Before you start

A passport with a valid Indian visa — tourist e-visa SIMs are usually capped to the visa window
Proof of a local Bengaluru address: a hotel/serviced-apartment letter, Airbnb confirmation, rental agreement, or an employer/host's utility bill plus a declaration
A passport-size photo (most stores also take a live photo on the spot)
An unlocked handset; if you want eSIM, confirm the store supports eSIM KYC before you go

Step-by-step

1
Pick a carrier and a proper store (skip the airport unless desperate)
Jio and Airtel have the strongest 4G/5G across Bengaluru; Vi (Vodafone Idea) trails. For data value Jio is cheapest. Go to an official Jio or Airtel store (Indiranagar, Koramangala, MG Road) rather than a small mobile shop — branded stores routinely process foreigner passport-based KYC. Airport kiosks at Kempegowda (BLR) activate fastest but charge a tourist premium and lock you into short validity.
In personWho: You, in person with your phone and documents30-60 min at the counter
2
Submit documents and complete KYC at the counter
Hand over your original passport, the visa page or printed e-visa, a passport photo, and your local address proof. Staff fill the Customer Acquisition Form, scan your documents, capture a live photo, and log the KYC. Aadhaar is for residents only — as a foreigner you're on passport-based KYC, which is fully allowed. Decide prepaid (no commitment, recommended at first) vs postpaid (better for heavy use but carriers expect you to keep it ~4 months).
In personWho: You + carrier KYC agentSame visitSIM/first recharge roughly ₹200-500 (~US$2.50-6); airport SIMs cost more
3
Complete tele-verification to switch the number on
After KYC the SIM gives you incoming service first; full outgoing calls and data only start once verification passes. On Airtel you dial 59059 and an automated call asks you to confirm your name, date of birth and ID details — keep your passport in hand. Jio/Vi run an equivalent check. This is where foreigners trip: it usually clears in 30 minutes to a few hours, but city activations can stretch to 24-48 hours, and a SIM bought late at night may only wake up the next day.
Mobile appWho: You (automated carrier verification)30 min to 24-48 hrs
4
Recharge data and link the number to the apps you need
Recharge through the MyJio or Airtel Thanks app, or any UPI app once your number works. Jio entry plans run from ~₹19 for 1GB/day up to ~₹189 for a 28-day pack with calls. Then plug the number into UPI (GPay/PhonePe/Paytm) — UPI is tied to your Indian mobile number and is how India pays for almost everything — plus WhatsApp, Uber/Ola, and Swiggy/Zomato.
Mobile appWho: YouSame day once activeFrom ~₹19; typical monthly plans ₹200-400 (~US$2.50-5)

Documents you’ll need

Original passport (photo/ID page)
Valid Indian visa or printed e-visa approval
One passport-size photograph (live photo often taken in-store)
Local Bengaluru address proof — hotel/Airbnb letter, rental agreement, or host's utility bill with a declaration

Things most newcomers don’t know

The real friction isn't the documents, it's the gap between buying and a working number.

Incoming works first, but outgoing calls and data wait on a tele-verification call (Airtel's 59059), which can clear in minutes or drag 24-48 hours. Newcomers expect instant activation and are caught out with a dead data SIM; buying earlier in the day at a branded store shortens the wait.

Source: Simology — India SIM/eSIM registration 2025

Get the number sorted early because India's whole digital life runs through it.

UPI payments, food delivery, ride-hailing and most app OTP logins are all bound to your Indian mobile number. Without a live local number you effectively can't use UPI — the default way to pay for autos, groceries and street food.

Source: Wise — UPI for foreigners

Jio is the value play for data; Airtel is the safe pick for fast activation and consistent coverage; Vi is the weakest.

Jio's prepaid data is among the cheapest anywhere (from ~₹19 for 1GB), but if your priority is a number that comes alive quickly and stays connected across the city, Airtel's network and store process are the lower-risk choice.

Source: Airtel — new SIM activation guide

An international travel eSIM is the only way to skip Indian KYC, but a local eSIM gives no shortcut.

People assume eSIM means instant remote setup; a local Jio/Airtel eSIM still requires in-person passport KYC, while travel eSIMs work on day one but cost far more per GB and don't give you a usable Indian number for UPI.

Source: Simology — India eSIM

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying from a small corner shop: many aren't equipped (or willing) to do foreigner passport KYC and may sell a SIM that never properly activates — use an official Jio or Airtel store.
Showing up without local address proof: a hotel/Airbnb letter or host's utility bill is mandatory KYC; no address, no SIM.
Assuming the SIM is instantly usable: outgoing calls/data only start after tele-verification, and city activations can take a day — keep some cash for the gap.
Defaulting to a postpaid plan early: carriers expect you to keep postpaid ~4 months and it can mean a deposit, so prepaid is safer until you've settled.