eSIM for Expats Moving Abroad

Última actualización: 2026-10-08

Short answer

When you move abroad, a travel eSIM is the easiest way to have mobile data from the day you land until your local contract is sorted. You buy it online with just an email address, install it before you fly, and keep your home SIM in the phone for bank and 2FA codes. For long moves, our 50 GB / 180-day plans cover the first months in 11 countries, and you can top up the same eSIM if you need more.

• Works on arrival: no shop visit, no ID, no local address or bank account
• Up to 180 days on one plan in the countries below, or 90/180 days across Europe
• Keep your home number on your normal SIM for bank SMS and verification codes
• No contract: nothing renews, nothing to cancel when you switch

Why expats need a bridge

Getting a local phone contract often depends on things you don't have in your first weeks:

• a residence permit or registered local address
• a local bank account for direct debit
• a credit history in the new country
• an ID check (in Germany, for example, every SIM needs one before it works)

But you need data to sort all of that out: apartment viewings, maps, translation apps, booking appointments, messaging your new employer. That's the gap an eSIM fills. It also means you don't have to walk into a phone shop jet-lagged, in a language you're still learning.

180-day plans by country

These are our longest single-country plans: 50 GB valid for 180 days. They aren't shown on the country pages (which focus on 30-day plans), so buy them through the direct links here.

Also for long stays:

• Europe, several countries: Europe 20 GB / 90 days or Europe 50 GB / 180 days, 41 countries. See our Europe long-stay guide.
• USA, 3 months: USA 20 GB / 90 days. See our USA long-stay guide.
• China: traffic routes through Hong Kong, so Google, WhatsApp and similar apps work without a VPN.

Canada, South Korea, Portugal and Mexico have plans of up to 30 days. For a longer stay there, start with a 30-day plan and top up the same eSIM as you go, or switch to a local plan once you're set up.

Turkey: don't rely on our eSIM for more than about 10 days. Turkish networks cut off foreign roaming eSIMs after roughly 10–14 days, even with data left. If you're moving to Turkey, use it for the first days only and get a Turkish SIM.

Keep a backup line: the 1 GB / 365-day plan

Once you have a local contract, a small long-validity plan is a cheap safety net. Our Global plan includes a 1 GB / 365-day option that works in 120 countries. It sits on your phone for a year as backup data for when your main SIM has a problem, your local plan runs out on a trip, or you fly somewhere new and need maps on landing.

How much data do I need per month?

In your first weeks you often have no home internet yet, so expect to use more than usual. Once your apartment has Wi-Fi, usage usually drops.

Staying longer: top up the same eSIM

You don't need a new eSIM when your data runs low. Sign in with the email you ordered with, open your order page (the link is in your confirmation email) and tap Add more data, then choose a top-up. Each option shows its data and validity before you pay, and it lands on the eSIM already on your phone. We also email you when you're running low.

Top up while the plan is still active. Once an eSIM has expired, buy a new plan.

When to switch to a local contract

Switch when you have the paperwork (residence permit, address, bank account) and you need one of these:

• A local phone number. Landlords, employers, doctors, government offices and local banks will ask for one.
• Lower cost over many months. If you're staying a year or more, a local SIM-only plan is usually cheaper per GB.
• Calls and SMS. Our eSIMs are data-only.

The eSIM is better while you're settling in: no contract, no ID, no minimum term, and nothing to cancel if your plans change. Many expats keep the eSIM installed after switching, as backup data or for trips. For a deeper comparison, see eSIM vs local SIM.

Keep your home number for bank codes

Your eSIM handles data, and your home SIM stays in the phone. That matters: banks, tax portals and many apps still send one-time codes by SMS to your home number.

• In your phone's settings, set the eSIM for mobile data and keep your home line on for calls and SMS.
• Turn data roaming off on your home line so it doesn't use expensive roaming data.
• Receiving SMS while abroad is free with many home providers, but check yours.

WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and FaceTime keep working on your existing accounts over the eSIM, including calls.

Moving soon? Pick your destination from the plans page, or use the 180-day links in the table above.