Jio is one of India’s largest phone and internet providers. The company offers numerous plans and flexibility, including for Indians going abroad. Whether you are a tourist, a future international student or just need to keep an Indian SIM active from abroad, Jio has plans to meet your needs. Learn more about Jio’s international roaming packs.
| Table of contents |
|---|
Jio offers a range of prepaid and postpaid international roaming plans. Generally, Jio offers four types of international roaming (IR) plans. Users can choose the appropriate plan depending on the country they want to visit.1
While the international roaming plans are similar for almost all countries, the rates differ from one country to the other. The Standard Pay Go rates are available on Jio's official website.
| Pack Cost | Validity | ISD SMS |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,102 | 28 days | 5 |
| Pack Cost | Validity | ISD SMS |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,101 | 28 days | 5 |
| Pack Cost | Validity | IR Usage | Speed after limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹5,899 | 21 days | 10 GB High Speed | 64 Kbps |
| ₹4,499 | 14 days | 8 GB High Speed | 64 Kbps |
| ₹2,999 | 7 days | 5 GB High Speed | 64 Kbps |
| ₹999 | 7 days | 1 GB High Speed | 64 Kbps |
| Pack Cost | Validity | IR Usage | Other benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹499 | 1 day | 100 minutes voice 100 SMS 250 MB Data | Incoming calls free |
| ₹1,499 | 14 days | 150 minutes voice 100 SMS 1 GB Data | Incoming calls free |
| ₹2,499 | 10 days | 100 minutes/day voice 100 SMS/day 250 MB/day Data | Incoming calls free Inflight benefits |
| ₹2,799 | 365 days | 100 minutes voice 100 SMS 2 GB Data | Annual IR pack |
| ₹3,999 | 30 days | 250 minutes voice 100 SMS 4 GB Data | Incoming calls free Inflight benefits |
| ₹4,999 | 30 days | 1500 minutes voice 1500 SMS 5 GB Data | Incoming calls free Inflight benefits |
| ₹5,999 | 30 days | 400 minutes voice 500 SMS 6 GB Data | Incoming calls free Inflight benefits |
Note that the internet speeds are reduced to 64 Kbps when you go over your data limit.
There may be additional offerings, like inflight benefits with partner airlines for trips.
Tourists don’t need to get a local foreign SIM when going on a trip. You can purchase international roaming packs from Jio to chat with friends and family in India, get SMSes and have data as you travel. The following temporary calling plans are perfect for travel, but the standard costs depend on the country you visit.2
| Pack Type | Pack Cost | Validity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Wi-Fi calling | ₹1,102 | 28 days | 5 ISD SMS |
| Without Wi-Fi calling | ₹1,101 | 28 days | 5 ISD SMS |
| Data Only Pack | ₹999 | 7 days | 1 GB High-Speed Data |
| Data plus Voice | ₹1,499 | 14 days | 150 minutes voice 100 SMS 1 GB Data |
International students can opt for short-term data and call roaming plans until they get a local SIM card in the new country. Jio’s international packs can help you stay in touch with family and with logistics to get settled in the country and university. Here are some popular Jio roaming plans for international students:3
| Pack Type | Pack Cost | Validity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| With WI-Fi calling | ₹1,102 | 28 days | 5 ISD SMS |
| Data Only pack | ₹2,999 | 7 days | 5 GB High-Speed Data |
| Voice and Data pack | ₹2,499 | 10 days | 100 minutes voice/day 100 SMS/day 250 MB/day |
International students have a lot to learn when starting a degree abroad, so manage money easier with a Wise account. A Wise account lets you receive and send money directly to local bank accounts around the world, including India, the US, UK and Singapore. So whether you need to pay tuition to the university, send a security deposit or receive some help from home, check out Wise.
