IRCTC OTP not reaching you abroad? What NRIs can do
Stuck on IRCTC verification from abroad? Send the journey on WhatsApp instead.
- A licensed agent books it in the passenger's name. No IRCTC account and no Indian mobile number needed.
- Pay from abroad, or let a family member in India pay.
- Confirmed berth or 100% refund — RAC doesn't count
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The short answer
IRCTC checks your email and mobile number with a code before an account works. From abroad that is where many NRIs get stuck: the SMS never lands on a foreign number, or arrives after the morning you needed it. Here is what usually helps, in the order worth trying, and what to do if you are booking against a date.
What to do, step by step
Register as an international user, with the number you actually have
IRCTC has offered international registration with a foreign mobile number and an email address, and checks both with a code. Use a number you can receive on today. A borrowed Indian number you can't reach only sends the code to someone else.
Do the email step first, and check spam
The email code or link often arrives when the SMS does not. Look in spam and promotions, and finish the email step before asking for the SMS code.
Check your SIM can receive SMS from abroad
Some foreign carriers, data-only SIMs and eSIMs don't deliver SMS from Indian senders. If you have a second number on a different carrier, try that, and wait for the first code before asking for another.
Ask a relative to book from their own account
Someone in India with an active IRCTC account can book for your parents or for you. Send them each passenger's name, age and gender exactly as on the ID. It works for a simple journey with seats open, but it puts the 8:00 AM opening, Tatkal and the waitlist follow-up on them.
Fix the account weeks before you need it
Booking opens at 8:00 AM India time, 60 days before travel. Don't find a verification problem on that morning. And even a working account may not be enough on opening day, which IRCTC has limited to Aadhaar-authenticated users — see the guide on NRIs and Tatkal.
Or take the account out of the picture
If the date is fixed, send the journey and passenger details on WhatsApp. A licensed agent books it in the passenger's name, and you get a PNR to check on IRCTC or NTES, with no IRCTC account to verify.
Mistakes that cost people the journey
- Using a borrowed Indian number you can't reach
- Requesting code after code instead of waiting for the first one
- Leaving account setup to the morning booking opens
- Handing your IRCTC password or any bank code to someone who offers to sort it out
What we can and can't do
We can't make a foreign carrier deliver IRCTC's SMS, and popular trains can sell out in minutes whoever books them. What we can do is take the account out of the problem: you send the journey on WhatsApp, a licensed agent picks the train, quota and class most likely to confirm and books it in the passenger's name, and tells you straight away if it hasn't worked. Confirmed berth or 100% refund — RAC doesn't count.
What our customers say
“Helpful agents, explained my PNR honestly instead of overpromising. Will use again.”
“Senior-citizen lower berth for my parents, exactly as requested. Very courteous staff.”
Answered straight
Why is my IRCTC OTP not coming on my foreign number?+
The usual reasons are that your carrier or plan doesn't deliver SMS from Indian senders, the message is delayed, or the number was entered in the wrong format. The email code is a separate step and often arrives first, so check your inbox and spam folder. If nothing arrives after a couple of tries, stop requesting codes and use a relative's account or a licensed agent.
Can I register on IRCTC without an Indian mobile number?+
IRCTC has offered international registration with a foreign mobile number and an email address, each checked with a code. The steps have changed over time, so follow the instructions on IRCTC's own sign-up page rather than a forum post. If you would rather not deal with it, you can skip the account altogether.
Can my relative in India book a ticket for me?+
Yes. Anyone with an active IRCTC account can book for other passengers. Send them each traveller's name, age and gender as on the ID. A Tatkal or waitlisted booking then needs them to follow it up on India hours.
Do I need an IRCTC account if I book through you?+
No. We book on your behalf, so there is no account to verify and no Indian SIM needed. You send the journey and passenger details on WhatsApp.
Will fixing my OTP let me book on opening day?+
Not necessarily. IRCTC has limited the first day of booking on its website and app to Aadhaar-authenticated users, and Tatkal has needed Aadhaar since July 2025. Many NRIs don't have one. The rules have changed several times, so check IRCTC before you plan around them.
How do I check an agent abroad is genuine?+
Look for a YTSK licence from Indian Railways, a registered office, a ticket in the passenger's own name with a PNR you can check on IRCTC or NTES, an amount agreed in writing before you pay, and a GST invoice on request. Never share your IRCTC password or a bank code with anyone.