URL: https://esimgo.in/international-sim/europe/
Buy: https://esimgo.in/esim-europe/
Source: eSIM Go (esimgo.in)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimgo.in/author/
Updated: 12 Oct 2026

# Europe SIM card for Indian travellers: roaming or a regional eSIM

One Europe eSIM covers 41 countries, including all 29 Schengen states, so a trip that crosses borders needs one purchase and one install. Plans start at ≈ ₹286 (12 Oct rate) for 500 MB over 3 days, charged US$2.99 by card. It is a Europe SIM only for data: no calls and no SMS. One profile replaces a SIM card per country.

Indian nationals made 1,742,493 departures to the 29 Schengen states in 2024, our sum of the state rows in the Ministry of Tourism's India Tourism Data Compendium 2025 (Table 3.1.5). The ministry's wider Europe region recorded 3,883,311 departures that year. That region also counts Türkiye, Israel and Central Asia.

## One eSIM for a multi-country Europe trip

A single Europe eSIM works in 41 countries: the 29 Schengen states plus 12 more, among them the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine and [Georgia](/international-sim/georgia/) (the plan's country list, checked on 12 Oct 2026). Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are not on that list, so before a day trip there, check your operator's roaming list or plan on Wi-Fi.

Install the eSIM in India; it connects when you land abroad. Scan the QR code on home Wi-Fi after payment: the plan days start at the first connection in any of the 41 countries, whether you land in Paris, Zurich or London, so an early install costs no days. That one profile then carries you over every border on the route, with no new QR code at each crossing. The [install guide](/how-to-install-esim/) has the iPhone and Android steps, and the [phone list](/esim-compatible-phones/) shows which models take an eSIM.

Three plans cover most trips: 1 GB over 7 days at ≈ ₹478 (12 Oct rate), 2 GB over 15 days at ≈ ₹765 (12 Oct rate), and 10 GB over 30 days at ≈ ₹1,819 (12 Oct rate). An unlimited data plan for 7 days costs ≈ ₹2,585 (12 Oct rate), but speed drops to 1 Mbps after 5 GB used in a day. Full refund within 30 days of purchase, as long as the eSIM has not connected to any network. If the eSIM doesn't work and it isn't your phone's fault, we refund the payment whether or not it was installed.

## Regional Europe plan vs a single-country plan

Choose the Europe plan when your route touches two or more countries, and a single-country plan when you stay in one country for the whole trip. A regional plan is one purchase, one install and one data allowance for the entire route. A single-country plan can fit better when you never cross a border. For trips beyond Europe, start from our [international SIM options by country](/international-sim/).

Worked case: Paris for 5 nights, Amsterdam for 3, Zurich for 3 is 3 countries and 11 nights. Single-country plans mean three purchases, three installs and a profile switch at each border. The Europe plan means one of each. At our planning estimate of 0.3 GB a day for maps and messaging, 11 days need about 3.3 GB, so 5 GB over 30 days at ≈ ₹1,148 (12 Oct rate) leaves a margin. If the same trip stays in Italy, open the Italy eSIM page and compare its 5 GB, 30-day row with this Europe plan.

Single-country pages: [France](/esim-france/), Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the [United Kingdom](/esim-united-kingdom/); the full list is on the [countries page](/countries/). A Europe SIM card or a Europe tourist SIM bought on arrival is physical and occupies a SIM slot, so on a phone with one physical slot you would remove your Indian SIM and lose OTPs on that number. An eSIM leaves the slot alone.

## Your Jio, Airtel or Vi pack in Europe vs this eSIM (checked 12 Oct 2026)

Airtel's packs cover all 29 Schengen states, [Jio's 100-country packs](/roaming/europe/) cover 28 (Slovenia is missing) and Vi varies by country. The five packs below cost ₹951 to ₹2,851 as listed on 12 Oct 2026, and each bundles calls on your Indian number, which our eSIM does not. The ≈ ₹ per GB column is our derivation (price ÷ GB).

We sell travel eSIMs, so we have an interest here. The table still shows when your operator pack is the better choice.

| Pack | Price | Data and days | ≈ ₹ per GB | Schengen states covered | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio IR Voice & Data (100 countries) | ₹951 | 4 GB, 10 days | about ₹238 | 28 of 29 | [Jio IR plans](https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-list/?category=International%20Roaming&categoryId=SW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBSb2FtaW5n) |
| Airtel prepaid IR | ₹998 | 4 GB, 5 days | about ₹250 | 29 of 29 | [Airtel T&C](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf) |
| Airtel prepaid IR | ₹1,298 | 6 GB, 10 days | about ₹216 | 29 of 29 | [Airtel T&C](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf) |
| Vi Budget pack (Set 1) | ₹1,495 | 2 GB, 15 days | about ₹748 | 26 of 29 (other 3: 750 MB) | [Vi prepaid T&C](https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/ir/Vi_VF_Prepaid_TnC.pdf) |
| Jio "East Asia, Europe and US" | ₹2,851 | 12 GB, 30 days | about ₹238 | 28 of 29 | [Jio IR plans](https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-list/?category=International%20Roaming&categoryId=SW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBSb2FtaW5n) |

Source: operator documents linked in each row, checked on 12 Oct 2026. Airtel's T&C are dated 24 Sep 2026; its FAQ page still shows older prices. The Schengen column is our count against each operator's published country list. Vi's list is an image in the PDF, transcribed by hand, so check your country in the Vi app. eSIM Go is not affiliated with Jio, Airtel, Vi or BSNL. Pack details are taken from their own pages on the date shown.

Vi is where the country matters most. Its Ultra plans give 2 to 5 GB, not unlimited, in Switzerland, and nine Schengen states (Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Slovenia, Switzerland) sit outside [Vi's 40-country unlimited zone](/roaming/vi/). After an Airtel prepaid pack ends, calls cost ₹10 a minute and SMS ₹5 each, and data is blocked.

For comparison, 10 GB for 30 days on our Europe eSIM costs ≈ ₹1,819 (12 Oct rate), about ₹182 (US$1.90) per GB, charged US$18.99, before any [forex markup your bank adds](/how-to-pay/forex-markup/). The operator pack wins when you need calls on your Indian number; a Europe SIM only for data includes none. Some postpaid and annual plans now bundle a few days of roaming — check your plan in the Airtel or Vi app before you travel.

## Family trips: several phones, one budget

Every phone needs its own plan. One eSIM profile sits on one phone, so a family of four buys four plans and sizes each to that phone's use. Four Airtel ₹998 packs cost ₹3,992 for 5 days. Each roaming pack sits on one Indian number (our arithmetic, assuming all four are Airtel prepaid).

Size by phone, not by family. Our planning estimate is 0.3 GB a day for maps and messaging and about 0.8 GB a day with social media and photos (the [data guide](/how-much-data-do-i-need/) has more profiles). Two adults at 0.3 GB a day over 7 days use 2.1 GB each, so 3 GB over 30 days (≈ ₹861 (12 Oct rate)) fits each phone with room to spare. A teenager on social media at 0.8 GB a day needs 5.6 GB, which points to 10 GB over 30 days (≈ ₹1,819 (12 Oct rate)). Compare the 7-day and 30-day rows with the same data before you pay: a longer plan is not always the dearer one. Check every phone first, on our phone list or by looking for an "Add eSIM" option in its SIM settings: a phone without eSIM cannot use the plan. This page does not promise hotspot or tethering between phones.

## Bank OTPs on your Indian number while you cross Europe's borders

Bank OTPs come by SMS to your Indian number, and the Europe plan is data-only, so it cannot receive them in any of its 41 countries. Leave your Indian SIM in the phone with its mobile data off; the eSIM handles WhatsApp and maps. No page can promise that every OTP will reach you.

On the Paris, Amsterdam and Zurich route above, your Indian SIM roams in three countries, and incoming SMS rules differ by pack. Airtel prepaid lists a ₹118 IR activation for 28 days that "allows unlimited incoming SMS" while your regular prepaid plan is active, and Vi prepaid lists a ₹118 pack for 28 days with free incoming SMS, both as listed on 12 Oct 2026. Jio's incoming-SMS rule is not on the pages we checked, so confirm it in the MyJio app, and remember that its 100-country packs leave out Slovenia. The [guide to keeping your Indian SIM for OTPs](/help/keep-indian-sim-for-otp/) has the dual-SIM settings.

Your card is charged in US dollars. Your bank converts the amount at its own rate and may add a foreign-transaction (forex markup) fee. [How card payments work](/how-to-pay/).

## Sources

Checked on 12 Oct 2026 (IST).

1. [Jio IR plans](https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-list/?category=International%20Roaming&categoryId=SW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBSb2FtaW5n), with the country list for the [100-country](https://myjiostatic.cdn.jio.com/jio/plan/ir-new-packs.pdf) packs
2. [Airtel prepaid IR terms, dated 24 Sep 2026](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf), and the [Airtel IR page](https://www.airtel.in/ir-packs/) for the country list
3. [Vi prepaid IR terms](https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/ir/Vi_VF_Prepaid_TnC.pdf)
4. Ministry of Tourism, India: [India Tourism Data Compendium 2025](https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/sep/doc2025927648801.pdf) (Table 3.1.5 and departures by region, 2024)

## FAQ

### Is there a Europe SIM only for data?

Yes: our Europe plan is an eSIM, the nearest thing to one SIM for all of Europe, not a physical card. One install covers 41 countries, including all 29 Schengen states, the UK and Switzerland. It is data-only, with no calls or SMS, so keep your Indian SIM for calls and OTPs.

### Roaming pack or eSIM for Europe, how do I choose?

We do not rank brands. If you need calls on your Indian number, an operator pack fits better than a data-only eSIM. For an eSIM, run four checks: your countries are on the plan's list, the data and days fit your route, your phone supports eSIM, and any unlimited plan states its fair-use limit. Our unlimited Europe plans drop to 1 Mbps after 5 GB in a day.

### What does Europe data cost in ₹ on an eSIM vs a Jio pack?

On the [Europe eSIM page](/esim-europe/) the price starts at ≈ ₹286 (12 Oct rate) for 500 MB over 3 days; 10 GB over 30 days costs ≈ ₹1,819 (12 Oct rate). Jio's ₹2,851 pack gives 12 GB over 30 days with calls, as listed on 12 Oct 2026. The ₹ figure is an estimate at the day's rate; your card is charged in US dollars, and your bank may add a forex markup.

### Will my Indian SIM work in Europe?

For mobile data, plan on an international roaming pack: without one, Airtel bars prepaid data abroad and Vi keeps mobile data off. Airtel's packs list all 29 Schengen states, Jio's 100-country packs list 28, and Vi depends on the country. The five packs in our table cost ₹951 to ₹2,851 as listed on 12 Oct 2026.

### How much data do I need for 7 or 15 days in Europe?

Our planning estimate is 0.3 GB a day for maps and messaging, which is 2.1 GB over 7 days and 4.5 GB over 15 days. With social media and photos, plan on about 0.8 GB a day: 5.6 GB over 7 days and 12 GB over 15 days.

### How do I install the Europe eSIM before I fly?

At home on Wi-Fi, open your phone's SIM settings, add an eSIM and scan the QR code you receive after payment. Plan days start only when the eSIM first connects to a European network, so you lose none by installing early.