How to buy an eSIM online for travel: steps, timing and what to check
Key facts
- Dial *#06# before buying: if an EID appears, your phone supports eSIM, and it must also be carrier-unlocked.
- VoaSim charges one price per duration for all 170 destinations, from USD 18.90 for 5 days to USD 106.90 for 60 days.
- The QR code arrives by email within minutes; install at home and keep the eSIM line off until you land.
- Validity starts at the first network connection at the destination, not at purchase or installation.
- If there is no signal, enable data roaming on the eSIM line first, then use the free eSIM Rescue tool at voasim.com/sos/.
See the exact price for your dates
Buying an eSIM is the fastest way to land abroad already connected. No shop, no passport paperwork, no swapping the tiny tray card. You buy online, get a QR code by email, and install it before you fly.
Here is the full process with VoaSim, plus the three things people get wrong: compatibility, when the days start counting, and what to do if there is no signal on arrival.
Step 1: check your phone can use an eSIM
Before you pay anything, confirm the hardware. Dial *#06# on the keypad. If an EID number appears next to the IMEI, your phone supports eSIM.
As a rule of thumb:
- iPhone XR or newer
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer
- Google Pixel 3 or newer
- Most phones released from 2020 onward
Two extra conditions matter. The phone must be carrier-unlocked — a device still locked to a home carrier will refuse a foreign profile. And VoaSim sells eSIMs only; there is no physical SIM option, so an older phone without an EID cannot use this product.
Your physical SIM stays in the phone and your number keeps working. WhatsApp still runs on your usual number. You simply turn off your home carrier's data roaming and let the eSIM carry the data. More detail in the guides section.
Step 2: choose destination and number of days
VoaSim uses one price per duration, identical for every destination. Japan, Portugal, Mexico or Brazil — same table. You only choose how many days you need.
| Plan | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 18.90 | USD 3.78 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 30 days | USD 61.90 | USD 2.06 |
| 60 days | USD 106.90 | USD 1.78 |
Prices include today's 15% promo. Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum is 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off — useful for a partner or a second phone.
Data is truly unlimited: no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. Run the price simulator to see your exact total.
Step 3: pay and receive the QR code
Checkout is an international credit or debit card in USD, processed by Stripe. No hidden fees, no local-currency billing, no cash option. An invoice goes to your email.
The QR code arrives by email within minutes. If you left a WhatsApp number at checkout, you also get a heads-up there. Support is human — chat on the site or hola@voasim.com if anything looks off.
Coverage spans 170 destinations across every continent, connecting automatically to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G. One important exception: the island Caribbean is not covered right now — Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao. Puerto Rico works because it runs on US networks.
Heading to multiple countries in Europe? The Europe plan covers 50 countries with a single eSIM, including Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
Step 4: install before you fly (and when the days start)
Install at home, while you still have Wi-Fi. Scanning the QR code in an airport with weak connectivity is how trips start badly. Step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android come with your order.
Here is the rule that saves money: your days start counting at the eSIM's first connection to a network at the destination, not at purchase and not at install. So install it, then leave the eSIM line switched off until you land. On Android specifically, do not turn on the eSIM's mobile data before the trip.
When you land:
- Turn on the VoaSim eSIM line and enable data on it.
- Turn off data roaming on your home carrier line.
- Wait a minute for the network to register.
- Open a browser page to confirm you are online.
Cruise note: the eSIM works on land at ports, not out at sea.
If there is no signal: the checks in order
Most "my eSIM is not working" cases are settings, not the eSIM. Go through this list top to bottom:
- Is the eSIM line switched on in your settings?
- Is mobile data assigned to the eSIM line, not to your home SIM?
- Is data roaming enabled on the eSIM line? This sounds wrong but it is required — the eSIM is roaming on a local network.
- Toggle airplane mode on and off, then wait 60 seconds.
- Restart the phone.
- Try selecting a network manually instead of automatic.
Still dark? VoaSim runs a free tool, eSIM Rescue, that diagnoses an eSIM of any brand with no signal — it works even if you bought from another provider. And if a VoaSim eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund. Details on the trust page.
Buying from VoaSim vs other ways to get connected
There is no single best answer for every traveler. A fair read:
- eSIMs sold by GB (Airalo, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, GigSky and others) can be cheaper if you barely use data — a few emails and a map. Check the allowance, the validity window and tethering rules in each provider's own terms.
- Carrier roaming (T-Mobile, AT&T International Day Pass, Verizon TravelPass, EE, Vodafone, Three, Telstra, Rogers, Google Fi) keeps your number active for calls and texts. Rates and daily allowances change by country and plan, and it usually must be enabled before you leave — check your carrier's app for the current rate.
- Local physical SIM is often the cheapest per GB, but it costs airport time, passport registration in most countries, and your home number leaves the phone.
- VoaSim makes sense when you stream, tether-free heavy browse, work remotely or simply do not want to count gigabytes.
Compare the options side by side in compare and roaming.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.