NUM travel blog
How to use a travel eSIM: buy it, install it, switch it on
A travel eSIM is a data plan you download to your phone instead of a plastic SIM you swap in. You install it at home on wifi, switch it on when you land, and keep your own SIM in place for calls and codes. There is no counter to find and nothing to lose.
The four steps
- Check your phone. Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. It must also be carrier-unlocked.
- Pick a plan for where you’re going and how long you’ll be there. Find your destination.
- Install it at home, on wifi, before you fly. With NUM, that is one tap on a recent iPhone or Android phone, or a QR code you scan from another screen.
- Switch it on when you land, and turn on data roaming for that eSIM. That setting is safe to use here, because it applies to the plan you already paid for.
What to do with your home SIM
Leave it in. Set the travel eSIM as your line for mobile data, and turn data roaming off on your home line so it can’t run up charges. Your home number can stay on for calls and security codes.
If it doesn’t connect
- Check that the eSIM is switched on, is your mobile data line, and has data roaming on.
- Turn airplane mode on for a few seconds, then off.
- Open your network settings and let the phone pick a network automatically.
- Still stuck? Text NUM, and we help you get connected.
Questions people ask
Do I need to remove my SIM card to use an eSIM?
No. A travel eSIM sits alongside your SIM, so you can keep your home number on for calls and codes.
When should I install a travel eSIM?
At home, on wifi, before you fly. Then switch it on when you land.
Can I use WhatsApp on a travel eSIM?
Yes. NUM eSIMs are data-only, with no phone number, and WhatsApp, LINE, iMessage and FaceTime all work over the data.