UK & Europe SIM Cards and eSIMs for Australian Travellers

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into most modern smartphones. You do not need to insert a physical SIM card. After purchase, you install the eSIM by scanning a QR code.

Dial *#06# on your phone keypad. If you see a long EID number starting with 89, your phone supports eSIM. Do not confuse EID with MEID.

On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About. If Digital SIM or eSIM appears, your phone supports eSIM.

On Samsung, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager. If Add mobile plan appears, your phone supports eSIM.

On other phones, dial *#06# or check your mobile network settings for an option to add an eSIM.

Phones manufactured for the mainland Chinese market may not support travel eSIMs, even when an international version of the same phone does. If you purchased your phone secondhand or from a smaller or unofficial retailer (rather than from a telco or major retailer), it may be a Chinese-market model. If this applies to you, please check that your phone supports eSIM before ordering.

Both options include the same plan features, including a real UK mobile number, unlimited UK and Europe calls and texts, fast 5G/4G data, and UK plus Europe roaming.

Choose eSIM if your phone supports it and you want instant email delivery. Choose a physical SIM if your phone does not support eSIM or you prefer using a normal SIM card.

eSIM is useful because it arrives by email, installs by QR code, and avoids postage delays.

It can also let you keep your Australian SIM active. That can help you receive Australian text messages, including bank codes and one-time passwords.

It also avoids SIM swapping, reduces the risk of losing your Australian SIM, and creates less plastic and postage waste.

You do not need to choose an activation date when you order.

For eSIM, select eSIM when buying your plan. We email you the QR code and activation instructions. Scan the QR code to install it.

For physical SIM, follow the activation link in your order confirmation email. You can choose your preferred start date before travel.

One of the benefits of using an eSIM is that you can continue to receive one-time banking passwords and verification codes sent by SMS to your Australian mobile number while you’re overseas.

If you currently use a physical SIM in Australia, simply leave it in your phone and keep it turned on in your phone settings. You can then have your UK & Europe eSIM turned on at the same time. This allows you to receive SMS messages, including banking security codes and other verification messages, sent to your Australian number. Most Australian mobile providers do not charge you to receive SMS messages while roaming overseas. Your UK & Europe eSIM will be used for mobile data and internet access. Calls and text messages you make will also be made using your UK & Europe eSIM.

If you currently use an eSIM in Australia, you can still receive SMS messages sent to your Australian number while overseas, including banking security codes and other verification messages. Depending on your phone model, you may be able to have both your Australian eSIM and UK & Europe eSIM turned on at the same time. If your phone does not support two active eSIMs, simply turn off your UK & Europe eSIM and turn on your Australian eSIM when you need to receive an SMS. Most Australian mobile providers do not charge you to receive SMS messages while roaming overseas. Once you have received the SMS, you can turn off your Australian eSIM and turn your UK & Europe eSIM back on. Your UK & Europe eSIM will then be used for mobile data and internet access, as well as calls and text messages.

Our UK & Europe eSIM and physical SIM includes coverage in the UK and many European destinations.

UK coverage: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Europe coverage:

A to D: Åland Islands, Finland | Austria | Azores, Portugal | Balearic Islands, Spain | Belgium | Bulgaria | Canary Islands, Spain | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark

E to H: Estonia | Finland | France | French Guiana | Germany | Gibraltar | Greece | Guadeloupe | Guernsey | Hungary

I to L: Iceland | Ireland | Isle of Man | Italy | Jersey | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg

M to R: Madeira, Portugal | Malta | Martinique | Mayotte | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Réunion | Romania

S to V: Saint Barthélemy | Saint Martin | San Marino, Italy | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Vatican City

Our eSIM and physical SIM is direct with the Three UK mobile network. Three UK merged with Vodafone UK in 2025, so your phone can use the best available network at your location in the UK.

In Europe, your phone automatically roams onto local partner networks in each country.

Many third-party travel eSIMs only get roaming access. Some also route traffic through overseas systems, which can affect speed and reliability.

A simple comparison: a visitor to Australia could buy a random third-party travel eSIM, or a genuine Telstra service. The genuine local network service usually gives better access, priority and reliability.

Choose based on how much you expect to use your phone while travelling.

40GB: Best for light users who mostly use Wi-Fi, messaging, email, maps and light browsing. Includes 6GB Europe roaming.

