Keep Your US/UK/Canada Phone Number After Moving to India
Need your US, Canada, or UK number to keep working for bank OTPs after moving to India? Here are the cheapest and most reliable ways to keep it active.
In this story
- Quick Summary
- Why Keep Your Phone Number?
- 🇺🇸 US Option 1: Google Voice (Most Affordable)
- 🇺🇸 US Option 2: T-Mobile (More Reliable)
- 🇨🇦 Canada Option 1: Fongo (Most Affordable)
- 🇨🇦 Canada Option 2: Freedom Prepaid (More Reliable)
- 🇬🇧 UK: Lebara Prepaid
- 💡 Pro Tip Before Porting
- Summary: Best Options by Country
- Related Articles You May Find Helpful
If your bank logins, brokerages, or government accounts still depend on a US, Canada, or UK number, choose that setup before you land in India. This guide compares the cheapest and most reliable ways to keep those numbers working for OTPs, 2FA, and day-to-day access.
Quick Summary
| Country | Affordable Option | Reliable Option |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US | Google Voice ($20 one-time) | T-Mobile ($6/month) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Fongo ($25 one-time) | Freedom Prepaid (~$10/month) |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Lebara Prepaid (~£5/month) | |
use Google Voice or Fongo when price matters most, and use T-Mobile, Freedom Prepaid, or Lebara when you need more dependable OTP delivery for banks, brokerages, and government logins.
Bank OTP Reliability Checklist Before Moving to India
Do not port or cancel your old SIM until you test the exact institutions that can lock you out later. One successful SMS from a friend does not prove bank OTP, brokerage 2FA, credit-card fraud alerts, or tax-portal verification will work.
| Account type | What to test before leaving |
|---|---|
| Banking | Login OTP, wire-transfer OTP, debit-card alert, password reset, fraud alert, and customer-service callback. |
| Brokerage | 2FA login, trade confirmation, beneficiary change, document upload, and withdrawal confirmation. |
| Credit cards | Card-not-present purchase alert, travel notice, statement login, and replacement-card verification. |
| Government and tax | IRS/CRA/HMRC-style login flows, pension portals, immigration records, and any recovery-phone flow. |
If any important account rejects VoIP numbers, keep one regular mobile number with WiFi calling or roaming support instead of relying only on Google Voice or Fongo.
Why Keep Your Phone Number?
There are several reasons why you might want to keep your foreign phone number while living in India. This is especially important if you're following our complete financial checklist for NRIs moving back to India — maintaining access to your foreign accounts is critical.
If your bank, brokerage or IRS access depends on your US number, the low-cost way to keep your US number active in India is the same setup this guide recommends.
Common Reasons
- Receiving one-time passwords (OTPs) for banks, credit cards, and other services
- Second factor authorization (2FA) for online accounts
- Stay connected with friends and family abroad during the transition
- Maintain the phone number in case you have plans to move back abroad in the future
🇺🇸 US Option 1: Google Voice (Most Affordable)
The first affordable option for keeping your US number is Google Voice.
💰 Google Voice Pricing
- $20 one-time fee for porting your number
- No recurring monthly fee on an ongoing basis
How Google Voice Works
- Port your existing phone number to Google Voice by paying a one-time $20 fee
- Receive calls and texts for free on WiFi or mobile data
- Make phone calls and receive messages on the Google Voice app
- Works from anywhere in the world
Important: Google Voice works for most OTPs but not all. Since it's VoIP-based, some banks and institutions don't accept VoIP numbers for 2FA. Check the VoIP technology limitations and the 2FA directory to see which banks work with VoIP vs regular phone numbers.
How to Set Up Google Voice
Check Eligibility
Check if your number is eligible for porting to Google Voice
Pay Porting Fee
Pay the $20 one-time porting fee
Set Up App
Set up the Google Voice app on your phone
Start Using
Start using your number
Please Note: It's better to do this porting while in the US and make sure everything is good before heading off to India.
🇺🇸 US Option 2: T-Mobile (More Reliable)
If you're looking for something more reliable than Google Voice in terms of receiving one-time passwords, a lot of people have recommended using T-Mobile.