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are Indian passport holders who live primarily outside of India. While they may have a local foreign SIM, that overseas number is generally not linked to their bank accounts and utility services in India. An Indian SIM card that works for NRIs can be very useful for receiving OTPs via SMS from Indian banks and other services.4
NRIs can purchase a Jio SIM, or add on to an existing one, and activate international roaming with a long-term Jio plan. Long-term Jio international roaming packs allow for receiving SMS, making voice calls, and surfing the internet, while NRIs are not in India.5
| Pack Type | Pack Cost | Validity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice and Data annual pack | ₹2,799 | 365 days | 100 minutes voice 100 SMS 2 GB Data |
An international roaming plan for an Indian number can be helpful to manage NRO or NRE bank accounts. But when you need to send money to those accounts, want a simpler way? Try out Wise. Wise lets you transfer money from abroad directly to your NRI accounts in India. With smart tech, the transfers are fast, secure and easy.
The process of activating international roaming services on prepaid and postpaid Jio numbers differs. Here’s how to go about it, depending on your type of plan:
Activating international roaming on Jio prepaid packs is easy. All you do is recharge your Jio SIM from the official Jio website:
The international roaming services will start when you first use it abroad. Ensure ‘’data roaming’ is switched on in your phone settings.6
You can enable international roaming services on postpaid Jio connections through the My Jio app.7
If you need more data or services, you can add your pack through the My Jio app.
You can also use the Jio website to start the international roaming services for postpaid users:
Jio international roaming packs have a fixed time that they are valid, so you need not disable these packs. They automatically deactivate on the expiry of the validity period. However, if you have a postpaid number and activated international roaming services, you can disable the service through the My Jio app:
You will get a confirmation message on the screen.8
Similarly, you can visit the Jio official website and follow the instructions to deactivate international roaming services.
Even though you may be touring or residing abroad, you might need an Indian phone number to receive OTPs for services- especially if you maintain bank accounts in India. Keeping an Indian SIM active will allow you to keep receiving messages and your number valid. All Jio international roaming packs help keep your Jio SIM active. But, if you plan a long-term stay abroad, you can activate the annual international roaming pack.
| Pack Type | Pack Cost | Validity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice and Data pack - Annual IR pack | ₹2,799 | 365 days | 100 minutes voice 100 SMS 2 GB Data |
Jio Wi-Fi Calling is supported on international roaming. It supports incoming calls and SMS to your Jio number, and outgoing calls (only) to India. Click here for more information on Jio's Wi-Fi Calling packs and charges.
These Jio International Wi-Fi packs are the most popular:9
| Pack Type | Pack Cost | Validity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Wi-Fi calling | ₹1,102 | 28 days | 5 ISD SMS |
| IR Wi-Fi Calling to India only | ₹521 | 10 days | Voice 500 minutes |
| IR Wi-Fi Calling to India only | ₹121 | 2 days | Voice 100 minutes |
As an alternative, you can always use local WiFi when traveling to communicate with your friends and family through apps like WhatsApp and Messenger.
You can recharge your Jio account from abroad through the My Jio app or the official Jio website. You can purchase a new pack or add to an existing one. You may need a debit or credit card that allows for international transactions or use one of the payment wallets available.
Jio offers 24x7 customer support to its subscribers. If you face any issues abroad, you can contact Jio HelpDesk through phone or WhatsApp.10
For NRIs, managing finances can be complex. Meet Wise, a multi-currency platform that allows you to hold Indian rupees alongside other currencies in a single account. Available to residents of supported countries, Wise enables you to easily send money to India and even a linked debit card for spending abroad. Wise offers international exchange at mid-market rates and transparent fees, making it a valuable tool for managing your finances as an NRI.
Sources used for this article:
Sources verified on 26 January 2024.
Cover photo by Plann on Unsplash.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Complete guide to setting up & activating international roaming on MTNL plans. Learn what you need to do remain connected and receive OTPs when abroad.
Complete guide to setting up activating international roaming on India SIMs. Learn about the best plans and what you need to do to remain connected when abroad.
Complete guide to setting up & activating international roaming on BSNL sim. Learn what you need to do remain connected and receive OTPs when abroad.
Complete guide to setting up & activating international roaming on Vodafone India SIM. Learn what you need to do remain connected and receive OTPs when abroad.
Complete guide to setting up and activating international roaming on Airtel India SIMs. Learn what you need to do remain connected and receive OTPs when abroad.
