UK traveller and id fir SIM card

devdeep · Jul 18th, 2008, 23:58

Hi

I appreciate this has been asked before but I cannot locate a precise answer.

I want to but an Airtel prepaid Sim card only at Delhi airport, can someone tell me what i require please:

1. one photo - I think is required;
2. copy of passport - I can have;
3. proof of address - I am lost here. Can I bring a copy of my UK bill or an email from Delhi hotel confirming my stay?

Many thanks

Haylo · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdeep

Proof of address - I am lost here. Can I bring a copy of my UK bill or an email from Delhi hotel confirming my stay?

Good luck, I too have been searching for an answer to the UK / Indian proof of address question without luck. For what it is worth, others have posted that they have been able to use a hotel booking.

It is particularly annoying because my partner is moving into a flat, so will not have any bills for some time, and as a visitor I will never have any.

In the absence of any info, I have decided to try getting an Airtel SIM card at the airport, in the hope that they are more used the idea of dealing with visitors who do not yet have a hotel booked.

devdeep · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

In the absence of any info, I have decided to try getting an Airtel SIM card at the airport, in the hope that they are more used the idea of dealing with visitors who do not yet have a hotel booked.

Do you know if there is an Airtel shop at Delhi airport and if it is 24hrs?

capt_mahajan · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:18

Haylo, the best thing for you to do is use your partners address and get a simcard. The address is for verification only; for practical purposes it makes no differnece. Else use his office address if that is a problem (no bills). In fact, your partner can just get a(nother?) sim card in his name and give it to you on arrival.

For both of you, provided you are in Delhi for an hour during the normal working day, the airport is unneccessary. Doing it outside is probably much easier. If you can, do it at a biggish shop for reasons below. Not essential, though; I got my last sim card from my chemist.

Devdeep, yes, use hotel address, unless you know somebody in Delhi.

Be aware that the service provider will activate the card and maybe (probably?) send a routine message after a few days to confirm address. You may then have to call the shop you bought the simcard from and confirm that your papers have been forwarded. There are some snafus sometimes.

For this reason, it is wiser to have a xerox copy of whatever id you submitted available in Delhi with somebody known, if at all possible. Normally, if you are staying on in Delhi, or any city, this is an irritant. When you are travelling, it can be a bit of a headache.

devdeep · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:27

Thanks for the help - what Sim selling shops are there at Delhi Airport please? I am goint to Gurgaon and not sure if I will have time to look for Sim shops there - this is a business trip

Haylo · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Haylo, the best thing for you to do is use your partners address and get a simcard. The address is for verification only; for practical purposes it makes no differnece. Else use his office address if that is a problem (no bills).

He does not start at the Delhi office until after we arrive, so we do not have any paperwork with his address on it, apart from emails giving details. I will print those off, but the Airtel site is pretty specific about the documents they will accept.

We arrive on a Sunday night, I can get into Delhi during the day, but my partner is working all week - and calling numbers in India on our UK SIM cards would cost us Rs.150 a minute,

compared to Rs.1 with Airtel!

(Reason for wanting an Indian SIM straight away is so I can easily use radio cabs or call a driver back from a car park, am really paranoid about the idea of hanging about outside in the heat - I've even suffered heat exhaustion in England!

)

capt_mahajan · Jul 19th, 2008, 00:44

Consider asking the Delhi office to arrange for a simcard and reimburse them on arrival. Its hardly expensive.

Devdeep, I don't recall any simcard shops at Delhi airport (last entered through Delhi a couple of years ago) but there may be some.

Gurgaon should not be a problem for getting a simcard easily. Business trip, just use the office address (even a clients or whatever) in Gurgaon.

devdeep · Jul 19th, 2008, 01:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Business trip, just use the office address (even a clients or whatever) in Gurgaon.

I take it they will accept a verbal address as opposed to actual document?

capt_mahajan · Jul 19th, 2008, 01:49

They should. They take hotel addresses, from other member posts here.

If it is at all possible, I suggest get whatever office you will be dealing with to get a simcard for you and reimburse them on arrival.

KABAARY · Jul 19th, 2008, 01:53

Quote:

I don't recall any simcard shops at Delhi airport

The answer lies within...refer post #26 in attached thread :
The Delhi Airport Thread - Up for Revisions

shashank.aggarwal · Jul 19th, 2008, 01:56

I have not read the entire thread, but still I would like to answer.

I recently helped an expat to get an Airtel connection, and it went through without much fuss. The things they wanted was :

1. Passport Size Photograph.
2. Copy of Passport
3. Copy of Visa

That is it, nothing else required.

Haylo · Jul 19th, 2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

That is it, nothing else required.

Excellent news, those things are already packed!

puchoo · Jul 19th, 2008, 16:17

Ah , the packing's begun!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

those things are already packed!

Haylo · Jul 19th, 2008, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchoo

Ah , the packing's begun!!

Yes, it is all very exciting!

puchoo · Jul 19th, 2008, 16:44

Dont forget to pack the humor and the patience in...!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Yes, it is all very exciting!

Jul 18th, 2008, 23:58	#1
devdeep Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: london Posts: 6	UK traveller and id fir SIM card Hi I appreciate this has been asked before but I cannot locate a precise answer. I want to but an Airtel prepaid Sim card only at Delhi airport, can someone tell me what i require please: 1. one photo - I think is required; 2. copy of passport - I can have; 3. proof of address - I am lost here. Can I bring a copy of my UK bill or an email from Delhi hotel confirming my stay? Many thanks

Jul 19th, 2008, 01:56	#11
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,498	I have not read the entire thread, but still I would like to answer. I recently helped an expat to get an Airtel connection, and it went through without much fuss. The things they wanted was : 1. Passport Size Photograph. 2. Copy of Passport 3. Copy of Visa That is it, nothing else required. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Jul 19th, 2008, 00:18	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Haylo, the best thing for you to do is use your partners address and get a simcard. The address is for verification only; for practical purposes it makes no differnece. Else use his office address if that is a problem (no bills). In fact, your partner can just get a(nother?) sim card in his name and give it to you on arrival. For both of you, provided you are in Delhi for an hour during the normal working day, the airport is unneccessary. Doing it outside is probably much easier. If you can, do it at a biggish shop for reasons below. Not essential, though; I got my last sim card from my chemist. Devdeep, yes, use hotel address, unless you know somebody in Delhi. Be aware that the service provider will activate the card and maybe (probably?) send a routine message after a few days to confirm address. You may then have to call the shop you bought the simcard from and confirm that your papers have been forwarded. There are some snafus sometimes. For this reason, it is wiser to have a xerox copy of whatever id you submitted available in Delhi with somebody known, if at all possible. Normally, if you are staying on in Delhi, or any city, this is an irritant. When you are travelling, it can be a bit of a headache.

Jul 19th, 2008, 00:27	#5
devdeep Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: london Posts: 6	Thanks for the help - what Sim selling shops are there at Delhi Airport please? I am goint to Gurgaon and not sure if I will have time to look for Sim shops there - this is a business trip

Jul 19th, 2008, 00:44	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Consider asking the Delhi office to arrange for a simcard and reimburse them on arrival. Its hardly expensive. Devdeep, I don't recall any simcard shops at Delhi airport (last entered through Delhi a couple of years ago) but there may be some. Gurgaon should not be a problem for getting a simcard easily. Business trip, just use the office address (even a clients or whatever) in Gurgaon.

Jul 19th, 2008, 01:49	#9
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	They should. They take hotel addresses, from other member posts here. If it is at all possible, I suggest get whatever office you will be dealing with to get a simcard for you and reimburse them on arrival.

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