What you need before you start
- An eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone. On iPhone, check Settings > General > About for an "EID" or "Available SIM" entry; on most Android phones, look for eSIM support under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. If your phone shows no eSIM option, it cannot use an eSIM plan.
- A stable Wi-Fi connection. The QR code is scanned once, and the profile downloads over the internet.
- Your order email with the QR code, or the QR code saved as a screenshot or PDF on another screen.
- Five quiet minutes. You do not need to be in Australia to install — only to start using the plan.
If your phone is locked to a carrier, ask that carrier to unlock it before you travel. A locked phone will not accept a travel eSIM.
Install the eSIM on iPhone
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data).
- Tap Add eSIM, then Use QR Code.
- Scan the QR code from your order email. If you are reading the email on the same phone, save the QR code first and scan it from another screen, or use the manual activation details from the order.
- Follow the prompts to download the profile. This can take a minute.
- When asked how you want the line to work, choose Primary for your usual SIM and set the new eSIM as the line for Mobile Data. Give it a clear label such as "Australia travel".
- Leave the new line switched off until you land.
Install the eSIM on Android
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (the wording varies by manufacturer).
- Tap Add SIM or Download a SIM instead, then Next.
- Scan the QR code from your order email.
- Confirm the download and follow the prompts.
- Set the new eSIM as your preferred line for mobile data, and keep your usual SIM for calls and texts.
- Leave the new line switched off until you land.
Install at home, switch on in Australia
The order of operations matters more than the taps. Install the eSIM while you still have home Wi-Fi, because the profile has to download before it can work. Then leave it off.
When you land in Australia, switch the eSIM line on and enable Data Roaming for that line. Your phone will connect to the local network and the plan's validity begins from that first connection in the country — not from the purchase date and not from the install date. If your trip is weeks away, installing early costs you nothing.
A simple checklist for arrival:
- eSIM line switched on
- Data roaming enabled for the eSIM line only
- Mobile data set to the eSIM line
- Your usual SIM still active for calls and messages
- Wi-Fi off for a moment, so you can confirm the mobile data is working
Choosing between an eSIM and a physical SIM
| Travel eSIM | Physical local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| When you can set it up | Before you fly, on Wi-Fi | After landing, in person |
| Where you buy it | Online, in advance | Airport or city shop |
| Physical handling | None | Swap SIM, store your own safely |
| Best for | Short trips, multiple countries, keeping your number active | Long stays, heavy local calling |
For a typical holiday or short work trip, an eSIM removes the first-hour queue at the airport. For a months-long stay with lots of local calls, a shop-bought SIM can still make sense.
Common installation problems
- "eSIM not supported" — the phone is not eSIM-capable or is carrier-locked. Check with your carrier.
- QR code will not scan — increase screen brightness, hold the phone steady, or use the manual activation details from your order email.
- Download fails halfway — reconnect to a stronger Wi-Fi network and try again. Do not delete the profile unless support asks you to.
- Installed but no data in Australia — check that the eSIM line is on, data roaming is enabled for that line, and mobile data is pointed at the eSIM rather than your usual SIM.
- Two lines, confusing menus — label them. "Home" and "Australia" make the settings screens much easier to read.
If something still will not work, the Help page covers installation, activation and troubleshooting in more detail.
Before you fly
- Buy the plan for the country you are visiting: the Australia eSIM for Australia, and the New Zealand plan on the New Zealand store page if you are crossing the Tasman.
- Install it on Wi-Fi, then switch the line off.
- Screenshot your order details and keep them offline.
- Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable — this is the one thing you cannot fix at the gate.
More planning material sits in the guides hub, including practical pieces on arrival, data use and staying connected on the move.