What is an eSIM?

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card soldered directly into your phone's circuit board. Unlike a traditional nano-SIM — the tiny plastic card you push into a slot — an eSIM exists as a programmable chip. You activate it by downloading a carrier profile rather than swapping hardware.

The technology has been built into most flagship smartphones since 2018. Apple introduced eSIM support with the iPhone XS, and Android manufacturers quickly followed. Today, eSIM is the standard for any phone released by Apple, Google, or Samsung.

For travelers, eSIM changes everything. Instead of hunting for a local SIM vendor at the airport — with the language barriers, unknown pricing, and identity checks that often come with it — you buy a data plan online, scan a QR code, and you are connected before your plane lands.

How does an eSIM work?

When you buy an eSIM plan, your provider generates a carrier profile — a small package of encrypted data that tells your phone which network to connect to, what credentials to use, and what data allowance you have. This profile is delivered to you as a QR code or a direct install link.

Your phone downloads the profile over Wi-Fi and stores it in the eSIM chip. The chip can hold multiple profiles simultaneously — you can have your home carrier profile and a travel eSIM profile loaded at the same time, switching between them without removing anything.

Once installed, the eSIM connects to local network towers exactly like a physical SIM would. The network does not know or care whether you have a plastic card or a chip — it just sees a valid subscriber.

Why travelers use eSIM

Which phones support eSIM?

Most modern flagship phones sold after 2018 support eSIM. The key models are:

Note: US-market iPhones bought before iPhone 14 may only have a physical SIM slot due to carrier requirements. iPhone 14 (US) and later are eSIM-only.

How to install an eSIM

Installing an eSIM takes under two minutes. There are three methods:

1. 1
   QR code scan

   Open your phone's camera and point it at the QR code on your eSIM page — open it from your account, or from the link in your Siima email. Tap the banner that appears and follow the on-screen prompts.
2. 2
   Tap-to-install link

   On a mobile browser, tap Install on your eSIM page. Your phone opens the eSIM installer automatically.
3. 3
   Manual entry

   Go to Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Enter details manually. Type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your eSIM page.

How to choose an eSIM plan

When comparing travel eSIM plans, look at four things:

Frequently asked questions