Airtel and Vi free international roaming (2026): what you get, and when you still need an eSIM
Airtel and Vi now include free roaming on some plans. Here is exactly what's in it, who qualifies, and where the free pack runs out.
In September and October 2026, Vi and then Airtel added free international roaming to some of their plans. It is a real saving, but it has limits: how many trips, how many days, and how much data.
Airtel's new postpaid plans (from 8 Oct 2026) include one free roaming pack a year: 5 days, 5 GB, 60 minutes and 25 SMS. Vi includes up to three free trips a year on Vi Max postpaid from ₹501, annual prepaid and enterprise plans (from 25 Sep 2026), but has not published the amounts per trip. Longer trips, a second trip, or more than 5 GB still need extra data.
Airtel: one free trip a year, postpaid only
| What | Included |
|---|---|
| Validity | 5 days, from when you switch it on |
| Data | 5 GB |
| Calls | 60 minutes |
| SMS | 25 outgoing; incoming free |
| How often | Once a year |
| Who gets it | Airtel's new postpaid plans (from ₹499), including each family member on the plan |
| From | 8 October 2026 |
TelecomTalk, 7 Oct 2026. Existing Airtel users can move to a new plan in the Airtel Thanks app or a store.
Vi: up to three free trips a year
| What | Included |
|---|---|
| Who gets it | Vi Max postpaid ₹501, ₹601, ₹801/851, ₹971, ₹1,251, ₹1,301/1,401 and ₹1,651/1,775; annual prepaid unlimited-data plans; enterprise plans from ₹451 |
| Trips | Up to 3 a year, depending on the plan |
| Data, calls and SMS per trip | Not published; the Vi app shows what your plan includes |
| Countries | 170+ |
| How to start | In the Vi app |
| From | 25 September 2026 |
FoneArena and 91mobiles, 25 Sep 2026. Postpaid prices can vary by circle.
Jio: no free trip yet
As of 20 October 2026, Jio has not announced a free roaming trip like Airtel's or Vi's. Its packs start at ₹589 for 1 day, and the 10-day pack for 100 countries is ₹951. See Jio vs Airtel vs Vi packs.
Where the free pack runs out
| Your trip | The free Airtel pack covers | You still need | Cheapest add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days in Dubai, light use | The whole trip | Nothing | None |
| 10 days in Thailand | Days 1 to 5 | 5 more days of data | eSIMKite Thailand 3 GB, ₹349 |
| A second trip in the same year | Nothing | The whole trip | eSIMKite Thailand 5 GB, ₹499 |
| A heavy week, 1 GB a day or more | About 5 days | More data | eSIMKite Thailand Unlimited 7 days, ₹899 |
eSIMKite prices are for Thailand, from esimkite.com on 20 Oct 2026. Other countries differ.
Use both on one trip
- Install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi. It waits until it first connects at your destination.
- Switch on the free pack in the Airtel Thanks or Vi app when you land.
- When the free data runs out, set the eSIM as your mobile data line. Your number keeps working for calls and OTPs.
Questions
Is Airtel's free international roaming available on prepaid?
No. It comes with Airtel's new postpaid plans only.
Do existing Airtel postpaid plans get it?
Only the new plans. Existing users can move to one in the Airtel Thanks app or a store.
How much data does Vi's free roaming include?
Vi has not published it plan by plan. Open the Vi app to see what your plan includes.
Can I use free roaming and an eSIM on the same trip?
Yes. Use the free pack first, then switch mobile data to the eSIM.
- Airtel free international roaming on new postpaid plans, TelecomTalk, 7 Oct 2026
- Vi rolls out free international roaming, FoneArena, 25 Sep 2026
- Vi free international roaming: plan details, 91mobiles, 25 Sep 2026
- Jio international roaming packs, FoneArena, 13 Jul 2026
- eSIMKite Thailand plans, read 20 Oct 2026
Written by the eSIMKite team and checked by Vicky Pathak. Prices checked on 20 October 2026. We sell travel eSIMs, so every outside figure links to where we found it.
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