Transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone: what works, what does not (travel eSIMs)
Key facts
- Carrier eSIMs usually transfer to a new iPhone via Apple's Quick Transfer; travel eSIM profiles often cannot move.
- Never erase or sell the old iPhone until the line is confirmed working on the new one.
- VoaSim charges one price per duration for all 170 destinations: 5 days USD 18.90, 30 days USD 61.90, 60 days USD 106.90 (USD 1.78/day).
- Validity starts at the first connection at the destination, so install at home and keep the eSIM line off until you land.
- The free eSIM Rescue tool at voasim.com/sos diagnoses a no-signal eSIM of any brand.
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Getting a new iPhone right before a trip is great timing for the camera and terrible timing for your eSIM. Apple made moving a carrier line fairly simple. Moving a travel eSIM is a different story, and the difference matters if you fly this week.
Here is the honest version: what transfers, what does not, and the order of checks to run before you erase the old phone.
How the iPhone eSIM transfer actually works
Apple has two paths. During setup of the new iPhone, iOS offers to bring nearby eSIMs over from your old device — both phones need to be on, unlocked, with Bluetooth on. After setup, you can also go to Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, and choose to transfer from another iPhone.
Two conditions decide whether that works:
- Both iPhones need a recent iOS version and the old phone must still have the line installed.
- The issuer of the eSIM must allow transfers. Carriers mostly do. Many travel eSIM providers do not.
If the transfer option is greyed out or the line does not appear, that is not a bug on your side. It usually means the profile is locked to the device where it was installed. Never erase or sell the old iPhone until the new one is showing signal on that line.
Why travel eSIMs usually cannot be transferred
A travel eSIM is a one-time QR code. When you scan it, the profile binds to that iPhone's EID — the hardware ID you can check by dialling *#06#. Delete it or install it elsewhere and the code is generally spent.
That is true across the category, not just one brand. Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi and the rest all describe profile and device rules in their own terms; check the app before assuming a move is possible.
With VoaSim, the safest sequence is simple: talk to support before you touch the old phone. Human support can look at your order and tell you what is possible. If the eSIM will not connect at all and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund.
The order of checks before you panic
- Old iPhone still working? Keep it powered on and near the new one.
- Open Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM on the new iPhone and look for the transfer option.
- If the travel line does not show, do not delete it from the old phone.
- Email hola@voasim.com or use the on-site chat with your order number.
- Already abroad and stuck with no signal? Run the free eSIM Rescue tool — it diagnoses an eSIM of any brand in a few steps.
Two common false alarms: data roaming left off for the eSIM line, and the home carrier's roaming still switched on and grabbing the connection. Turn off your home carrier's data roaming and set the travel eSIM as the data line.
Your physical SIM and your number stay untouched, so WhatsApp keeps running on your usual number.
The cheaper fix: buy a fresh eSIM for the new iPhone
If the transfer is not possible and your trip is close, buying a new plan is often faster than fighting the old profile. VoaSim uses one price per duration for every one of its 170 destinations, so there is nothing to compare by country.
| Duration | 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 |
Data is truly unlimited: no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. Trips of 1–4 days pay the 5-day package; the maximum is 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Check your exact price in about a minute.
Installing on the new iPhone the right way
The QR code arrives by email within minutes of payment, through Stripe in USD, with an invoice by email. Install it at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly — not at the gate.
Key rule: the validity days start counting at the first connection to a network at the destination, not at purchase. So install the profile, then leave that eSIM line switched off until you land.
Compatibility is broad: iPhone XR or newer, and most phones released from 2020 on. Carrier-locked iPhones must be unlocked first. If you are unsure, dial *#06# — an EID on screen means the phone supports eSIM. VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards.
Travelling across Europe? One Europe eSIM covers 50 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. See the full destination list before you buy.
When a carrier line is the better move
Be fair about the alternatives. If your priority is keeping your phone number active abroad with incoming calls and SMS, your home carrier's roaming add-on does something a travel eSIM does not — VoaSim is data only, with no phone number and no traditional voice calls.
Carrier day passes and international bundles usually have to be enabled before departure, often include a daily data allowance with reduced speeds afterwards, and rates change by country and plan. Check the current rate in your carrier's app rather than trusting an old figure.
Many travellers run both: the carrier line for calls and SMS on the number, the travel eSIM for unlimited data. That combination also survives a phone swap better, since the carrier line is the one Apple's transfer tool handles well. More context in our roaming comparison.
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.