When to turn on your travel eSIM: before you fly or after you land?

Short answer: install your travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep its line switched off during the trip to the airport and the flight, and switch it on when you land, because the plan's validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network.

The quick facts

Best time to install	Before you leave, on home or hotel Wi-Fi
Install window	Within 180 days of purchase
When validity starts	When the eSIM first connects to a network, not when you buy or install it
Best time to switch the line on	When you land in the country the plan covers
Phone number and SMS	None: the plans are data-only
Your QR code	Appears on the order page within seconds of payment

Last checked October 2026. Read the plan details on the destination page on the day you buy.

Install early, switch on late

Those are two different actions, and mixing them up is the most common timing mistake.

• Installing puts the eSIM profile on your phone. It needs an internet connection, so do it on Wi-Fi before you leave. It does not start your plan's clock.
• Switching the line on lets the phone register on a network. The first connection is what starts validity.

So the tidy routine is: buy, install at home, label the line "Travel", then turn the line off until you land. No account or registration needed to buy, and no app needed: scan the QR code or enter the code in your phone's settings. The iPhone walkthrough and the setup guide have every step for iPhone and Android.

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked first: how to check in 30 seconds.

Why not switch it on before you fly?

Two practical reasons.

1. You could burn days you will not use. If the line is on and the phone connects to a covered network early, for example during a transit stop in a country the plan covers, the validity clock can start before you reach your destination. A plan sized for the days of your trip should start on the days of your trip.
2. Your phone will not be talking to a foreign network until you want it to. Keeping the travel line off means your home line stays your only active data source until you land.

If you will be in flight mode for most of the journey anyway, this costs you nothing: you simply do the switch-on as part of landing.

What about a stopover?

A layover in another country is a case worth a minute. A plan for one country connects to that country's partner networks, so a stopover somewhere else is not covered by it. Keep the travel line off during the layover. If you need data there, check whether your home plan roams and what it charges, or use airport Wi-Fi with care: see is airport Wi-Fi safe for habits that help. If you transit through a country that your plan does cover, the eSIM may connect there and start the clock, so the same rule applies: leave the line off until you want it to start.

Landing checklist

1. Turn the travel line on. It may be off after the flight, which is what you want.
2. Turn on Data Roaming for the travel line only. Your eSIM is a foreign network from the phone's point of view. Keep roaming off for your home line.
3. Set mobile data to the travel line. On iPhone, also turn off "Allow Cellular Data Switching" so the phone does not slip back onto your home SIM.
4. Turn Airplane mode off and on once. This prompts the phone to look for a local network.
5. Wait a minute. The first connection can take a short while.

If it still does not connect, the setup guide lists the fixes, including choosing a network by hand.

Two examples

Armenia. Our Armenia plans list Vivacell on 3G/4G, from $2.99. Install at home, keep the line off on the flight to Yerevan, and turn it on once you have landed. For the wider picture, see internet in Armenia for tourists.

Egypt. Our Egypt plans list Orange, Etisalat and Vodafone, from $2.99. The eSIM connects to whichever listed network it can reach, so there is nothing to select in advance. Having it installed already means no queue at an arrivals-hall SIM desk. Networks come from partner carriers and can change.

Can I buy at the airport instead?

You can, if you have a connection to open the order page and install, such as airport Wi-Fi. It works, but it is the least comfortable moment to do it: you are tired, the Wi-Fi may be slow, and you may need a second screen to show the QR code. Doing it at home is calmer. One-off purchase. No subscription, no recurring charge.

FAQ

Does the plan start when I install it or when I buy it?

Neither. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network. Installing does not start it.

How long can I wait between buying and installing?

Install within 180 days of purchase.

Should I turn the line on while I am still at home?

Not unless you want to test the install. Keep it off until you land so the plan's days are used on your trip.

Will the eSIM work on a stopover?

A country plan connects to that country's partner networks. A stopover in another country is not covered by it, so plan for your home plan's roaming terms or Wi-Fi there.

Can I make calls with it?

No. The plans are data-only, with no phone number or SMS. Your home SIM keeps handling calls and texts if you leave it in the phone.

Do I need to show a passport to buy?

We don't ask for an ID or passport at checkout.

Ready to choose? Browse all destinations, pick the country you are flying to, and install it before you go.