Choosing an eSIM worldwide: verification codes, keeping your number, data abroad

From £6/month (goodybag plans; data allowance given as 2–3GB depending on source); eSIM is free

At least one chargeable activity every 6 months: call or text another number, use mobile data, or buy credit or a plan (calls to customer service, 0800 or free numbers don't count). Reminder emails about 1 month and 5 days before the deadline; within 30 days of deactivation you can ask customer service for a PAC to port out, after which the number is reclaimed and can't be recovered

Account registration needs an email address and a payment card; no ID needed for monthly or 18-month contract eSIMs (handset finance has a separate credit check, not verified separately)

Official roaming rates: in the rest of the world, receiving texts is free, sending costs 30p per text, answering calls £1/min; unlimited texts within plan in 37 EU destinations. Wi-Fi Calling/VoLTE opened to all customers in 2024, but official guidance says Wi-Fi Calling doesn't work abroad

AppSIM by post

O2 network (MVNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Main UK number and cheap number keeping; long-term residents abroad risk disconnection

Rolling monthly plans about £1–3/month on promotion, normally from about £4.90/month (HotUKDeals 2026 deal posts; prices change often)

Terms (as quoted on the ISPreview forum, version effective 2025-08-20): after 90 days with no chargeable activity (calls/texts/data) the balance is cleared and the SIM temporarily deactivated; topping up or buying a bundle within the following 365 days restores it, after which service is disconnected and the SIM can't be used again. A Lebara community manager confirmed on 2026-09-16: ‘temporarily deactivated after 90 days of non-use, can be reactivated within a further 365 days, then permanently deactivated’. Some users received reminder emails saying the SIM expires after 215 days of inactivity, while customer service says 90 days; accounts differ

Order online; a comparison table from Roami (a travel eSIM seller; published 2026-09, updated 2026-10) says Lebara online purchases need no ID or UK address, but the same article warns that non-UK billing addresses or foreign cards are often rejected by UK fraud checks; Lebara's official terms not checked directly

Holafly (data as of 2026-10-15) lists Lebara pay-per-use roaming rates: receiving texts free, sending 49p per text, answering calls 49p/min; applies outside Roam Like Home destinations (e.g. US, Hong Kong) when no roaming bundle has been bought (third party; the official lebara.co.uk page returned 403 and couldn't be opened). Users on r/LebaraUK also say customer service told them receiving texts in the US is free. Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022 table, older source)

WebsiteSIM by postIn store

Vodafone network (MVNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Cheap UK number; EU/India roaming

Rolling monthly bundles from £5/month (first-month price, rises afterwards; 2025 data); minimum top-up £10 for plain PAYG (2026-04 blog)

FAQ (as quoted in a blog): the number is reclaimed after 120 days of non-use; dialling *139*9999# extends this to up to 1 year for a £15 annual fee taken from credit. The blogger's method: top up £10 once, then every ~119 days send one 23p text or use 1MB of data (15p) to keep the number

No contract, no credit check; order online

Standard roaming rates (via Holafly, data as of 2026-10-15): the US is in Zone 2, sending texts £0.48 each, answering calls £0.25/min, making calls £0.80/min; the table header charges only for ‘outgoing texts’ and lists no price for receiving, and nothing explicit was found on whether receiving is charged. The Lyca FAQ says bundle allowances can't be used outside the EU. European roaming included in bundles; Wi-Fi Calling not supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

WebsiteSIM by postReseller

EE network (MVNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Cheapest way to keep a UK number

PAYG eSIM is free; Big Bundle/rolling plan prices unverified

Terms (as quoted on the forum): at least one top-up, Bolt On purchase or chargeable activity in any 6-month period, otherwise the number is disconnected and the balance cleared, and reconnection gives a new number; other forum claims such as ‘must top up once every 999 days’ are not officially confirmed

PAYG eSIM free online or in store; pay-monthly contracts have a credit check (not verified separately)

O2 community moderator: receiving texts abroad is free; in the rest of the world sending texts costs £1 each, answering calls £2/min, data £7.20/MB (2025-01 rates, from a community post). O2 warns that long-term PAYG use abroad (beyond holiday use) may be charged or suspended. Wi-Fi Calling: supported on pay monthly; conflicting accounts for PAYG

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O2's own network (MNO, Virgin Media O2) · Prepaid or monthly

Main UK number; fairly relaxed European roaming

From £6/month (5GB, with calls and texts); data-only £5/month (2GB, no calls or texts)

Community relaying the official position: with no active plan the number is kept for about 6 months (220 days); after that the account is closed and the number lost, with recovery not guaranteed

Rolling monthly, paid by card, no credit check seen; a Roami (2026-09/10, third party) comparison table says online purchase needs no ID or UK address, but warns that foreign cards/non-UK billing addresses may be rejected by fraud checks; SMARTY's official terms not checked directly

Use outside the EU requires an out-of-plan add-on; conflicting accounts on whether receiving texts is charged (a community ‘Guru’ says it's free; customer service answers vary). One user reported a physical SIM not working in Australia. Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

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Three network (Three sub-brand) · Prepaid

Cheap UK number; unreliable for receiving codes abroad

From £3.90/month (SimSherpa 2026-06; promises no price rise in 2026)

Paying monthly keeps the number, minimum about £3.90/month; how long the number is held after payments stop is unverified

No credit check; must be 18 or over; charged automatically at the start of each month; accepts Visa, Mastercard and PayPal (not Amex); no mention of a UK address requirement found (kenstechtips article 2024-01, older source)

