Staying Connected Abroad: An eSIM Guide for First-Time Travelers

1. What an eSIM is

An eSIM is a SIM card that’s built into your phone instead of being a small plastic chip. Rather than buying a card and swapping it in, you download a mobile plan to your phone, usually by scanning a QR code or tapping install in a provider’s app.

Most phones that support eSIM can hold several eSIM plans and use two lines at the same time. For travelers, that means you can keep your home number in the phone and add a travel data plan alongside it. Most travel eSIMs are data only: you get mobile internet, but not a local phone number for regular calls or texts. Apps like WhatsApp still work for calls and messages over data.

2. Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible

Do this a week or two before your trip, so there’s time to sort out any problem with your carrier.

Is it eSIM-compatible?

• Quick check on many phones: open the phone dialer and enter *#06#. If you see a number labeled EID, your phone has an eSIM. Not every eSIM phone shows it this way, so if nothing appears, try the steps below.
• iPhone: go to Settings › General › About and look for an EID, or check for an “Add eSIM” option under Settings › Cellular (or Mobile Data).
• Android: look under Settings › Network & internet (or Connections) › SIMs for an option to add or download an eSIM. Menu names vary by brand.
• Some phones sold in certain regions don’t support eSIM even if the same model does elsewhere. If you’re unsure, check with the manufacturer or your carrier.

Is it unlocked?

A “locked” phone only works with the carrier that sold it, so a travel eSIM or local SIM won’t connect.

• iPhone: go to Settings › General › About and find Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means it’s unlocked. (In some regions it’s called Network Provider Lock.)
• Android: there’s no single setting on every model. The surest way is to ask your carrier, or try another carrier’s SIM.
• Still paying off your phone? Many carriers only unlock it once it’s paid off or after a set period. Ask well before you travel.

3. eSIM vs. local SIM vs. international roaming

There’s no single right answer. Here’s how the three usual options compare.

4. Install before you fly, activate on arrival

Before you fly: install it at home

1. Buy your plan a few days before you leave, so there’s time to fix anything that goes wrong.
2. Install the eSIM while you’re on reliable Wi-Fi at home. Installing needs an internet connection, which you may not have when you land.
3. Give it a clear name, like “Travel data”, so it’s easy to tell apart from your home line.
4. Leave the travel line switched off for now if your provider says the plan’s time starts when it first connects. Check your provider’s instructions on when the plan starts.
5. Save or screenshot your provider’s setup steps, in case you need them offline.

On arrival: switch it on

1. Turn off airplane mode.
2. Turn on the travel eSIM line, and set it as the line for cellular (mobile) data.
3. Turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM. Travel eSIMs usually connect through partner networks, so they often need roaming switched on to work. This doesn’t cost extra on the eSIM.
4. Turn data roaming off for your home line, unless you mean to use it, so it can’t run up roaming charges in the background.
5. Give it a minute or two to find a network. If it doesn’t connect, restart your phone and check the roaming setting again.

Your home line can stay on to receive calls and texts, such as bank security codes. Your carrier may still charge for calls or texts received abroad, so check its rates.

5. Make your data go further

• Download offline maps before you leave. Google Maps lets you save an area to use without data; other map apps like Maps.me work fully offline. Save your first night’s address too.
• Use WhatsApp, or the local favorite, for calls and messages. Calls and messages use data, not your plan’s minutes, and your WhatsApp account stays linked to your home number even when you use a travel eSIM for data.
• Turn off automatic updates and photo backups while on mobile data, and save them for Wi-Fi.
• Turn on your phone’s low data mode (iPhone) or data saver (Android) to cut background use.
• Download before you go: translation language packs, playlists, podcasts and shows for the flight.
• Keep an eye on usage in your phone’s settings or your provider’s app, and top up before you run out rather than after.
• Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Avoid logging in to banking or other sensitive accounts on open networks.

6. Notes for Ghana, Thailand and Vietnam

Quick, practical pointers for VoyaKin’s flagship communities. Networks and rules change, so check current details before you go. Members who live there are often the best people to ask.

Ghana

Mobile money (“MoMo”) is a big part of everyday life in Ghana, and it needs a local phone number. Data-only eSIMs don’t include one, so if you plan to use mobile money, a registered local SIM may be worth getting. Expect to show ID when you register a SIM. WhatsApp is widely used for calls and messages. Discover Ghana on VoyaKin

Thailand

LINE is the messaging app many people and businesses in Thailand use, so it’s worth installing before you go. Tourist SIMs are commonly sold at airports and convenience stores, and you’ll usually need your passport to register one. A travel eSIM lets you skip the queue and get online as soon as you land. Discover Bangkok on VoyaKin

Vietnam

Zalo is the most common messaging app in Vietnam, and Grab is widely used for rides and food delivery. Some apps send verification codes by text, which a data-only eSIM can’t receive on a local number. Plan to use your home number for those, or get a local SIM, which needs your passport to register. Discover Vietnam on VoyaKin