For your next international trip, you would like to stay connected from the moment you land in the new country, and now wondering how to get started with travel eSIM?
Let me break it down for you.
As a digital nomad, constant connectivity is one of my essential needs. I have used Airalo eSIM on iPhone for my personal mobile data needs while traveling.
So, I am going to share with you all the steps I needed to follow for the purchase, installation and activation of my Airalo travel eSIM on iPhone.
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💵 New Users: Use coupon code NEWTOAIRALO15 for 15% discount on first purchase
💵 Existing users: Use coupon code AIRALOESIM10 for 10% discount on your next purchase.
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Understanding eSIM
When getting into eSIMs, here are 3 basic things to know about the technology:
📱An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical SIM card.
📲 They are built directly into the cellphone’s hardware, meaning no physical swapping is needed. An eSIM is tied to a device.
📶 This embedded technology offers the same functionalities as traditional SIM cards but opens the door to multiple, dynamic profiles, and you can have multiple eSIMs in one device without worrying about space for physical SIMs.
📶 An eSIM reduces the logistical hassles associated with physical SIM cards, while offering the similar functions.
Scenarios for Airalo eSIM Use
When should you use an Airalo SIM? What kind of data connectivity should you choose for short vacations vs. long term travel?
For Short Term Travel: Best for Vacationers
Airalo travel eSIM is beneficial for short-term travel, such as vacations and business trips.
It takes away the hassle to find time to look for a local SIM or carry an expensive roaming plan.
For Long Term Travel: Best for Frequent Travelers and Digital Nomads
🗓️ For long-term stays, especially for slow travelers and digital nomads, Airalo offers plans that are valid for longer periods. This ensures continued connectivity without worrying about frequent renewals or managing multiple local SIM cards.
🌎 Individuals who travel frequently across different countries can benefit from the regional or global plans that Airalo offers. A single eSIM can provide coverage in multiple countries, simplifying the connectivity process.
📱During long term travels, Airalo eSIM can also work as an excellent secondary option if you plan to go for local SIM.
5 Steps to Get Started with Airalo Travel eSIM
Checking Device Compatibility
Before diving into the world of eSIMs, you first need to ensure that your device supports this technology.
As eSIM capabilities are a relatively new feature, not all smartphones or tablets support them. However, most new devices have built-in eSIM compatibility.
You can also do a quick search for your device on Airalo’s compatibility device list.
➡️ You can check your device’s eSIM compatibility by looking for the device name and model number and search for ‘eSIM compatibility’ online.
On iPhones, for instance, you can navigate to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan to see if there’s an option to add a secondary, digital SIM.
Purchasing a Plan
With a compatible device and chosen provider, you are ready to purchase an eSIM plan. This process varies slightly across providers but is generally straightforward.
Steps to Purchase Travel eSIM Plan Online: Our Airalo Example
👩🏻💻 Visit Airalo’s Website or App: Navigate to Airalo’s site or download their app from your app store.
🌎 Select a Region or Country. Pick plans that offer coverage where you will be. Airalo features plans tailored to country or specific region or global.
📄 Choose a Plan That Suits Your Needs: Based on your data usage habits, select an apt plan, whether it is a short-term holiday or long-term travel.
eKYC in Some Countries
Some countries may require eKYC (digital ‘know your customer’) for purchasing a new eSIM.
In those cases, you need to carry out couple of extra steps as you click ‘Buy Now‘.
📄 It automatically redirects to a partner website to upload documents which is typically a clear photo of your passport and a selfie.
💳 If the document upload is satisfactory, you are directed to the check out.
Once purchased, most providers will either send you an activation code or a QR code. You will scan this code using your device’s camera to set up the eSIM, a process we are going to delve into in the next section.
Activating Your eSIM with QR code
After purchasing your eSIM plan, the next step is activation. While the process may vary slightly depending on the provider and device, the general steps remain similar.
Here are the steps that we followed for Airalo using a QR code:
✅ Receive the Activation Details: After purchasing, you get an activation QR code or a manual activation URL via email.
✅ Scan the QR Code:
📱 On iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan (or Add eSIM) and use your camera to scan the QR code from another device.
If you are planning to use the app, you can save the QR code as photo in your device and follow the instructions here.
🏷️ If you already have a physical SIM as primary, make this new eSIM as secondary in the next step. You can add a label as well. ADD a Cellular/Mobile Plan Label to the newly installed eSIM.
➡️ I selected my primary SIM for calls and texts and selected the Airalo for data. Also, selected the Primary connection for iMessage and FaceTime.
The steps are slightly different for Android devices. Also it differs by the brands, such as, Samsung or Google Pixel. For example:
🤖 On Google Pixel: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Add More then Download SIM and scan the QR code. This may vary by mobile versions as well. Find more about installing eSIM on Google Pixel here.
🤖 On Samsung Galaxy: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM then Download SIM and scan the QR code. This may vary by mobile versions as well. Find more about installing eSIM on Samsung Galaxy here.
➡️ You can install eSIM directly or Manually on your devices. Please refer to your eSIM provider’s manual or support to get the steps.
Managing Your eSIM
I made sure to check a few things after the activation:
✅ Check if the mobile data is directed to eSIM and does NOT allow automatically switching data plans.
✅ Keep the Cellular Data Roaming on.
✅ Regularly log in to check the usage of the active eSIM to manage it efficiently.
Managing Multiple Travel eSIMs
Now that you have your first travel eSIM, you can add more eSIMs when you change country or region in the same way.
Just keep in mind a few points:
➡️ The data plans may change by country and region, make sure to get the right plan based on your needs.
➡️ Label accordingly to make sure you are using the correct eSIM for your data.
More about Travel eSIM
Ready to try travel eSIM for your next international trip? Then check these:
➡️ My Airalo eSIM Review and Ratings
➡️ Choose Local SIM or Travel eSIM? Example of a destination.
Planning a Slow Travel or Digital Nomad Journey?
We have slow traveled for more than 2 years in Latin America. Check out some of our resources here:
➡️ How we take care of our well-being as Digital Nomads in Latin America
Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance:
- Heymondo (get 5% off)
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- eSIMs:
- Transfers: Bookaway. Code PARADISE5 for 5% off
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