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

# Nepal SIM card for Indian travellers: roaming, local SIM or eSIM

Indian travellers can get data in Nepal with a Jio, Airtel or Vi roaming pack, a Nepal SIM card (Ncell or Nepal Telecom, NTC), or a travel eSIM installed before the flight. Our Nepal eSIM is data-only and starts at ≈ ₹478 (12 Oct rate) for 1 GB over 7 days, charged US$4.99 by card.

## Nepal eSIM or Ncell/NTC SIM: what Indian travellers need

You need mobile data in Nepal, not a Nepali number. An eSIM for Nepal supplies data from the moment you land, while your Indian SIM stays in the phone for OTPs. Our plan connects to the Ncell network. It includes no calls and no SMS.

The Himalayan Times reported 292,438 arrivals from India by air in 2025, citing the Nepal Tourism Board; road crossings are not in that figure. Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs lists 700,000 NRIs in Nepal (January 2026). We quote no Nepal SIM card price for Ncell or NTC because we have not verified current ones.

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

All three Indian operators sell roaming packs that cover Nepal, but Jio's choice is limited: only World Pack 132 and the data-only packs list Nepal. The same two Jio families cover [Bangladesh](/international-sim/bangladesh/). The five packs below cost ₹599 to ₹1,499 as listed on 12 Oct 2026. 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 | Days | ≈ ₹ per GB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio IR World Pack (132 countries) | ₹1,499 | 2 GB | 14 | about ₹750 | [Jio IR plans](https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-list/?category=International%20Roaming&categoryId=SW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbCBSb2FtaW5n) |
| Jio IR Data pack (data only) | ₹599 | 1 GB | 7 | about ₹599 | [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 | about ₹250 | [Airtel T&C](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf) |
| Airtel prepaid IR | ₹1,298 | 6 GB | 10 | about ₹216 | [Airtel T&C](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf) |
| Vi prepaid Budget (Set 1) | ₹755 | 1 GB, no voice | 5 | about ₹755 | [Vi prepaid T&C](https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/ir/Vi_VF_Prepaid_TnC.pdf) |

Source: operator documents linked in each row, checked on 12 Oct 2026. Airtel's T&C are dated 24 Sep 2026. Airtel's single set of packs covers Nepal, and Vi's prepaid zone list shows Nepal in the non-UL zone and Budget Set 1. The full comparison, with minutes and SMS per pack, is on [Nepal roaming vs eSIM](/roaming/nepal/).

Jio's data pack carries no calls; the [Jio roaming guide](/roaming/jio/) covers its other packs. Jio states: "The pack benefits are applicable only on the preferred partner network in the visited country, if any other partner is chosen then standard rates will be applicable." Vi's terms say: "IR packs are not applicable for customers in J&K, Assam and North East".

On our Nepal eSIM, 2 GB over 15 days costs ≈ ₹813 (12 Oct rate), charged US$8.49; 5 GB over 30 days costs ≈ ₹1,627 (12 Oct rate), about ₹326 (US$3.40) per GB. Unlimited data plans run 3 to 10 days: 7 days cost ≈ ₹3,351 (12 Oct rate), and speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day. The pack wins when you need calls on your Indian number: Airtel's ₹998 pack includes 150 minutes. On the eSIM side, your bank may add a [forex markup to the US$ charge](/how-to-pay/forex-markup/).

## Kathmandu airport SIM vs an eSIM bought in India

The main alternative is a Nepal tourist SIM from Ncell or NTC, which you buy after you land, for example in Kathmandu. An eSIM bought in India is installed before you land, so you skip the counter. We have not verified what ID a Nepali seller asks from Indian visitors.

A physical Nepali SIM needs a slot. On a phone with one physical SIM slot, you would remove your Indian SIM and lose OTPs on that number. An eSIM leaves the slot untouched. A Nepal SIM card makes sense if you need a Nepali number, for example for a local guide. Going on to another country? See [all our country guides](/international-sim/).

## Install the Nepal eSIM in India; its days start in Nepal

Install the eSIM in India; it connects when you land abroad. Our Nepal plans count their days from the first connection to a network in Nepal, whether you fly into Kathmandu or cross by road, so installing at home costs no days. On arrival, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only.

Scan the QR code sent after payment in your phone's SIM settings, on home Wi-Fi. On Android, also type in the APN shown in the plan details on the [Nepal eSIM page](/esim-nepal/). Hotspot use draws on the same data allowance; our plan details do not state a hotspot rule. The [install guide](/how-to-install-esim/) covers iPhone and Android step by step, and the [phone list](/esim-compatible-phones/) shows which models take an eSIM.

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.

## OTPs in Nepal: your Indian SIM takes the SMS, Ncell carries data

Bank OTPs reach your Indian number by SMS, and our Nepal eSIM carries data only, so it cannot receive them. In Nepal, keep the Indian SIM in the phone as a second line with its mobile data off, while the eSIM runs data on Ncell. No page can promise that every OTP will reach you.

Whether SMS reaches you in Nepal depends on your Indian plan. Airtel prepaid lists a ₹118 IR activation for 28 days that allows unlimited incoming SMS and needs an active base pack ([Airtel T&C](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf), as listed on 12 Oct 2026). On Jio, check the MyJio app; Vi states: "Prepaid International roaming is not applicable to customers of Assam and North east circle". Your phone must run an eSIM and a physical SIM together; the [guide to keeping your Indian SIM for OTPs](/help/keep-indian-sim-for-otp/) explains 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 lists for the [132-country World Pack](https://myjiostatic.cdn.jio.com/jio/plan/continents-pack-details.pdf) and the [data packs](https://jep-asset.akamaized.net/jio/plan/ir-covered-country-list-70.pdf)
2. [Airtel prepaid IR terms, dated 24 Sep 2026](https://assets.airtel.in/static-assets/online-recharge-ui/assets/pdf/tnc.pdf)
3. [Vi prepaid IR terms](https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/ir/Vi_VF_Prepaid_TnC.pdf)
4. [The Himalayan Times: Nepal's tourism records modest growth in 2025](https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/nepals-tourism-records-modest-growth-in-2025-reaches-968-of-pre-pandemic-levels) (secondary)
5. [Ministry of External Affairs: Population of Overseas Indians](https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians) (as of January 2026)

## FAQ

### Can Indians get a Nepali SIM card?

Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC) sell SIM cards in Nepal. We have not verified what ID or paperwork a seller asks from Indian visitors, so ask at the counter. If you only need data, an eSIM installed in India avoids the question.

### Will my Indian SIM work in Nepal?

A Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM works once international roaming is on, but for mobile data plan on a roaming pack. Jio, Airtel and Vi sell packs that cover Nepal; the five packs on this page cost ₹599 to ₹1,499 as listed on 12 Oct 2026. Without a pack, Airtel prepaid data is barred and Vi keeps data off.

### Which networks will I use in Nepal with the eSIM?

Our Nepal eSIM connects to the Ncell network. It is data-only, so it has no calls and no SMS. We have not verified signal on trekking routes.

### Can I use WhatsApp and get OTPs with a Nepal eSIM?

WhatsApp runs on the eSIM's data. OTPs arrive by SMS on your Indian number, which a data-only eSIM cannot receive, so keep your Indian SIM active and ask your operator whether SMS works abroad on your plan.