The simplest way to stay connected when you move between countries is a prepaid travel eSIM for data, with your home SIM kept on for calls and bank SMS. You buy it online with just an email, install it at home before you leave and switch it on when you land, with no contract, no ID and no shop visit. For long stays in one place, a local SIM can be cheaper later, but an eSIM gets you online from the first minute.
More people are on the move than ever: relocating for work, working remotely from different cities, or changing plans at short notice. This guide explains how to be online from the moment you land, calmly and cheaply.
Key takeaways
- A travel eSIM is a data plan you buy online and install at home; most eSIM Turista plans start on first connection at the destination, not at purchase.
- eSIM Turista needs no contract, no ID and no account: you pick a plan, enter an email, pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or crypto, and get a QR code within about a minute.
- One regional plan covers many countries, for example our Europe plan for 35 countries; global plans cover longer routes across continents.
- Our eSIMs are data only, so keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and bank SMS, with data roaming off on that line.
- Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked; dial
*#06#and look for an EID. - For a stay of many months in one country, a local SIM with a local number is often worth adding later.
Why connectivity matters when you relocate or move often
When you arrive somewhere new, almost every practical task runs through your phone:
- Banking. Card payments, transfers and logins often need a code by SMS or an app confirmation.
- Maps and transport. Getting from the airport to your accommodation, finding a pharmacy, checking public transport.
- Taxis and ride apps. Most need mobile data to book and track a car.
- Work. Email, video calls, shared documents and two-factor logins for company systems.
- Family. Letting people know you arrived safely, and staying reachable on messaging apps.
- Documents and bookings. Rental agreements, tickets, insurance policies and appointment confirmations are usually stored in your inbox or in apps.
Airport and café Wi-Fi helps, but it is not always available, fast or safe. We cover the safety side in our guide to mobile security abroad.
Your options: roaming, local SIM or travel eSIM
Home roaming
Roaming is the easiest option: you do nothing and your home SIM keeps working. The catch is cost. Many carriers charge per day or per MB outside an included zone, and long stays can become expensive. Some carriers also limit long-term roaming. Check your carrier's current rates and fair-use rules before relying on it for weeks or months.
Local SIM card
A local SIM is often the cheapest per GB for a long stay in one country, and it gives you a local number. The trade-offs are practical: many countries require passport registration for local SIMs, you may need to queue at a shop or kiosk, and some of the best-value plans are monthly contracts that expect a local address or bank account. In a single-SIM phone, your home SIM has to come out.
Travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is a prepaid data plan that you download to your phone. You buy it before you go, install it over Wi-Fi at home and switch it on after landing. There is no physical card, nothing to collect and no contract. Your home SIM stays in place for calls and SMS.
| Factor | Home roaming | Local SIM | Travel eSIM (eSIM Turista) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready on arrival | Yes | No, buy after landing | Yes, installed before you fly |
| ID or documents | No | Often a passport | No, just an email |
| Contract | Your existing plan | Prepaid or contract | No contract, prepaid |
| Cost control | Depends on your carrier | Usually good | Fixed price, no bill surprises |
| Keeps home number | Yes | Not in single-SIM phones | Yes, home SIM stays on |
| Several countries | Depends on carrier zones | Usually one country | Regional and global plans |
| Local phone number | No | Yes | No, data only |
For a deeper comparison, see eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
Step by step: get online before you leave
1. Check that your phone supports eSIM
Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone supports eSIM. It also needs to be carrier-unlocked; if you bought it from a carrier on a contract, ask them to confirm.
2. Buy the plan before you leave
Choose your destination on eSIM Turista, pick a plan, enter your email and pay. You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or with crypto such as USDT, USDC, BTC or TON; see how to buy an eSIM with crypto. There is no account to create and no ID to upload. The QR code appears on the order page and arrives by email within about a minute after the payment is confirmed.
3. Install it at home
Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi a day or two before departure. On iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later you can use the one-tap install link instead of scanning the QR code. Label the new line "Travel". Our eSIM installation guide walks through iPhone, Samsung and Pixel step by step. Installing early does not use up your plan, because most plans start on first connection at the destination.
4. Switch it on when you land
After landing, set mobile data to the travel eSIM and turn on data roaming for that line. Turn off data roaming on your home line so it does not use data at roaming rates, but leave the line itself on for calls and SMS.
Country, regional or global plan?
Pick the plan that matches your route rather than your final destination alone.
- Country plan. Best if you stay in one country, for example Turkey from $4.90 or Thailand from $4.90.
- Regional plan. Best if you cross borders within a region. Our Europe plan covers 35 countries on one eSIM.
- Global plan. Best for routes across continents or when you do not know yet where you will be next month. See our Global eSIM plans.
