Travel eSIMs
Get online the moment you land. Buy a data plan for your destination, install it before you fly, and skip the roaming charges and the airport SIM queue entirely.
Where you can use it
Single-country plans for one destination, or regional plans that follow you across a whole trip.
How It Works
- Check your phone supports eSIMIt also needs to be carrier-unlocked. The compatibility list is on the plan page.
- Pick your destination and data allowanceSingle country or regional, with the validity period shown on each plan.
- Install from the QR codeDelivered by email after payment. Do this at home on wifi — installation needs a connection.
- Land and switch it onThe eSIM connects to a local network automatically and your plan starts.
Quick compatibility check
On iPhone, open Settings → General → About and look for an EID number. On Android, dial *#06# and check the same. If an EID appears and your phone is not locked to a carrier, an eSIM will work.
Why travel on an eSIM
- Connected on arrivalMaps, a ride and your messages work before you reach baggage claim.
- Keep your own numberThe eSIM handles data while your home line stays live for calls and texts.
- No physical SIM to loseNothing to swap, nothing to keep safe in a hotel drawer for two weeks.
- Fixed cost, no bill shockYou pay once. There is no per-megabyte overage waiting at the end of the trip.
- Regional plans for multi-stop tripsOne plan across several countries instead of a new SIM at every border.
Plan details
| Delivery | QR code by email, within minutes of payment |
| Destinations | Shown on the plans page |
| Data allowances | Varies by plan |
| Validity | Shown on each plan |
| Plan type | Data only on most plans |
| Activation | Starts when the eSIM connects at your destination |
| Top ups | Available while a plan is active |
| Tethering | Depends on the plan — check before buying |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an eSIM work on my phone?
Your phone needs to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Most flagship models from recent years qualify, and the full compatibility list is shown before you buy. If the handset is locked to a network, the eSIM will not install — your carrier has to unlock it first.
Do I keep my normal phone number?
Yes. The eSIM sits alongside your existing SIM and carries data only, so your usual number stays active for calls and texts. Switch data roaming off on the home line before you travel, otherwise your own carrier can still charge you for background usage.
When should I install it?
Install before you travel, while you still have wifi, because installation itself needs an internet connection — which is awkward to find if you are relying on the eSIM to provide it. The plan does not usually start counting down until the eSIM connects to a network at your destination.
Can I make calls with a travel eSIM?
Most travel plans are data-only, which covers calls through WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram or anything else that runs over the internet. Plans that include a local number for standard calls and texts are marked separately where they are available.
What happens when the data runs out?
The connection simply stops rather than continuing at an extra cost, so there is no way to run up a surprise bill. You can buy a top up or a fresh plan at any point during the trip.
Can I move an eSIM to another phone?
No. An eSIM is tied to the device it was installed on, and the QR code can normally only be used once. Keep that in mind if you are travelling with a spare handset — and contact support before reinstalling rather than after.
More about travel eSIMs
An eSIM is a SIM card built into the phone rather than slotted into it. Instead of collecting a piece of plastic, you download a profile — the QR code you are sent writes the carrier's details onto a chip that is already in the handset. The effect is the same as putting in a local SIM, minus the queue at the arrivals hall and the small envelope your home SIM then has to live in for a fortnight.
For most travellers the appeal is the pricing model rather than the technology. Roaming on a home contract is billed after the fact, which is where the stories about four-figure bills come from. A prepaid eSIM is paid for before departure and stops working when it runs out, so the worst case is an inconvenience rather than an invoice. Regional plans extend the same logic across borders, which matters if a trip takes in three countries in ten days.
A few practical notes. Install at home, not at the gate, since the download needs a connection. Turn off data roaming on your primary line so the phone cannot quietly fall back to it. And check whether the plan you have chosen permits tethering if you intend to share the connection with a laptop or a travelling companion, because not all of them do.
Coverage, speeds and available networks are determined by the local operators carrying each plan and can vary by location. Device compatibility is set by your handset and its carrier lock status, both of which are worth confirming before purchase.