Airalo data-only eSIM for travel
Use "Viber Out" to call landlines/mobile while traveling.
For Canadians, use "fongo" to call landlines/mobile while
traveling.
2025-03-16
Prerequisite
Check primary (home network) Data is "Roaming Off"
Settings...Cellular....
Cellular Data Options Roaming Off
if you have 2
SIM profiles:
Primary....Data
Roaming... Off (slider switch is grey out)
Say goodbye to ridiculous roaming charges 😀
Airalo eSIM setup (iPhone)
Make sure your cell phone is capable of using eSIM before purchase. Dial *#06#, eSIM capable phone will show a 32-digit long EID number.
Download and install Airalo app
Typically 1 or 2 weeks before travel, purchase a destination eSIM (e.g. United States, 3GB, 30 Days)
Open airalo app, tap "My eSIMS", select the eSIM you purchased,
tap "View Instructions", detailed instructions are shown on screen.
check to see if DATA ROAMING needs to be ON, most likely (99%) it needs to be ON.
About Validity Policy:
The information page at the eSIM purchase section tells you what validity policy is used.
For most eSIM, validity period starts (i.e. clock starts ticking) when you are connected to a destination cellular network, let's call this "good eSIM".
But for some eSIM, validity period starts (i.e. clock starts ticking) at the time of install, for the purpose of install/activation, let's call this "nasty eSIM".
A "Global" eSIM likely includes your home country as "destination". It is not nasty at all, but for the purpose of activation timing, treat it as a "nasty eSIM".
Step 1
For "good eSIM", about 1 week before travel.
For "nasty eSIM", delay doing Step 1 until "day of travel" (to conserve validity period).
At home with WiFi (or cellular Internet) access, or at a WiFi café.
Open Airalo app, select the eSIM you purchased
tap "Install eSIM"
Activate New eSIM ? tap "Allow"
tap "Continue"
A few minutes later (be patient, don't interrupt the process), tap "Done"
optionally create a custom label that is more meaningful than "Secondary", e.g. Vacation
Default Line ? tap primary
iMessage ? tap primary
Cellular Data ? If you are not traveling immediately, tap Primary.
Step 2 (day of travel)
For "nasty eSIM", do Step 1 install/activation (see above).
At departing airport, connect to airport WiFi.
At cruise terminal, connect to terminal WiFi.
At land crossing, a few km inside destination country, switch to Secondary data.
Settings...Cellular...Cellular Data....
change from Primary to Secondary.
Cellular data should come from Secondary (eSIM), but no data flow yet, because the following 2 conditions need to be met:
(1) you most likely need Secondary's Data Roaming to be turned ON
Settings...Cellular
tap Secondary line
toggle Data Roaming to ON
(2) you need to connect to a destination cellular
network.
Step 3 (at destination)
If everything goes well, you arrive at destination fully
connected: 😀
With Airalo eSIM at destination country, you can use WhatsApp,
WeChat, Skype, Facebook Messenger, YouTube, iMessage, Facetime,
Uber, Google email, Google Chat, Google Maps, etc.
Trouble shooting procedure:
If you have no access to Internet at the destination:
Settings...Cellular
tap the Secondary line:
Check:
-Network Selection -
T-Mobile or Verizon
(consult Airalo app to see which network(s) applies to your
eSIM)
(e.g.
Telcel for Mexico; Movistar for Spain; T-Mobile or Verison for
USA)
(e.g.
China Unicom or China Mobile for China, CSL for Hong Kong)
-tap Cellular Data Network - APN should be set automatically.
No action is needed, but it should not be blank.
Turn ON Airplane mode then turn OFF
Airplane mode
(this forces the phone to reconnect to the new wireless
environment)
I leave my primary line in the "ON" position because:
- I want to receive inbound SMS while abroad (inbound SMS is free for Canadian carriers).
- If someone calls my primary line, I can see who calls but not answer, otherwise roaming charges kick in.
- I can return calls or check voice mails using Viber or fongo for a small fee.