For China, our China eSIM and China, Hong Kong and Macao plans route traffic through Hong Kong, so Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram work without a VPN. More in China eSIM without VPN.
Data packs or daily unlimited?
There are two kinds of plans:
- Fixed data packs, for example 10 GB for 30 days. You pay once and use the data at your own pace. Good for most people who use maps, messaging, email and some browsing.
- Unlimited by day, for 1 to 30 days, with a daily high-speed allowance. After the daily cap, speed drops but you stay online until the next day. Good for heavy users, video calls or hotspot for a laptop.
Example current prices:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Turkey 10 GB / 30 days | $9.90 |
| Turkey 2 GB per day, unlimited | from $1.33 per day |
| Europe (35 countries) 10 GB / 30 days | $14.90 |
| Europe 5 GB per day, unlimited | from $4.76 per day |
| Thailand 10 GB / 30 days | $9.90 |
| China via Hong Kong 10 GB / 30 days | $12.90 |
| Global 10 GB / 30 days | $68.90 |
Daily plans get cheaper per day the longer you buy them. If you are unsure how much you will use, start with a data pack: you can top up the same eSIM later instead of buying a new one.
Multi-country moves and long stays
If you move every few weeks, a regional or global plan saves you buying a new eSIM at every border. When data runs low, open My eSIMs (you sign in with a link sent to your email), check what is left and add a top-up to the same eSIM. Each eSIM can be topped up up to 9 times, as long as it has not expired.
If you settle in one country for many months, a local SIM may become the cheaper choice, and some services there may ask for a local number. A practical approach many people use: arrive with a travel eSIM so you are online immediately, then get a local SIM once you have your address and documents sorted, without any time pressure.
Keep your home number for SMS and calls
Your bank, government services and many apps still send codes to your home number. A dual-SIM setup solves this: the travel eSIM handles data, and your home SIM stays on for calls and SMS with its data roaming switched off. Receiving SMS while roaming is free on many plans, but check with your carrier. We explain the exact settings for iPhone and Android in how to keep your phone number and bank SMS abroad.
Typical monthly budget for staying connected
Costs vary by carrier and country, so the roaming and local SIM columns show typical patterns only, not quotes. eSIM Turista prices are live.
| Scenario | Home roaming (typical) | Local SIM (typical) | eSIM Turista |
|---|---|---|---|
| One month in Turkey, 10 GB | Often a daily or monthly pass; check your carrier | Usually low, but registration and a shop visit needed | $9.90 |
| One month across Europe, 10 GB | Often included for EU-based plans; varies elsewhere | A new SIM per country | $14.90 |
| One month in Thailand, 10 GB | Often a daily pass; check your carrier | Usually low, passport registration common | $9.90 |
| Heavy daily use, video calls | Daily passes can add up | Large local plans can be good value | from $4.76 per day (Europe) |
For more provider comparisons, see the best eSIM providers in 2026.
When something else is the better option
A travel eSIM is not always the right tool. Use a local SIM if you need a local phone number for rentals, utilities or work, or if you will stay in one country for many months on a tight budget. Stay on roaming if your plan already includes the country at no extra cost. And if your phone does not support eSIM or is carrier-locked, a physical local SIM is the practical route.
Checklist before departure
- Dial
*#06#and confirm you have an EID; check the phone is unlocked. - Buy a plan that matches your route: country, regional or global.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and label it "Travel".
- Keep the order email with the QR code and your order number.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM; keep the line on for SMS.
- Save offline maps of your arrival city.
- Check your bank app works and your recovery options are up to date.
- Set a carrier PIN on your home number to protect it from SIM swap; see mobile security abroad.
- Charge your phone and pack your own charger and cable.
Choose your plan
Pick your destination on eSIM Turista, for example Europe from $4.90, install it tonight, and switch it on when you arrive.
FAQ
What is the best way to get internet when moving abroad?
For most people, a prepaid travel eSIM for data plus the home SIM kept on for SMS. It works on arrival, needs no documents and has a fixed price. For many months in one country, consider adding a local SIM later.
Do I need an ID or passport to buy an eSIM Turista?
No. You only need an email address to buy. There is no account to create and no documents to upload.
Is there a contract or subscription?
No. Every plan is prepaid with a fixed price. When you need more data, you top up the same eSIM; nothing renews automatically.
Can I use one eSIM in several countries?
Yes, with a regional or global plan. Our Europe plan covers 35 countries, and global plans cover routes across continents.
Will I lose my phone number?
No. eSIM Turistas are data only, so your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and SMS. Turn off data roaming on the home line to avoid charges.
How fast do I get the eSIM?
The QR code appears on the order page and arrives by email within about a minute after payment is confirmed. Install it at home before your flight.
What if I run out of data?
Open My eSIMs at /en/account, sign in with the link sent to your email, and top up the same eSIM, up to 9 times before it expires.
