Über Travel eSIM

A travel eSIM is a short-stay, data-only mobile plan delivered via eSIM. Unlike a local prepaid SIM, a travel eSIM does not give you a local phone number, does not require identity verification, and doesn't need a local bank account. It is purpose-built for tourists and short-stay visitors.

The typical purchase flow: pick a country and bundle (e.g. Germany 5 GB / 30 days for $12.99 from Saily), pay with any debit/credit card, receive a QR by email, scan the QR on your phone, and start using cellular data as soon as you land in-country. No VideoIdent, no PostIdent, no local bank.

Major travel-eSIM brands include Airalo (widest country coverage), Holafly (unlimited-data plans with WhatsApp continuity), Saily (transparent bundle ladder), Nomad (frequent-travel focus), Ubigi (one of the oldest travel-eSIM brands), and fintech entrants Revolut eSIM (for existing Revolut customers) and N26 Travel eSIM (inside N26 banking app).

Travel eSIMs are the right pick for trips up to 30 days, especially for travellers from non-EEA countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Asia) for whom EU Roam Like at Home does not apply. For longer stays, a local prepaid SIM is cheaper per GB.

Limitations: no phone number means no calls and no SMS over the cellular network. You can still call and message via WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage, FaceTime, and Telegram - but if you need to receive a real SMS (e.g. for two-factor authentication on a service that only sends SMS), you'll need a separate SIM with a number.