"Why You’re Not Receiving OTPs on Your Indian SIM While Abroad (And How to Fix It)" - Mystcon

Not Receiving OTPs on Your Indian SIM Abroad? Here’s Why and How to Fix It

Image by Mustafa shehadeh from Pixabay

If you're traveling or living outside India and suddenly stop receiving OTPs (One-Time Passwords) on your Indian SIM card, you're not alone. This is a common issue affecting thousands of Indian users abroad — and the reasons can vary.

In this blog post, we’ll explain why you might not be receiving OTPs on your Indian mobile number when overseas, and how to fix it step-by-step. Whether you use Jio, Airtel, Vi (Vodafone Idea), or BSNL — we’ve got you covered.

✅ What Are OTPs and Why You Need Them Abroad

• OTPs are temporary security codes sent to your phone via SMS to verify your identity during
• Online banking or UPI transactions
• Accessing email or cloud storage
• Logging in to apps like WhatsApp, Paytm, IRCTC, and more
• While traveling abroad, missing an OTP can lock you out of critical services — and that’s where the trouble begins.

🔍 Why OTPs Don’t Work on Indian SIM Cards Abroad

Here are the most common reasons:

1. International Roaming Not Activated

Most Indian SIMs don’t work abroad by default. You must activate international roaming (IR) through your telecom provider. Without it, you won’t be able to receive any SMS, including OTPs.

Solution:

Check your provider’s app or website and activate a suitable international roaming plan — especially one that includes incoming SMS.

2. No Network Signal in Your Location

Even with roaming enabled, your phone may not automatically connect to a local network.

Solution:

Go to Settings > Mobile Networks > Manual Selection

Choose a local partner network (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile, O2, etc.)

Restart your phone after selection

3. No Active Recharge or Balance

Some operators block even incoming messages if your number doesn’t have an active plan or minimum balance, especially in roaming mode.

Solution:

Top up your number with an IR pack or a valid recharge plan that keeps your number active.

4. Carrier-Specific Restrictions

Jio: Does not support incoming SMS abroad without an international roaming pack

You must buy their IR pack before travel

Airtel: Offers Smart International Roaming Packs; incoming SMS works with active IR

Vi (Vodafone Idea): May allow incoming SMS on roaming without data plan, depending on your location

5. SMS Blocked by Phone or App

Sometimes, messages get blocked by:

SMS filtering apps (like Truecaller, spam filters)

Phone settings (like DND or blocked short codes)

Solution:

Check your phone’s spam/junk folder

Disable any SMS blocker temporarily

Make sure DND isn’t turned on for your number

🛠️ Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

✅ Is international roaming activated?

✅ Have you recharged with an IR plan?

✅ Can you manually select a network?

✅ Does your SIM work in another device?

✅ Are SMS blockers disabled?

If all these are good and it’s still not working, it’s time to contact customer care directly.

💡 Pro Tips and Workarounds

• Use dual SIM or eSIM setups: Keep your Indian SIM for OTPs and a local SIM for data
• Switch OTPs to email where possible
• Use authenticator apps (e.g., Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator) for 2FA
• Ask your bank to link a local number temporarily (some allow this via NRI services)

🧳 Planning to Travel? Do This Before You Go

1. Activate IR at least 24–48 hours before departure
2. Test OTP delivery abroad using a friend or banking app
3. Save customer support numbers (and WhatsApp or email contacts of your bank)

📝 Conclusion

Not receiving OTPs on your Indian SIM while abroad can be frustrating — but it’s usually solvable with the right steps. By activating international roaming, checking your network connection, and keeping your plan active, you can stay connected to your essential services securely from anywhere in the world.