💰 T-Mobile Pricing
With T-Mobile, you can customize the option in terms of data and talk time:
- $6 per month for 100 minutes with 1GB data
- No contracts — you can cancel anytime
- Physical SIM or eSIM available for reliability
Why T-Mobile is More Reliable
- Works with ALL OTPs because it's not VoIP-based
- Make phone calls and receive texts on WiFi-enabled device
- No roaming fees when using WiFi calling
How to Set Up T-Mobile
Order SIM/eSIM
Order your SIM or eSIM at t-mobile.com
Activate in US
Activate it in the US before moving to India
Enable WiFi Calling
This is crucial — enable WiFi calling so you can receive calls and texts while on data or WiFi without paying roaming fees
Keep Active
For $6 per month, keep your number active with reliable OTP access
🇨🇦 Canada Option 1: Fongo (Most Affordable)
Now let's look at the best way to keep your Canada phone number while living in India. If you're managing Canadian retirement accounts like RRSP, check our guide on what happens to your RRSP when leaving Canada. The first option which is most affordable is Fongo.
💰 Fongo Pricing
- $25 one-time porting fee
- Free ongoing — no monthly charges
How Fongo Works
- Port your existing Canadian number to Fongo for a one-time $25 fee
- Receive calls and texts for free over WiFi or mobile data
- Use the Fongo app for making calls and receiving messages
Important: Fongo receives OTPs but it's not as reliable — similar to Google Voice. Just be aware of it and make sure your financial institutions or online access works with Fongo before deciding on it.
⚠️ Critical: Use the Right App!
Use the Fongo Mobile app — NOT the Fongo World Wi app. There are people who make this mistake, so be very mindful that you have the Fongo Mobile app when porting your Canadian number.
How to Set Up Fongo
Visit Fongo
Visit fongo.com
Start Porting
Start the porting process
Pay Fee
Pay the $25 porting fee
Install App
Install the Fongo Mobile app (not Fongo World Wi)
🇨🇦 Canada Option 2: Freedom Prepaid (More Reliable)
If you're looking for a more reliable phone plan to maintain your Canadian number and receive OTPs, a lot of people have recommended the Freedom Prepaid Plan.
💰 Freedom Prepaid Pricing
- ~$10 Canadian dollars per month when you take a 12-month plan
Why Freedom Prepaid is Better
- Supports ALL OTPs including banks and government services
- Works in India — enable WiFi calling
- Receive calls and messages on data or WiFi
- No roaming fees while living in India
If you're looking for a reliable service that provides you the OTPs, Freedom Prepaid Plan is something you might want to check out.
🇬🇧 UK: Lebara Prepaid
Now let's look at how to keep your UK number while living in India. A lot of people have suggested going with Lebara Prepaid.
💰 Lebara Prepaid Pricing
- Around £5 per month when you opt for a 12-month annual plan
Lebara Features
- Supports OTPs from UK banks and government portals
- Works great in India
- Ability to get calls and texts
- Some international minutes also included
How to Set Up Lebara
Order SIM
Order the SIM on lebara.co.uk
Activate in UK
Activate the SIM before moving to India
Maintain Number
Maintain the phone number for receiving OTPs by paying around £5 for a 12-month plan
💡 Pro Tip Before Porting
If you're planning to use Google Voice or Fongo (which are free on an ongoing basis), here's a smart approach:
Test Before You Port
Create New Number
Create a new number on Google Voice or Fongo
Update Financial Institutions
Update that number in your financial institutions that you're using
Test Everything
Make sure they're working seamlessly — test OTPs, 2FA, etc.
Port Actual Number
Once everything is good, then port your actual number to Google Voice or Fongo
This way you are ensuring all the institutions' OTPs would work and everything is good to go before you port your actual number.
Summary: Best Options by Country
🇺🇸 US Numbers
| Option | Cost | OTP Reliability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | $20 one-time | Most OTPs (VoIP) | Budget-conscious, basic needs |
| T-Mobile | $6/month | All OTPs | Reliable OTP access |
🇨🇦 Canada Numbers
| Option | Cost | OTP Reliability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fongo | $25 one-time | Most OTPs (VoIP) | Budget-conscious, basic needs |
| Freedom Prepaid | ~$10/month | All OTPs | Reliable OTP access |
🇬🇧 UK Numbers
| Option | Cost | OTP Reliability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebara Prepaid | ~£5/month | All OTPs | Seamless experience |
Key Takeaway: If budget is your priority, go with Google Voice (US) or Fongo (Canada). If you need reliable OTP access for all banks and services, invest in T-Mobile ($6/month), Freedom Prepaid (~$10/month), or Lebara (~£5/month).
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Planning Your Move to India?
Keeping your phone number is just one piece of the puzzle. Get comprehensive guidance on managing all aspects of your transition — from finances to logistics to settling in.
Connect with others who have navigated the return to India and learn from their experiences.
