sheesh, To compare that with getting a SIM in Thailand. You go to one of the three vendors, who set up a stall at BKK hand over your phone and they insert the SIM and configure it (useful if you want Internet access). 5 minutes later and 1'000 bt (ca. 30USD) poorer (depending on the plan) you are on your merry ways.
Yikes, 1000THB? You can just go to 7-11 and buy a SIM card for 50 baht ($1.50). They have 3G capable ones too.