eSIM basics
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone — reprogrammable over the air, with no plastic to swap. For travellers, it means buying local data before you land and staying connected the moment you arrive.
Two ways to carry a SIM
A plastic chip you insert, swap, and can lose.
A digital profile downloaded to a chip already inside your phone.
Definition
A SIM without the plastic
An eSIM — short for embedded SIM — is a small chip permanently built into modern phones, tablets, and watches. Instead of inserting a physical card, you download a carrier profile onto that chip. The GSMA, the industry body that sets mobile standards, defines this remote provisioning in its SGP.22 specification.
Functionally, an eSIM does everything a physical SIM does: it identifies you to a mobile network and connects you to data, calls, and texts. The difference is delivery. A travel eSIM arrives as a QR code or activation link by email, so you can set it up before you leave home and skip the airport SIM kiosk entirely.
Same job as a plastic SIM. No card to insert, lose, or leave behind.
The basics
How a travel eSIM works, in three steps
Purchase
Choose a destination or regional plan and pay online. Your eSIM is issued instantly — no shipping, no waiting.
Install
Scan the QR code we email you, or tap the activation link. The profile downloads to your phone in about two minutes.
Connect
Turn on the eSIM for data when you land. You're online right away, with your home number still on your primary SIM.
eSIM vs physical SIM
How they actually differ
| Physical SIM | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting it | Buy in a shop or wait for delivery | Delivered by email in seconds |
| Installing | Eject tray, swap the card, store the old one | Scan a QR code — nothing to remove |
| Your home number | Removed while the travel SIM is in | Stays active — eSIM runs alongside it |
| Switching plans | Another card, another swap | Add or change profiles in settings |
| Losing it | Easy to misplace a tiny chip | Nothing physical to lose |
Travel eSIMs are data-only. Keep your regular number on your physical SIM for calls and texts, and let the eSIM handle data abroad.
Why travellers use eSIM
Built for the way people travel now
Predictable pricing
A prepaid allowance you buy up front — no per-megabyte roaming charges waiting on your next bill.
Set up before you fly
Install on your home Wi-Fi and land connected. No hunting for a SIM shop after a long flight.
Keep your own number
Your home line stays on your primary SIM for calls and texts while the eSIM carries your data.
Coverage in 195+ destinations
One workflow whether you're crossing a border or planning a multi-country trip.
An honest note
When an eSIM isn't the right fit
Older or budget phones
Devices before roughly 2018, and some budget models, don't have an eSIM chip. A physical SIM is still your option there.
You need a local phone number
Travel eSIMs are data-only. If you need a local number for calls or verification codes, a local physical SIM may suit you better.
Frequent device swaps
Moving an eSIM to a new phone can need a fresh QR from support, where a physical SIM just pops out and back in.
The Destination Sim way
How our travel eSIM works day to day
We keep it simple: pick a plan, get your QR by email, and install before you travel. Everything is data-only, so your home number is never touched.
QR by email
Your eSIM and QR code arrive by email right after checkout — save them offline before you fly.
Data-only, number untouched
Add our data plan alongside your existing line. No porting, no swap, no lost number.
Dual-SIM tip
Set the eSIM as your data line and leave your home SIM on for calls — the best of both while abroad.
Questions
What is an eSIM — common questions
Is an eSIM better than a physical SIM?
For international travel, an eSIM is usually more convenient: it's delivered instantly by email, installs without swapping cards, and lets you keep your home number active. A physical SIM still makes sense if your phone doesn't support eSIM or you need a local phone number.
Does an eSIM replace my phone number?
No. A travel eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your existing SIM. Your home number stays active for calls and texts on your primary line.
How do I get an eSIM?
Buy a plan online and you'll receive a QR code and activation link by email within seconds. Scan the QR in your phone's settings to install it — no physical delivery involved.
Do I need Wi-Fi to install an eSIM?
Yes, you need an internet connection to download the profile. Install it on your home Wi-Fi before you travel, then simply switch it on when you arrive.
Which phones support eSIM?
Most iPhones from the XS onward, recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones, and many other modern devices support eSIM. Use our compatibility checker to confirm your exact model.
Can I use an eSIM and physical SIM at the same time?
Yes. Most eSIM-capable phones are dual-SIM: you can keep your physical SIM for your home number and use the eSIM for travel data at the same time.
Is an eSIM safe and secure?
Yes. eSIM profiles are delivered through the same standardised, encrypted provisioning system (GSMA SGP.22) that carriers use worldwide. Because there's no physical card, it can't be removed or stolen from your device.
What happens to my eSIM when I get a new phone?
An eSIM profile is tied to the device it was installed on. Moving to a new phone may require a fresh QR code — contact support and we'll help you reinstall.
Can I use one eSIM in multiple countries?
Yes, if you choose a regional or global plan. Our regional bundles cover multiple countries on a single eSIM, so you don't need a new plan at every border.
Device check
Is your phone eSIM-ready?
Verify iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, and hundreds more before you buy a plan.
Check compatibilityNext step
Find a plan for your trip
Prepaid data in 195+ destinations — install before you fly.
Browse all plans