Mobile data when you land: roaming, local SIM or eSIM

Landing without data means no map, no rideshare and no messages to your crew until you find Wi-Fi. You have three options, and you can choose before you fly.

Roaming on your home plan

Roaming uses your own number and plan abroad. Australia's communications regulator, ACMA, says roaming costs for calls, texts and data can be high enough to cause bill shock. Before you travel, check if your plan includes roaming and in which countries, what it charges for data, and how to turn roaming off. Your provider may sell travel packs for the countries you visit. Apple adds that some plans include roaming in selected countries at no extra fee.

Turn off automatic app updates while you roam, and download maps before you leave.

A local SIM

ACMA's advice is to buy a local prepaid SIM at your destination if your phone takes one. It comes with a data limit and its own phone number. Apple notes that you can buy a prepaid plan from a provider's website or app before you travel, or in person after you arrive at an airport kiosk or a store. You may need to show your passport to complete the purchase. In On Chocks, crew mark places that sell SIM cards, and the Essentials category lists SIM or phone shops.

An eSIM

An eSIM is a SIM built into the phone, so you do not need to find, swap or lose a card. Apple says an eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because a thief cannot remove it from a lost or stolen phone. A supported iPhone can hold two eSIMs, for example your home line and a travel line.

Check three things:

• Your iPhone is an XS, XS Max, XR or a later model.
• Your iPhone is not locked to one provider. Open Settings, General, About and look at Service Provider Lock. If it reads No SIM Restrictions, you can use another provider.
• Your provider supports eSIM.

Install the eSIM before you fly. Apple says the iPhone needs a Wi-Fi network or hotspot to set up an eSIM, and installing at home gives you time to check that it works. With iOS 26 or later, an eSIM bought before you leave can offer to turn on when you arrive. You choose whether to use only the travel eSIM or both lines.

If you keep both lines on, the travel eSIM carries your data, but Apple warns that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line. Check the roaming setting on that line.

If you want one before you fly, you can get an Airalo eSIM here. We earn a commission if you buy one. In the app, Me, then Crew deals, also links to Airalo data eSIMs and says up front that its links earn a commission. A local SIM is fine too, and we earn nothing from one.

Wi-Fi

Smartraveller says your mobile network is often more secure than public Wi-Fi, and that you should not expect data privacy on public Wi-Fi. Leave banking and other sensitive jobs until you are on your own data.

Our guide to planning a short layover covers what to do once you are connected, and cards, cash and tipping abroad covers paying for things.

Sources

• Apple Support: Use eSIM while travelling internationally with your iPhone
• ACMA: Using your mobile or smart device overseas
• Smartraveller: Cyber security when travelling overseas