India (IN)

India is the world's most populous nation and a fast-rising global power — a vibrant federal republic of extraordinary cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity.

Capital: New Delhi

Region: Asia

Language: Hindi

Currency: INR (₹)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 24)

Emergency: 112

Digital Services

Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in India.

Aadhaar

Aadhaar is India's 12-digit unique biometric identity number issued by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). It is linked to biometrics (fingerprint + iris scan) and a mobile number. Aadhaar underpins much of India's digital infrastructure — UPI payments, DigiLocker, government services, SIM card registration, and financial account opening all use Aadhaar for authentication.

How to get it: Foreign nationals residing in India for 182+ days are eligible to apply for Aadhaar. Visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre (found in post offices, banks, government offices — list on uidai.gov.in) with your passport, visa, FRRO registration certificate, and proof of address (rental agreement). Biometrics collected at enrolment. Aadhaar card sent by post within 30–60 days. Enrolment is free.

Unlocks these services

UPI payment authentication (PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM)DigiLocker — link and store all documentsSIM card registration (Aadhaar-based e-KYC)Bank account opening and financial KYCIncome tax return e-verificationGovernment welfare scheme accessVaccination records linkageFRRO online registration (helpful)Passport and PAN card application

E-Government Portal

https://www.india.gov.in

India's government digital infrastructure (India Stack) is world-class. Most government services are available online. Aadhaar-based e-KYC has eliminated many in-person requirements. UMANG app aggregates 200+ central and state government services in one app.

Available services

Income Tax e-filing — incometax.gov.inGST portal — gst.gov.inMCA21 (Company registration) — mca.gov.inFRRO Online (foreigners registration) — indianfrro.gov.inPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.inEPFO member portal — epfindia.gov.inDigiLocker — digilocker.gov.inUMANG app — 200+ government servicesIndian Railways booking — irctc.co.inGST e-invoice — einvoice.gst.gov.inCOWIN vaccination portal — cowin.gov.inNational Single Window System (business permits) — nsws.gov.inShram Suvidha (labour compliance) — shramsuvidha.gov.in

Essential Apps

ExpatCheapRent

Free

Housing

Expat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.

99acres

Free

Housing

India's leading real estate portal for apartment and house rentals in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and all major cities.

Ola

Free

Transport / Ride-hailing

India's dominant ride-hailing app. Ola Mini, Prime, SUV, Auto. Available in 250+ cities. Book via app with UPI/card/cash. Widely trusted and used.

Uber

Free

Transport / Ride-hailing

Available in major cities. Uber Go, Premier, Auto, XL. Seamless for expats already using Uber globally — same interface, Indian pricing.

Zomato

Free

Food Delivery

India's largest food delivery platform. Order from 1 million+ restaurants. Zomato Gold for free delivery discounts. Also reservations at restaurants.

Swiggy

Free

Food Delivery / Grocery

Major competitor to Zomato. Also has Swiggy Instamart (10-minute grocery delivery) and Swiggy Genie (courier service).

Blinkit

Free

Grocery Delivery

Owned by Zomato. 10-minute grocery delivery in major cities. Very reliable for emergency grocery top-ups.

PhonePe

Free

Payments / UPI

India's largest UPI app (by transaction volume). Send money, pay bills, book insurance, mutual funds. Requires Indian bank account linked.

Google Pay (GPay)

Free

Payments / UPI

Google's UPI app, widely used. Simple interface, trusted by merchants. Also allows NFC contactless payments on supported devices.

Paytm

Free

Payments / Wallet / Finance

Pioneer of digital payments in India. Paytm Wallet, UPI, bill payments, recharges, movie/event tickets, insurance.

IRCTC Rail Connect

Free

Transport / Rail Booking

Official Indian Railways ticket booking app. Books train tickets including Tatkal (emergency quota). Foreign visitors can book with international credit cards.

DigiLocker

Free

Digital Documents

Government digital document wallet. Store Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, vehicle registration, educational certificates. Accepted as valid documents by all central government agencies.

mAadhaar

Free

Digital ID

Official UIDAI app for digital Aadhaar card on your phone. Show as ID at airports, government offices. Lock/unlock biometrics for security.

Practo

Free

Healthcare

Book doctor appointments, online consultations (video/chat), pharmacy delivery, lab tests. Covers most major hospitals and clinics.

Apollo 24/7

Free

Healthcare

Apollo Hospitals' app for online consultations, pharmacy, lab tests. 24/7 doctor access. Excellent for expats at Apollo network hospitals.

MakeMyTrip / Goibibo

Free

Travel

India's leading travel booking apps for flights, trains, hotels, and buses. Often the cheapest way to book domestic travel in India.

UMANG

Free

Government Services

Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance. Access 200+ government services: EPFO passbook, Aadhaar, income tax, DigiLocker, IRCTC, and more in one app.

IndiGo / Air India / SpiceJet apps

Free

Transport / Flights

Airline apps for domestic and international flight booking. IndiGo is the market leader with the most domestic routes.

India has one of the world's most sophisticated digital payment ecosystems (UPI, FASTag, Aadhaar-based e-KYC). Mobile internet is cheap and widely available (Jio effectively offers unlimited 4G/5G at ₹200–600/month). India Stack (the underlying API framework) enables seamless digital service delivery. For expats: get an Indian SIM card immediately on arrival — it unlocks UPI, IRCTC, and most digital services. Aadhaar is increasingly expected for digital service access but not legally mandatory for expats.