Short answer: an eSIM (embedded SIM) is a SIM card that is already built into your phone as a small chip. Instead of inserting a plastic card, you download your mobile plan to it by scanning a QR code or tapping a link. For travellers, this means you can buy mobile data for your destination before you leave and be online as soon as you land, while your usual number keeps working.
Last reviewed: November 2026.
What does eSIM mean?
The "e" stands for embedded. A physical SIM is a removable card that holds your mobile line. An eSIM does the same job, but the chip is fixed inside the phone and the line is downloaded to it as a digital profile. It is an industry standard, so it works with mobile networks all over the world.
One eSIM chip can store several profiles, for example your home line and a travel data plan, and you choose which one to use for calls and which for data.
How does an eSIM work?
Setting up a travel eSIM usually takes a few minutes:
- Buy a data plan for the country or region you are travelling to.
- Scan the QR code you receive, or tap the installation link, with an internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
- Your phone downloads the profile and adds it as a new line.
- Choose the eSIM for mobile data when you arrive, and turn on data roaming for that line.
Your physical SIM stays in the phone. It keeps receiving calls and texts on your usual number, while the eSIM handles mobile data abroad.
eSIM vs physical SIM: the differences
| Physical SIM | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Card bought in a shop or sent by post | Downloaded with a QR code or link |
| When to buy it for a trip | Usually after you land | Before you leave home |
| Your usual number | You remove your card to use another one | Both lines work at the same time |
| Several countries | A new card for each country | Several plans on the same phone |
| If the phone is stolen | The card can be taken out | It cannot be removed from the phone |
Why travellers use an eSIM
- You are connected when you land: maps, taxis, messages and translations work from the airport, without looking for a SIM shop.
- Your number keeps working: your usual SIM still receives calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps your number.
- It often costs much less than roaming: many carriers charge roaming by the day or the megabyte. A travel eSIM has a fixed price for your destination, so compare it with your carrier's roaming fee before you travel.
- No contract: you buy the data and days you need for the trip and the plan simply ends.
More than data: safety for your trip
With Telcomia, your eSIM comes with the safety information for your destination: the official travel advice from several governments, the local emergency numbers, your nearest embassy or consulate and essential phrases in the local language. If something goes wrong abroad, you have it on your phone.
Does my phone have an eSIM?
Most iPhones from the XS/XR, Google Pixel phones and Samsung Galaxy S, Note and Z models from the S20 have one, as do many recent high-end Android phones. The quickest check is to dial *#06#: if a number labelled EID appears, your phone has eSIM. The phone must also be unlocked, not tied to one carrier.
See the full list of eSIM compatible phones →
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an eSIM and my normal SIM at the same time?
Yes. Almost all eSIM phones are dual SIM: your normal SIM keeps your number for calls and texts, and the eSIM gives you mobile data abroad.
Will WhatsApp keep working with my number?
Yes. WhatsApp is linked to your account, not to the line that provides the data. If you use the travel eSIM for data, WhatsApp keeps your usual number and your chats.
Can I make phone calls with a travel eSIM?
Most travel eSIMs are data only. You can still call and video call through WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet apps, and your usual SIM still receives normal calls (check your carrier's roaming rates for those).
Do I need internet to install an eSIM?
Yes, only for the installation: the profile is downloaded over Wi-Fi or mobile data. The best moment is at home before your trip. After that, the eSIM works on its own.
Is an eSIM safe?
Yes. The eSIM is an industry standard used by all major phone makers and carriers. Because it cannot be taken out of the phone, a thief cannot remove it and use your line in another device.
What happens when my eSIM data runs out?
You can buy a new plan, and with some plans you can top up the same eSIM. After the trip, you can delete the travel eSIM from your phone's settings.
Can I move a travel eSIM to another phone?
Usually not. A travel eSIM's QR code is normally valid for one installation, so install it on the phone you will travel with and do not delete it while the plan is still active.
Is an eSIM the same as roaming?
No. With roaming, your home carrier lets you use a network abroad and charges you its roaming price. With a travel eSIM, you use a plan made for your destination, at a price you know before you leave.
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