How Does a Travel eSIM Work?

Are you planning a vacation abroad? To keep using your smartphone without incurring roaming charges, you can choose between various solutions… including travel eSIMs!

More advantageous than local SIM cards, these eSIMs let you instantly subscribe to an international data plan, no matter your destination. Advantages, installation, activation, usage… Discover everything you need to know about how a travel eSIM works.

What is a Travel eSIM?

An eSIM, or virtual SIM card, is a dematerialized SIM card directly integrated into the components of modern smartphones. It is therefore a universal SIM card that can be configured for any mobile network through the download of an eSIM profile. Unlike a traditional SIM card, this technology allows you to subscribe to a plan and use it instantly, without waiting for a physical card to arrive.

More than just replacing a traditional SIM card, an eSIM can be configured with multiple eSIM profiles to connect to various networks. This allows you to use multiple Voice/SMS or data plans based on your needs. This is especially useful when you want to use two phone lines on the same smartphone or have occasional communication needs, such as during a trip abroad!

You can purchase a travel eSIM to get a data plan that works from any destination, letting you use the internet without incurring roaming fees or changing your number.

How Do Travel eSIMs Help Avoid Roaming Fees?

When you use your phone abroad, you have to pay roaming fees, which are the charges local operators apply when they allow you to use their network. But that’s not the case when you use a travel eSIM!

Travel eSIMs are offered by specific providers who have a catalog of plans usable in hundreds of destinations. These are not traditional operators as they do not have their own networks or open new lines.

Instead, these providers distribute their data plans through agreements with mobile operators in each country. They function as MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), buying data from major operators and offering it to their customers at competitive rates. For the end-user, there are no roaming fees, as they have already been negotiated by the eSIM provider.

Why Choose a Travel eSIM Over a Local SIM Card?

• Save time upon arrival: You often find prepaid SIM cards at train stations or airports that you can insert into your phone and use immediately. But do you really want to wait in line right after landing? With a travel eSIM, you can connect to the internet as soon as you leave the plane to send messages, check the weather, calculate your route… You save time and avoid stress, letting you fully enjoy your trip.
• Keep your number: A prepaid SIM card necessarily means using a new number! Unless your phone has multiple SIM slots, this means you’ll no longer be reachable on your usual number. If the idea of a travel SIM card is to prioritize messaging apps (WhatsApp, Signal…) for communication, it’s still better to remain reachable on your number in case of emergencies or to carry out banking operations.
• Avoid unexpected roaming charges: On a smartphone, many apps consume data in the background. As soon as you disable airplane mode, you start using mobile data! Just turning your phone back on after landing can result in roaming charges, even without sending a single message. Imagine what you might consume while waiting in line to buy a local eSIM! Since it immediately connects to the network it’s configured for, the travel eSIM is the best way to avoid roaming charges.

When Should You Activate a Travel eSIM?

The ideal time to activate a travel eSIM is the day before or the day of your departure. This way, you can ensure everything works before you leave, enabling you to enjoy internet connectivity as soon as you arrive. Otherwise, beware of roaming charges!

Note that in most cases, the activation of a travel eSIM is done automatically at the end of installation. For this reason, it’s not recommended to install an eSIM several days in advance.

How to Check if Your eSIM is Activated?

To check if your travel eSIM is ready for use, go to your device’s cellular data settings. Your eSIM should appear there, allowing you to select and view its profile and status. Make sure that roaming data is enabled for your plan!

How to Use an eSIM During a Trip?

Once you arrive at your destination, ensure that roaming data is disabled for your regular plan before switching off airplane mode. Then, if your travel eSIM is correctly configured, it should automatically connect to the local network and provide immediate internet access! You can then browse in 4G or 5G, use all your apps as usual, and even share your connection.

Can I Still Use My Regular SIM Card After Installing a Travel eSIM?

Yes, you can still use your SIM card and regular plan even after activating your eSIM. However, it’s highly recommended to disable roaming data on your main plan to avoid unexpected charges. Additionally, remember that incoming calls and texts can incur roaming fees, so try to use your regular plan as little as possible to avoid unpleasant surprises.

How to Check if Your Smartphone is Compatible with Travel eSIMs?

Most smartphones released after 2020 support eSIM technology, as do tablets and smartwatches with cellular functionality. You can check if your phone supports eSIM by visiting its network settings under the SIM card section. If your device is equipped with a virtual SIM, you will find an option to add an eSIM!

To save you time, here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of compatible smartphones: