Banks, NBFCs, real-estate developers, insurers, investment platforms, universities and matrimony services all have a large group of customers who live outside India. Verifying them with an OTP is harder than it looks, because an NRI customer might be using an Indian number, a foreign number, or both.
This guide explains which OTP channel works for each situation, what it costs in the main NRI countries, and how to design a login that doesn’t lock customers out when they are abroad.
Why OTPs fail for NRI customers
Most failed OTPs for customers abroad come down to the number on file:
- An Indian number that isn’t roaming. Many NRIs keep their Indian SIM for banking but switch roaming off to avoid charges, so SMS OTPs never arrive.
- A foreign number sent through an India-only route. Domestic DLT SMS routes are for Indian numbers.
- Numbers stored without a country code, so a UAE number is treated as an Indian one.
- No choice of channel, so a customer who could receive WhatsApp is stuck waiting for an SMS.
Which OTP channel works in each situation
| Customer’s number | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indian number, WhatsApp active abroad | WhatsApp OTP | WhatsApp works over Wi-Fi or local data, even without roaming |
| Indian number, roaming on | SMS (DLT route) or WhatsApp | SMS reaches roaming phones; WhatsApp avoids roaming issues |
| Foreign number (UAE, US, UK…) | International WhatsApp OTP or international SMS OTP | Global SMS needs no DLT; WhatsApp is popular in many NRI countries |
| Unknown or unreliable | Offer both, user chooses | Lets the customer pick what works where they are |
WhatsApp OTP rates in popular NRI countries
Current EazyOTP WhatsApp OTP rates per OTP (INR) for the countries where many NRIs live:
| Country | WhatsApp OTP rate |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | ₹1.20845 |
| Saudi Arabia | ₹0.82257 |
| Qatar | ₹0.92285 |
| Kuwait | ₹3.38373 |
| Oman | ₹1.89956 |
| Bahrain | ₹0.69982 |
| United States | ₹0.26156 |
| United Kingdom | ₹1.69281 |
| Canada | ₹0.26156 |
| Australia | ₹0.86961 |
| Singapore | ₹1.23134 |
| New Zealand | ₹0.86961 |
See all 230 countries on the OTP pricing page. For international SMS, send us your country list and expected volume for a quote.
How to design OTP login for customers abroad
- Store every number with its country code in international format, such as 971XXXXXXXXX, and use a country picker on your forms.
- Offer a choice: “Send code on WhatsApp” and “Send code by SMS”. Remember what worked last time.
- Show where the code went, with the last digits of the number and the channel, so users know where to look.
- Add a fallback: if a WhatsApp OTP isn’t delivered, offer SMS, and the other way round. See multi-channel OTP fallback.
- Let customers update their number securely, verifying both the old and the new number where possible.
- Keep security rules the same for every country: short expiry, attempt limits and resend cooldowns. Our guide to verifying OTPs securely lists them.
How it works with EazyOTP
Every channel uses the same request: one GET call from your server with the customer’s number. Use whatsappeazyotp for WhatsApp, globalsmseazyotp for international SMS and smseazyotp for DLT SMS to Indian numbers. EazyOTP generates the code and returns it to your server. Delivery webhooks report Sent, Delivered and Read, so you can see where an NRI customer’s OTP stopped.
Comparing channels for Indian customers too? Read WhatsApp OTP vs SMS OTP in India.
Frequently asked questions
Can NRIs receive OTPs on their Indian mobile number abroad?
By SMS, only if the Indian SIM is active and roaming. By WhatsApp, often yes even without roaming: WhatsApp keeps working on the registered number over Wi-Fi or a local data connection. That makes WhatsApp OTP a good default for Indian numbers held by NRIs.
Do I need DLT to send OTPs to foreign numbers?
No. DLT applies to SMS sent to Indian numbers. Foreign numbers use the EazyOTP Global SMS route, which needs no DLT template or sender ID.
How much does an OTP to an NRI cost?
It depends on the destination country and channel. WhatsApp OTP rates for 230 countries are listed on our OTP pricing page; international SMS rates are quoted for your country list.
Should I let NRI users choose WhatsApp or SMS?
Yes. Offering “Send on WhatsApp” and “Send by SMS” buttons lets users pick the channel that works where they are, and reduces failed logins.
Verify customers wherever they live
Create an account to test WhatsApp and Global SMS OTPs, or send us your country list for a rate check.
Prefer chat? Message EazyOTP on WhatsApp