For many British Indian families, the trip to India is the most important journey of the year: a wedding in Delhi, Diwali with grandparents in Gujarat, a month in Kerala visiting cousins. The first thing most travellers do after landing is queue for a local SIM so they can book cabs, check maps and stay on the family WhatsApp group. A UK SIM with India roaming data built in skips that queue entirely, so your phone works the moment the plane touches down.
Here is how India roaming works on these plans, which ones include it, and how to pick the right allowance for the length of your trip.
How India Roaming Works
Selected 30 day plans let you use part of your UK data allowance in India as well as in the EU, with no separate roaming bundle to buy. You keep your UK number, so the bank, the GP surgery and work can still reach you, while family in India can message you on the same number they already have. Each plan sets a roaming data cap, and that cap is what decides how comfortably you can use maps, video calls and streaming during your stay.
| Plan | UK data | India roaming | International minutes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Plan Super Extra | 75GB | Up to 12GB (EU and India) | 100 | £15, £7.50 first month |
| UK Plan Mega Plus | 120GB | Up to 12GB (EU and India) | 100 | £20, £10 first month |
| UK Plan Unlimited | Unlimited | Up to 35GB (EU and India) | 100 | £25, £12.50 first month |
| All in one Plus 15 | 50GB | EU, China and India data roaming | 500 | £15.00 |
| All In One Plus 20 | 100GB | EU, China and India data roaming | Unlimited | £20.00 |
Matching the Plan to Your Trip
For a Two-Week Wedding or Festival Visit: UK Plan Super Extra
Super Extra gives you 75GB of data at home, unlimited UK calls and texts and 100 international minutes, with up to 12GB of roaming data in India. Twelve gigabytes comfortably covers two weeks of maps, ride-hailing, sharing wedding photos and a few video calls back to the UK. It lists at £15 per 30 days and is currently £7.50 for the first month.
For Heavy Users at Home: UK Plan Mega Plus
Mega Plus brings the same 12GB of India roaming, but with a much larger 120GB allowance for everyday life in the UK. It suits people who stream and use a hotspot heavily most of the year and travel to India once or twice. It lists at £20 per 30 days and is currently £10 for the first month.
For Long Stays and Remote Work: UK Plan Unlimited
Spending a month or more in India, or working remotely while you are there? UK Plan Unlimited raises the roaming cap to 35GB in India and the EU, alongside unlimited UK data, unlimited UK calls and texts and 100 international minutes. It lists at £25 per 30 days and is currently £12.50 for the first month.
For Families Who Call India All Year: All in one Plus 15 and Plus 20
If you call relatives in India every week from the UK, the international plans make more sense. All in one Plus 15 includes 50GB of data and 500 international minutes for £15.00 per 30 days, while All In One Plus 20 offers 100GB and unlimited international minutes for £20.00. Both add EU, China and India data roaming, so the same plan keeps you connected when you finally visit in person.
Before You Fly to India
- Renew your plan a few days before departure so the 30 day period covers your whole visit.
- Make sure data roaming is switched on in your phone settings.
- Save local numbers for your hotel, family and drivers before you go.
- Share your UK number with relatives in India so they can message you as soon as you land.
- Keep an eye on your roaming data so you can renew or move up a plan on longer trips.
Final Thoughts
Super Extra suits a festive fortnight, Mega Plus is ideal for heavy users at home, UK Plan Unlimited covers long stays, and the All in one plans are made for families who call India all year round. Choose the allowance that fits your trip and let a UK SIM for India roaming keep you connected from the airport to the family home.
You can find every one of these India travel SIM plans at Lyca Mobile. Still deciding on your itinerary? Take a look at the destination guides on HolidayzGuide before you book.