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.

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 printed on the SIM pack after it arrives. You can choose your preferred start date before travel.

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: Aland Islands, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, 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, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania

S to V: Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, 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.

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.

You can use WhatsApp, Messenger or FaceTime to call and message family and friends in Australia for free using mobile data or Wi-Fi.

If you need to make standard phone calls to Australian landlines or mobiles, you can buy a recharge voucher on our website.

Calls to Australian landlines and mobiles from the UK cost £0.03 per minute. Calls to Australian landlines and mobiles from Europe cost £1.40 per minute.

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.