How do eSIMs work for international travel
If you’ve been thinking about switching to an eSIM for your next phone or just want to know what they are and how they work, then this post is for you. An eSIM is an embedded SIM card that allows you to connect to a mobile network without using a physical SIM card. They are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more convenient ways to stay connected while traveling.

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Need an eSIM?
If you’re short on time, check the options from our most recommended providers for mobile internet around the world: Airalo and Nomad.
Advantages of using eSIMs
There are several advantages to using an eSIM over a physical SIM card. Below, we will name a few:
- No need to worry about losing or damaging your SIM card – since it is all stored electronically, you can’t misplace it or have it get damaged.
- You can connect to multiple networks without having to carry around multiple SIM cards. This is especially convenient for people who travel frequently.
- eSIMs are often cheaper than physical SIM cards since you don’t have to pay for the physical card itself. If you are a recurrent traveler, for sure you have already come across a situation where you pay for the data plan and have to pay a few dollars additionally for the SIM card itself. With eSIMs, this will never happen.
- Setting up an eSIM is usually quicker and easier than getting a physical SIM card, as you don’t have to go through the process of activating it in person. In fact, the easiness of the activation of eSIM cards is one of our favorite parts about using this service and we will cover it in more detail in a bit.
Disadvantages of using eSIMs
Everything in life has pros and cons. These are some of the disadvantages of using an eSIM:
- Not all phones are compatible with eSIMs. Even though most modern smartphones are compatible with eSIMs, it is always worth checking this before you sign up for such a service to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
- Not all carriers offer eSIMs for regular mobile plans. In the US, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all offer eSIMs, but in other countries, coverage can be more limited.
- Not all eSIM providers will allow you to share the internet connection via mobile hotspot. If you need to share internet access between several devices, make sure to check upfront if the chosen mobile provider allows you to do so.
Now that we’ve gone over what an eSIM is and some of the advantages and disadvantages of using one, let’s take a look at how they work.
How does eSIM work?
Now, before we start explaining how eSIM works, we need to make an important distinction between using an eSIM as your main phone source or using an eSIM to get data coverage abroad when traveling.
The main difference between these two scenarios is that in the first one, the phone does not have space for physical SIM cards at all. If you want to be connected with a mobile plan, the only option is to use an eSIM.
When we are talking about how eSIMs work for travelers, we are usually talking about the case where the eSIM will be purchased as an additional SIM card used only for getting access to mobile data abroad, during the trip.
How do mobile phones that only use eSIMs work?
Every eSIM has a unique number associated with it, known as an ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier). This number is the same one found on physical SIM cards and it is what identifies your eSIM to the carrier, being also used to activate the card. When you want to activate an eSIM, you will need to provide this number to the carrier.
The ICCID is stored on a chip inside your phone, which means that it can’t be transferred to another device as a physical SIM card can. This also means that if you lose your phone or damage it, you will need to get a new eSIM from your carrier.
Once the ICCID has been provided to the carrier, they will activate the eSIM and assign a telephone number to it. The whole process is usually quick and easy, and can often be done remotely without having to go to a store in person.
Want to avoid the hassle of having to buy a SIM card after arriving at your destination? Buy an eSIM online and have it all set up before your plane lands! We use Airalo for most of our trips, check their options for eSIM cards.
How does eSIM work for travelers?
Now that we’ve explained how eSIMs work for phones that only use this type of SIM card, let’s take a look at how they can be used by travelers.
The main way of using an eSIM when traveling is by directly downloading the eSIM profile from the carrier onto your phone. You should download it to your phone before you hop on your trip so you are ready to get connected the moment your plane lands at your destination. Most mobile providers will give you access to your eSIM using a QR code.
Activating the eSIM on your phone
First, you will need to make sure that your phone is compatible with this method. Once you have arrived at your destination, you will only need to activate the eSIM. Depending on the provider, this means all you have to do is turn on the mobile data on your phone, but with other companies, you may need to connect to a Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions provided by the carrier in order to activate the eSIM.
One of the advantages of this method is that you can easily deactivate the eSIM and reactivate it again when you need it, without having to go through the process of getting a new SIM card every time. This is a great advantage of using eSIMs for travelers who intend to visit multiple destinations within the same trip.
Instead of buying a new physical SIM card in every new country, you can purchase a plan that will give you coverage through multiple countries using the eSIM. We normally use Airalo for that, as they allow us to tailor our plan based on our needs. And even if you don’t find a solution that matches the destinations on your itinerary, downloading and activating the eSIM is much faster than physically going to the store to buy a new SIM card everywhere you land.
Now that we have covered the basics about what are eSIMs and how they work, let’s do a little Q&A and answer the most common questions travelers have about eSIMs.
FAQ – Using eSIMs for traveling
If you are looking for a carrier that will give you an eSIM while traveling, there are multiple options to choose from. We’ve already mentioned Airalo, which is a great option if you need an eSIM for multiple countries within the same trip. Another option is Nomad, which offers data plans in more than 100 countries around the world.
You can also get in touch with your home mobile provider and check if they offer an option for international data via eSIM. Since using eSIMs is a practice that is becoming more and more popular each year, we should expect that the number of American mobile providers offering good-priced plans abroad will rise.
This is a difficult question to answer, as it will depend on the country you are visiting and what your specific needs are. In general, we can say that using an eSIM is usually more expensive than using a physical SIM card when traveling only if compared to a SIM card from a local provider.
Let me explain – in most countries, buying a local SIM card upon arrival is the cheapest way of staying connected during your trips. This is especially true when traveling to countries where the data plans are quite affordable, such as Bulgaria or Montenegro.
However, if you will be comparing using an eSIM when traveling or purchasing an international data plan from your home provider, then the first option will most likely be cheaper. Once you add in the factor that you can tailor the eSIM plan to your needs and itinerary, the price you pay is really worth what you get.
Yes, eSIMs are the best and most convenient option out there for international travel. All you need to do is buy the plan, install the eSIM using the QR code, activate it once you land on your final destination, and PUF – you are connected.
In most cases, no. eSIMs are often data-only, which means they will only provide you with data for accessing the internet, and not a phone number where you can make calls and text via SMS.
If you need a local phone number when traveling, we recommend buying a SIM card from a local provider.
However, if you only need to be able to stay connected with your loved ones at home, using an eSIM when traveling is more than enough as you can use apps such as Whatsapp or Viber to make calls.
Guides for buying SIM cards in multiple countries
To help you with your future trips, we have put together a few guides on how to choose the best SIM card for traveling to several different countries. In these guides, we compare the best offers of local mobile providers and give you an overview of what is the best option to choose from.
- Best Bulgaria SIM Cards for Tourists
- Montenegro’s Best Prepaid SIM Card Options (2023)
- Best Prepaid SIM Card in Slovenia (2023)
- Best Prepaid SIM Card in Mexico for Travelers
- Best Prepaid SIM Card in Italy
- Best Prepaid SIM Card in Portugal
- Best Bosnia Prepaid SIM Card for Tourists (2023)
Now you can see that eSIMs have many advantages over physical SIM cards, making them a great option for travelers. Not only they are more convenient, but they also offer more flexibility and can be easily activated remotely. If your phone is compatible with this technology, we definitely recommend giving it a try on your next trip!
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