The government has relaxed the norms for foreign nationals seeking mobile connections in India by making the provision of sending a one-time password (OTP) to a local number optional. In an order dated July 31, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) noted that foreign nationals visiting India face challenges in obtaining mobile connections as they are unable to provide an alternate number for receiving OTPs used in the existing digital Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process.
The DoT order stated that the email of the foreign national seeking a mobile connection can now be used to receive the OTP instead of an alternate mobile number. The order specifies: “It has been decided by the competent authority that the requirement of obtaining the customer’s signature by sending an OTP to an alternate mobile number is hereby made optional for issuing mobile connections to foreign nationals visiting India.”
Additionally, the order allows licensees to send OTPs to the emails of foreign nationals as an alternative method if sending an OTP to an alternate number is not feasible. The DoT emphasized that this relaxation is applicable only to foreign nationals visiting India.
