Brazil, Argentina and Chile eSIM for Indians (2026): Rio to Patagonia

Does Jio work in Brazil? Not on a pack: Brazil is on none of Jio's roaming pack lists, so every megabyte is charged at pay-as-you-go rates. Argentina, Chile and Paraguay are on Jio's 132-country pack and Airtel covers all five countries here, so the choice is between a roaming pack, a local SIM and a travel eSIM installed before you leave India.

Which plan covers which country

Regional plan or country plans: read the coverage list

Each regional plan has its own country list, shown on the plan card before you pay, so do not assume. On 21 October 2026 our Global plans (5 GB for ₹3,099, 10 GB for ₹5,799) and our Latin America plans (5 GB for ₹3,599, 10 GB for ₹6,299, or Unlimited at ₹6,999 for 7 days) all covered Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. Our Caribbean plan (₹4,099 for 5 GB) listed four of them but not Chile. A Brazil plan does not work in Argentina, and an Argentina plan does not work in Chile.

For fixed data, Global 5 GB costs less than Latin America 5 GB for the same five countries. For a heavy week, Latin America Unlimited (1 GB a day at full speed, then slower) costs less than Global Unlimited at ₹12,699. Two country plans, such as Brazil and Argentina 5 GB, usually cost less than one Global plan and give twice the data, but you install two eSIMs and switch the data line at the border. For three or more countries, one Global plan costs less.

Prices side by side

Other Brazil plans: 1 GB for 7 days is ₹249, and 3 GB is ₹699, 10 GB ₹1,999 and 20 GB ₹3,699, each for 30 days. Unlimited (1 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) runs from ₹749 for 3 days to ₹2,299 for 10 days and ₹6,199 for 30 days. The 30-day plans cost less than short ones: 5 GB for 7 days is ₹2,999. In Argentina and Chile, 5 GB is ₹1,399 and Unlimited for 7 days is ₹1,899 and ₹1,999 (then 512 Kbps).

Country by country

Brazil

Our Brazil plan connects to Claro, TIM and Vivo, Brazil's three main networks. In Opensignal's January 2026 report, TIM and Vivo won six of the 14 awards each: TIM led Reliability and 5G Availability, and Vivo led download speed. Ookla puts Brazil's median mobile download at 274.38 Mbps, 5th in the world (September 2026). São Paulo's Guarulhos airport has free Wi-Fi on the network '.GRU WIFI', though its page gives the free period as both one hour and four hours. Uber runs 24 hours a day in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Indians need a visa for Brazil, applied for through the Brazilian Embassy in New Delhi, which lists no e-visa for Indians.

Argentina

Our Argentina plan connects to Personal and Movistar and costs ₹1,399 for 5 GB over 30 days. Ookla's median download is 68.25 Mbps (69th). Argentina is on Jio's 132-country and data-only lists, but not the 75- or 100-country lists, so Jio's ₹589 and ₹951 packs do not cover it; without a pack Jio charges about ₹10 per MB. Freedom House rates Argentina 'Free', with no blocking of social media or websites. Uber runs 24 hours a day in Buenos Aires. Argentina's embassy in New Delhi says Indians holding a valid US visa in category B1/B2, B1, B2, J, O, P, E or H-1B are exempt from the Argentine visa.

Chile

Chile has four main networks: Claro, Entel, Movistar and WOM. In Opensignal's March 2026 report Entel won 11 awards, including Coverage Experience, Claro won Reliability and Movistar won 5G download speed. Our Chile plan connects to Movistar and WOM, not Entel. Local SIMs and the 30-day rule: a Chilean SIM in a phone bought abroad works for only 30 days after it first connects, then it is blocked unless the phone's IMEI is registered. You register within 60 days of arrival, through your carrier or an accredited certifier, with your passport and a photo of the IMEI (dial *#06#); one phone a year is free. The regulator SUBTEL says no registration is needed if the phone is used only on roaming or Wi-Fi. Your Indian SIM roams, and so does a travel eSIM, which is why you switch on data roaming for it.