100GB: Our most popular option. Good for maps, social media, WhatsApp calls, photo sharing and general browsing. Includes 12GB Europe roaming.

200GB: Best for frequent users, video calls, photo uploads, streaming and app-heavy travel. Includes 18GB Europe roaming.

Unlimited Data: Best if you do not want to worry about UK data usage. Includes 30GB Europe roaming.

Unsure how much data you need? If you are unsure how much data you will need, we recommend the Unlimited Data eSIM/SIM which gives you the maximum data possible: unlimited data in the UK and 30GB data in Europe.

UK data allowance can be used in full while in the UK (including the Republic of Ireland). Europe roaming allowance depends on the plan. This is due to Europe roaming limits set by the Three UK network.

Example 1: If you buy the 100GB plan and only travel in the UK and/or Republic of Ireland, you can use the full 100GB in the UK and/or Republic of Ireland.

If you buy the 100GB plan and travel in the UK and Europe, you can use 12GB (of the 100GB) in Europe. The remaining data can be used in the UK and/or Republic of Ireland.

If you buy the 100GB plan and only travel in Europe, such as France, Italy and Spain, you can only use 12GB in Europe. The remaining data (which is for use in the UK or Republic of Ireland) would be unusable in Europe.

Think you'll need more Europe data? You can buy an extra SIM or eSIM and then activate and use it when you use up all of your Europe data.

Yes. Both our eSIM and physical SIM include a real UK mobile number, so you can make and receive normal calls and texts.

This can help with restaurant bookings, airline changes, roadside assistance, travel forms, luggage tags and services that ask for a local number.

UK mobile numbers usually look like 07XXX XXX XXX. From Australia, the number is written as +44 7XXX XXX XXX.

While in the UK, you can call and text UK mobiles and landlines, including numbers beginning with 01, 02, 03, 07 and 0800.

While in Europe, you can call and text UK numbers, local numbers in the country you are visiting, and landlines or mobiles in included European countries.

Incoming calls and texts are free.

Calling or texting Australian numbers is not included, either from the UK or Europe.

If you want to use traditional calls or SMS to Australia, you will need to purchase a recharge voucher from our website after you receive your SIM or eSIM. When you are in the UK it costs £0.03 per minute to call Australian numbers and £0.252 per SMS sent. When you are in Europe it costs £1.40 per minute to call Australian numbers and £0.252 per SMS sent.

Most travellers use WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger or similar apps to call Australia using mobile data or Wi-Fi.

However, we understand that some customers may need to call Australian landline numbers while they are in the UK or Europe, for example to contact elderly relatives. Instead of purchasing a recharge voucher and paying international call rates, you may prefer to use the Viber app. Viber is similar to WhatsApp, but it also allows you to call Australian landlines and mobile numbers, including numbers that do not use WhatsApp.

Simply download the Viber app. For USD $3.99 per month, with no lock in contract and the ability to cancel at any time, Viber offers unlimited calls to Australian landlines and mobiles. Viber works over 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi. Simply open the app and dial the Australian number, just as you would using your phone's normal calling app in Australia.

More information is available here: https://account.viber.com/en/call-australia.

We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or connected to Viber in any way. This information is provided as a suggestion only and should not be considered an endorsement. Please use your own judgment to decide whether Viber is suitable for your needs.

Your eSIM or physical SIM remains active for 1 month from the date of activation.

Your plan expires at 11:59pm London time on the same date in the following month. If the following month has fewer days, it expires on the last day of that month.

Examples:

• Activate on 11 April, expires at 11:59pm on 11 May
• Activate on 31 October, expires at 11:59pm on 30 November
• Activate on 29, 30 or 31 January, expires at 11:59pm on 28 February, or 29 February in a leap year

eSIMs are delivered by email.

Physical SIM cards are sent by standard post, or you can choose Express Post if you need it quickly.

Yes. We provide support by email and WhatsApp while you are travelling.

You can contact us for setup help, troubleshooting or travel questions while you are in the UK or Europe.

Yes. We offer a money-back guarantee if your SIM or eSIM does not work because of a genuine technical fault.

Contact us within 24 hours of arriving in the UK or Europe so we can troubleshoot the issue. If we cannot fix it, we will refund what you paid.

The guarantee does not apply if your phone is locked, incompatible, setup instructions were not followed, or you contact us after the 24-hour arrival window.