How to Get a New Vi (Vodafone Idea) SIM with Aadhaar e-KYC or Digital KYC

Quick answer: Vodafone and Idea merged and now trade as Vi (Vodafone Idea Limited). You can get a new Vi SIM at a Vi store, or order one online for free home delivery and complete KYC (Know Your Customer) at your door. A replacement SIM on your existing number is issued at a Vi store. Every route now uses digital KYC: either Aadhaar e-KYC, or original ID documents with a live photo. Vi’s delivery page lists Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN card, passport and driving licence among the documents it accepts.

From Vodafone to Vi: what has changed since this article was written

This article was first written when Vodafone had just started using Aadhaar e-KYC. Before that, you handed over photocopies of an identity proof, an address proof and passport-size photos. Verification then took two to three working days and could involve a call from Vodafone or a visit to your address. Aadhaar e-KYC replaced that with an instant check of your fingerprint against Aadhaar records.

Several things have changed since then:

• Brand: Vodafone India and Idea Cellular merged, and the company now trades as Vi.
• Aadhaar became voluntary in 2019: After the Supreme Court’s September 2018 judgment, the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 allowed Aadhaar to be used voluntarily for SIM KYC. It also stopped operators from storing your Aadhaar number or biometrics.
• Paper KYC ended: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) discontinued paper-based KYC on 1 January 2024.
• Biometric identification rules in 2026: The Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules, 2026, notified in August 2026, require biometric identification through e-KYC or digital KYC (D-KYC). Published analyses say Aadhaar holders are expected to use e-KYC. Our guide to SIM KYC rules covers the details.

When you need a new Vi SIM

The reasons listed in the original article still apply:

• Your SIM card or phone was lost or stolen.
• Your new phone needs a different size of SIM, such as a nano SIM.
• Your SIM is damaged or not working.
• You are switching to Vi from another operator and keeping your number (mobile number portability), which needs a new Vi SIM.

In the first three cases you get a replacement SIM on your existing Vi number. If you are porting in, you get a new Vi SIM and keep your number.

How to get a new Vi SIM online with home delivery

1. Order a prepaid or postpaid SIM on the Vi website or the Vi app, choose a plan and pick a delivery slot.
2. A Vi delivery executive contacts you and brings the SIM to your door. Vi says delivery is free.
3. Keep your original proof of identity and proof of address ready. Vi’s delivery page lists Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN card, passport and driving licence as accepted documents.
4. The executive completes your KYC at the door.
5. Vi says the SIM is activated within 24 hours of delivery.

Self-KYC: In March 2023 Vi launched a self-KYC process, first for postpaid customers in Kolkata and Karnataka, with plans to roll it out across India. In this process you place the order with an OTP sent to an alternate mobile number and authenticate with Aadhaar on UIDAI’s site. You then record a live photo and a live video of at least 10 seconds, and the SIM is delivered after a final OTP check. Check on the Vi website whether self-KYC is available in your circle.

How to get a replacement Vi SIM at a store

1. Visit the nearest Vi store. Vi says you can ask for a replacement SIM on the same number there.
2. Carry your Aadhaar or another valid government-issued ID. Your identity is verified before the new SIM is issued.
3. Complete KYC. This is either Aadhaar e-KYC with a fingerprint, iris or face scan, or digital KYC with your original document and a live photo.
4. Activate the SIM. Vi’s activation guide describes an SMS method for replacement or upgraded SIMs. Send “SIMEX” followed by the 19- or 20-digit SIM number to 55199, then reply to the confirmation SMS with the last six digits of your number within two hours. Vi says the SIM is generally active within about 20 minutes after verification. If SMS activation does not work, the store can activate the SIM for you.

Once the new SIM is active, your old SIM stops working permanently, so move any contacts saved on it first. Vi notes that numbers which have been inactive for a long time may need re-verification before a replacement is issued.

After any SIM replacement, SMS are barred for 24 hours under DoT’s 2023 SIM-swap rules. Under rules from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), you cannot get a porting code for seven days.

Corrections to the original steps

An earlier version of this article said two things that were wrong:

• Biometrics are not stored by the operator. It said your thumbprint or iris scan is “collected and stored in the database”. In fact the scan is sent to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) only to authenticate you. Since 2019 the law has barred telecom operators from storing your Aadhaar number or biometrics.
• The SIM acknowledgement slip has nothing to do with your Aadhaar card. It said the acknowledgement slip from the SIM store is needed to get a duplicate Aadhaar card. That is not correct. If you lose your Aadhaar, you can retrieve or reprint it through UIDAI’s myAadhaar portal (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) or the 1947 helpline.

Why digital KYC helps

These benefits from the original article still hold:

• Registration is quicker, and you do not make repeated trips to the store.
• No photocopies of your documents are left with a retailer, which lowers the risk of misuse.
• Paper waste is lower.

For the same process with another operator, see our guide to Airtel SIM KYC. To understand what happens when your fingerprint or face is checked, read how Aadhaar authentication works.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to link my Vi number with Aadhaar?

No. There is no general requirement to link an existing number with Aadhaar. The Supreme Court struck down compulsory linking in 2018. Vi may ask you to re-verify a connection if DoT or a law enforcement agency flags it.

Can I get a Vi SIM without Aadhaar?

If you do not have Aadhaar, you can complete digital KYC with another original document, such as a passport or voter ID, and a live photo. If you do have Aadhaar, the 2026 Rules expect you to use Aadhaar e-KYC, so ask Vi which options apply to you.

Is the old Vodafone or Idea SIM still valid?

Yes. Existing Vodafone and Idea numbers became Vi numbers after the merger. You only need a new SIM if your current one is lost, damaged or the wrong size for your phone.

How many SIMs can I hold?

Across all operators together, you can hold up to nine mobile connections in your name, or six in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East. You can check the numbers registered in your name on DoT’s Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in).

Is there a charge for a replacement Vi SIM?

Vi may charge a SIM exchange fee, and the amount can vary by circle. Confirm it at the store before you pay.

This guide was checked in October 2026 against Vi’s published pages and its 2023 self-KYC announcement, DoT KYC instructions and circulars (including those of August 2026), the Supreme Court’s 2018 Aadhaar judgment and TRAI’s porting rules. Processes vary by circle, so confirm details with Vi.