Housing, Healthcare, Utilities & Daily Setup

The Golden Sequence: IDs & Setup

When you land, you cannot do everything at once. Follow this strict sequence to avoid bureaucratic dead-ends:

  1. Get a local prepaid SIM card: Use your foreign passport / OCI and a local reference (relative's number). Wait a week, then convert to postpaid if desired.
  2. Secure Housing & Lease: Sign a Registered Rent Agreement. This is the ultimate "Address Proof" for everything else.
  3. Apply for PAN Card: Can be done entirely online via NSDL using your OCI and Rent Agreement. Needed for banking and investing.
  4. Apply for Aadhaar Card: Required for almost all modern Indian digital infrastructure (UPI, mutual funds, school admissions). Note: Minors with OCI historically needed to wait 182 days, though rules fluctuate. Adults with valid Address Proof can apply immediately at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra.
  5. Open Resident Bank Account & UPI: Once you have PAN and Aadhaar, you can open standard resident savings accounts and activate Google Pay / PhonePe.

Home Infrastructure & Utilities

Water Filtration (RO vs UV)

Do not drink straight from the tap. Most homes require an RO (Reverse Osmosis) + UV water purifier (e.g., Kent, Aquaguard). If your apartment supplies treated soft water, a UV+UF filter might suffice. Many expats rely on 20-liter Bisleri/Kinley water cans delivered daily.

Power Backup (Inverters)

Power cuts are common depending on the city and season. While premium high-rises have 100% DG (Diesel Generator) backup, independent homes or older apartments require buying a local Inverter + Battery setup (e.g., Luminous, Microtek) to keep fans, lights, and Wi-Fi running.

Air Quality & Pollution

If moving to NCR (Delhi/Gurgaon) or tier-1 metros in winter, invest heavily in HEPA Air Purifiers (Dyson, Philips, Coway) for every bedroom. Monitor local AQI (Air Quality Index) via apps and seal your home’s windows properly.

Domestic Help & Staff Management

Maids, Cooks & Nannies

Hiring is typically informal, done through building WhatsApp groups, security guards, or society referrals. Roles are heavily segmented in India:

  • Jhadu-Pocha (Sweeping/Swabbing) & Bartan (Dishes): Usually done by a part-time maid arriving for 1 hour daily.
  • Cook: Separate from the cleaning maid. Can be hired for 1, 2, or 3 meals a day.
  • Full-Time/Live-In Maid or Nanny: Handled through specialized placement agencies. You must provide lodging, food, and 2-4 days off per month.
  • Crucial: Always conduct Police Verification (background check) before hiring full-time staff. Pay an annual "Diwali Bonus" (typically 1 month's salary).

Healthcare Transition

Indian Private Health Insurance

Unlike employer-tied healthcare in the US, securing an independent comprehensive base policy is crucial in India.

  • Base + Super Top-up: Purchase a ₹10 Lakhs base policy and a ₹1-Crore Super Top-up. Total premium is highly affordable compared to Western standards.
  • Pre-Existing Disease (PED): Most policies have a 2-4 year waiting period for PEDs. Declare everything upfront to avoid claim rejection.
  • Portability: Buy a personal policy even if your Indian employer provides one, to maintain a continuous claim history. Out-of-pocket costs for OPD (Outpatient Department - standard doctor visits) are very low, so insurance is primarily for hospitalizations.

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