Cheap Sim Card

Vi eSIM: the app and SMS routes, the eSIMY step, and where Vi doesn't offer it

Vi lets existing customers switch to an eSIM free in the Vi app or by SMS, except in five regions. We read Vi's eSIM page and FAQ on 10 November 2026.

By · Updated

Does Vi have an eSIM?

Yes. Vi, the Vodafone Idea brand, lets existing prepaid and postpaid customers move their number to a Vi eSIM through the Vi app or by SMS. Its FAQ says there's no extra charge and no special plan: you stay on your current Vi tariff. The catch is regional. Vi eSIM is not yet offered to customers in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, the North East and Assam. We read Vi's eSIM page on 10 November 2026.

Any phone that supports eSIM is eligible, Vi says, and its page has a compatibility checker for smartphones, smartwatches and tablets. Update the phone's software first; Vi asks for the latest version. You can also check your model on our eSIM compatible phones list.

How to get a Vi eSIM online in the Vi app

  1. Log in to the Vi app and go to Help, then Activate eSIM.
  2. Choose Android or iOS, and whether the eSIM is for this phone or another one. Enter the 32-digit EID of the phone that will hold it. Dial *#06# to find it.
  3. Enter the OTP sent to your Vi number.
  4. Within 15 minutes, text eSIMY to 199. Vi says the step exists to guard against fraud.
  5. After about 15 minutes, open your phone's Add eSIM option and pick the "VI INDIA" plan, on a strong Wi-Fi connection.
  6. Switch the eSIM on, take out the physical SIM and restart.

Get the EID right. A wrong one, Vi warns, makes the profile fail.

Vi eSIM activation by SMS

From your Vi number, text 199 in this order: the word eSIM, your EID, the device type (1 for iOS, 2 for Android) and your email address, each separated by a space. Then reply ESIMY to 199 within 15 minutes. An automated call from Vi's eSIM activation line follows; press 1 to consent. The profile then appears for download on the phone, and a QR code arrives by email from esim@vodafoneidea.com. Vi's FAQ says the Vi eSIM goes live within 30 minutes of scanning the QR code.

Either route needs a working email address on your Vi account. Vi's FAQ has a separate entry for people with Yahoo or Hotmail addresses who don't receive the QR code, so if you use one, read it first. Customer care can't do the switch for you over the phone; the FAQ is explicit about that.

How to activate a Vi eSIM on an iPhone

The steps are the same; choose iOS in the app, or 1 in the SMS. Vi adds an iPhone-only caution: iMessage and FaceTime are barred for 24 hours after activation, on top of the SMS block below. Vi's page also mentions a One-Click eSIM Transfer for iOS users. We didn't open its steps.

The 24-hour SMS block

After activation, incoming and outgoing SMS on the number, OTPs included, are barred for 24 hours, which Vi attributes to government regulations. Finish banking and travel logins before you start. Don't do it on the day you fly.

Other rules on Vi's page:

  • Don't delete the eSIM in settings, or you lose calls and data.
  • Moving to a new phone, the profile has to be deleted from the old handset; Vi says the old phone's eSIM is deactivated once the new one is live. Use the app's device-to-device option under Help, then Raise a service request, then Activate eSIM.
  • Don't share the QR code with anyone.
  • Lost the phone? Go to a Vi store.

Vi prepaid SIM to eSIM: are documents needed?

Not for the SMS route, according to Vi. It asks for documents only for a lost or damaged SIM, a new connection, or porting your number to Vi.

Can a visitor get a Vi eSIM in India?

Only as a new connection, in person. Vi's FAQ says a new customer must visit a Vi store with an eSIM-capable phone and complete KYC with proof of identity and address, using the same document list as for a physical SIM. It says nothing about foreign passports or visas; our Vi India page covers what Vi does and doesn't say about visitors. For most short trips a travel eSIM bought before departure is simpler; see the cheapest eSIM list and India SIM options.

Does a Vi eSIM work abroad?

Yes. Vi's FAQ says it works on international roaming just like a physical SIM. What it costs depends on your Vi roaming pack, and we haven't read Vi's roaming packs for this page. For comparison, Airtel's and Jio's roaming packs are priced on our pages.

Related: Airtel eSIM, Jio eSIM, what an eSIM is and the India hub.

Desk research from Vi's public pages, not a hands-on test.

Common questions

Does Vi support eSIM?

Yes, for existing Vi prepaid and postpaid numbers on eSIM-capable phones, through the Vi app or by SMS. Vi says it is not yet available to customers in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, the North East and Assam.

How do I get a Vi eSIM online?

In the Vi app, go to Help, then Activate eSIM, choose your device type, enter the 32-digit EID and the OTP, and text eSIMY to 199 within 15 minutes. About 15 minutes later, add the eSIM in your phone's settings and pick the VI INDIA plan.

Is there a charge for a Vi eSIM?

No. Vi's FAQ says there are no additional charges for activating an eSIM and you continue on your existing Vi tariff plan. No physical documents are needed for the SMS route.

How long does Vi eSIM activation take?

Vi says the eSIM is activated within 30 minutes of scanning the QR code. Incoming and outgoing SMS, including OTPs, are then barred for 24 hours, and on iPhones iMessage and FaceTime are barred for 24 hours too.

Can a tourist get a Vi eSIM?

Vi says new customers must visit a Vi store with an eSIM-capable phone and complete KYC with proof of identity and address. It gives no separate rules for foreign visitors, so ask at a store, or buy a travel eSIM before you fly.

Sources and further reading