Uruguay

Uruguay's three networks are Antel, Claro and Movistar, and our plan connects to all three. Opensignal's April 2026 report found state-owned Antel far ahead on downloads (71.1 Mbps, against 36.4 for Claro and 34.0 for Movistar), and Uruguay's operators won seven of eight top categories in Opensignal's South American Awards 2026. Our Uruguay plan is the dearest here at ₹1,899 for 5 GB, so compare it with a regional plan if you also visit a neighbour. Jio has no pack and lists no data rate for Uruguay, and charges ₹400 a minute for calls to India and ₹100 for incoming calls; Airtel's packs cover it. Uruguay's visa table says Indians need a visa with prior authorisation and lists no exemption for US or Schengen visa holders.

Paraguay

Our Paraguay plan connects to Claro, Personal and Tigo and costs ₹1,499 for 5 GB over 30 days. Opensignal's South American Awards 2026 named Claro Paraguay a regional leader for time on 4G and 5G, and Personal and Tigo leaders for voice apps. Ookla's median download is 25.76 Mbps (97th in the world). Paraguay is on Jio's 132-country and data-only lists, and Airtel covers it. Our Paraguay Unlimited plans cost far more than fixed data (₹3,899 for 7 days), so most visitors are better off with the 5 GB plan.

Bank OTPs, WhatsApp and UPI

A travel eSIM is data only, so keep your Indian SIM in the phone as the second line for your number, WhatsApp account and bank SMS. More in keeping WhatsApp and bank OTPs working abroad.

• Jio: the ₹1,499 pack includes 100 SMS in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. In Brazil and Uruguay there is no pack, and Jio's SMS rate is ₹5 in Brazil and ₹50 in Uruguay, so check in the MyJio app what receiving SMS costs before you fly.
• Airtel: the prepaid IR activation pack is ₹118 for 28 days; check in the Airtel Thanks app whether you need it to receive SMS. New postpaid plans from ₹499 a month include one free 5-day roaming trip a year, countries not listed.
• App blocks: Freedom House's 2025 reports list no blocking in Argentina or Chile. In Brazil, a Supreme Court justice had X blocked nationwide from August to October 2024, and Rumble was blocked from February 2025. We found no official rule for Uruguay or Paraguay.
• UPI: none of these five countries had live UPI merchant payments on 31 August 2026, so carry a card or forex card.

Set it up at home

1. Check your phone takes an eSIM: iPhone XS or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models. Dial *#06#: if an EID shows, it does.
2. Buy one Global or Latin America plan, or one plan per country, and scan each QR code on Wi-Fi before you leave India.
3. On most plans the validity starts when the eSIM first connects at your destination, not when you buy or install it.
4. After landing, turn the eSIM line on, switch on data roaming for it, and set it as the line for mobile data.

Step-by-step pictures for iPhone and Android are in how to install a travel eSIM.

When a local SIM or roaming is the better choice

Choose Airtel if you want normal calls on your Indian number in Brazil or Uruguay: its ₹998 pack (5 days, 4 GB, 150 minutes) and ₹1,298 pack (10 days, 6 GB, 200 minutes) cover all five countries. Jio's 132-country pack (₹1,499 for 14 days) gives 100 minutes in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, but only 2 GB of data. If you mostly call India over Wi-Fi, Jio's Wi-Fi calling packs cost ₹121 for 100 minutes or ₹521 for 500 minutes, if your phone supports Wi-Fi calling.

Choose a local SIM for a long stay or a local number. In Chile, plan for the 30-day rule: register your phone's IMEI within 60 days of arrival, or a Chilean SIM in it stops working. For a trip of a few weeks, a travel eSIM installed at home is simpler.

Questions

More guides

• Peru, Colombia and the Andes eSIM for Indians
• Mexico and Central America eSIM for Indians
• How much data you need
• Jio, Airtel and Vi packs compared

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Written by the eSIMKite team and checked by Vicky Pathak. Prices checked on 21 October 2026. We sell travel eSIMs, so every outside figure links to where we found it.