How long does an Indian SIM card last for tourists and can you extend it beyond 90 days?
Based on 1 discussion with 2 participants · Last activity: 21 days ago
Based on 1 discussion with 2 participants · Last activity: 21 days ago
TL;DR
Indian tourist SIM cards are automatically deactivated on day 91 regardless of any paid plans. The old 28+28+28 day extension trick no longer works.
Even if you top up with a 365-day plan right after purchase, the SIM will still be deactivated after 90 days. This is an operator-level restriction that cannot be bypassed.
The old 28+28+28 day rolling extension trick no longer works. Operators have closed this loophole — the SIM is cut off on day 91 no matter what.
When topping up, you can choose different plan durations: 28, 30, or 60 days. The default 28-day plan is inconvenient — switching to a 30 or 60-day plan is better, but the total active period is still capped at 90 days.
If you have 6 days left on your current plan, you can pay for an extra month to use the SIM right up to the 90-day cutoff. This maximizes usage but does not extend the SIM beyond 90 days.
Simply adding money to the balance without activating a specific plan is not enough — the SIM will still deactivate. You must select and activate a specific data/call plan.