36 EU destinations include 500 minutes/500 texts; outside the EU charged per use, e.g. sending a text in the US 20p (kenstechtips 2024-01, older source); from 2026-02 roaming data in 5 countries including the US dropped to £2/GB (ISPreview). Nothing explicit found on whether receiving texts outside the EU is charged. Wi-Fi Calling and VoLTE supported (kenstechtips)

Website

EE network (MVNO) · Prepaid

UK number with a low monthly fee

From £10/30 days (SIM-only)

Terms (VOXI T&C v2.13, 2024-03-20, older source): after 180 consecutive days of no use (‘use’ means buying a plan, topping up or any chargeable outgoing activity) service may be suspended with a text notice; within the next 90 days you must buy a plan, top up, make a chargeable call (191 doesn't count), send a chargeable text or use data, otherwise service is disconnected on day 270 and the balance forfeited. Failed payments: the price guide (2024-06) says it retries over the following two days, and if still unpaid on day 32 the plan is removed and out-of-plan rates apply

30-day rolling subscription paid by card; no official word on a credit check (kenstechtips says there isn't one)

Official price guide (v1.18, 2024-06-05, older source): VOXI plans can't be used outside Europe and standard roaming rates apply — Rest of World Zones 1–4 sending texts 8p/30p/60p/60p each, answering calls 8p/36p/72p/£1.56 per minute; the table has no charge for receiving texts. In Europe without a pass you ‘can still receive calls and texts from friends and family for free’. Global Roaming Extra (from £15) can be bought for 73 destinations outside Europe. Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

WebsiteSIM by post

Vodafone network (Vodafone sub-brand) · Prepaid

Cheap UK data number

PAYG 30 days: 1GB £6, 4GB £8, 6GB £10, 20GB £15, unlimited data £20 (all with unlimited calls and texts; Holafly data as of 2026-10-15); the official PAYG page says eSIM available, no credit check

iD staff reply on the community forum: after about 4 months (120 days) without chargeable activity (calls/texts/data) the number may be disconnected; disconnected numbers go into a quarantine period before being reclaimed (not official terms)

No credit check for PAYG online; pay-monthly contracts need a credit check with 3 years of UK address history; checkout requires a UK mobile number (community post)

iD staff community reply (2026-10-20): outside Inclusive Roaming (50 free roaming destinations), receiving texts with roaming on may be charged, and setting a £0 spend cap is advised; in 2025-08 staff said receiving texts in China is charged at the same rate as sending. The US is not among the 50 free destinations (it falls under the paid Roam Beyond add-on, community post). An earlier staff reply said receiving texts is free worldwide, which contradicts the newer statement. Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

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Three network (MVNO, owned by Currys) · Prepaid or monthly

Contract number for people with UK address history

From £4.95/month (kenstechtips 2026-09)

Monthly contract payments keep the number

Unverified (SIM-only contract; no information found on credit checks)

Receiving texts abroad unverified; Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

Website

Vodafone network (MVNO) · Monthly plan

UK number with a low monthly fee

Prepaid Data Pack eSIM from £10/month (40GB, includes Go Roam allowance; 2026-09 data)

At least one chargeable activity every 180 days: top up, buy a Data Pack/Add-on, or call, text or use data on the Three network (Wi-Fi doesn't count). Once disconnected, the number is lost and can't be restored

Prepaid can be bought online; pay-monthly contracts have a credit check (UK address history required; Three's terms not verified separately). Online SIM/eSIM swaps have a waiting period: 7 days after opening an account or changing the credit limit, 2 days after changing email; no wait in store with photo ID

Official roaming page: receiving texts is free in all non-Go Roam bands (Band 0–4); answering calls 9p–£1.25/min; receiving texts is free in Go Roam Around the World destinations. Wi-Fi Calling supported (whether it works abroad unverified)

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Three's own network (MNO, now part of VodafoneThree) · Prepaid or monthly

Main UK number; prepaid eSIM issued instantly

PAYG Plus rolling 30 days from £10/month (8GB; kenstechtips 2025-09, older source)

Official: a PAYG number must be used at least once every 180 days; a reminder text is sent after 90 days of inactivity, and if there's still no activity at 180 days the number is disconnected, can't be restored, and a new SIM is needed

PAYG Plus online orders need a payment card for auto-renewal; pay-monthly contracts need a credit check (not verified separately)

Official PAYG roaming page (Rest of the World): sending texts in Zones 1–4 costs £0.08/£0.30/£0.60/£0.60 each, answering calls £0.36/£0.72/£1.56/£1.80 per minute; the page lists no charge for receiving texts (it doesn't say which zone the US and Hong Kong are in). The price guide of VOXI, also part of Vodafone, likewise charges only for answering and sending. A 2015 Vodafone press release said receiving calls and texts while roaming is free (older source); a community reply says texts from ordinary numbers are free to receive, but it's unclear whether bank OTPs and similar count as premium texts. A third-party guide says most PAYG customers can't use the service abroad without buying a roaming Extra. Vodafone community moderator: Wi-Fi Calling isn't supported abroad (it switches off when connected to a non-UK network)

WebsiteIn store

Vodafone's own network (MNO, now part of VodafoneThree) · Prepaid or monthly

Main UK number; PAYG not suited to receiving codes abroad

PAYG physical SIM from £10/month (2026 revamp, no eSIM); eSIM requires a pay-monthly contract, price unverified

Official help: after 60 days without chargeable activity a confirmation text is sent; once in hibernation, you can call within 90 days to restore the number and balance; after 273 days with no response the number is reclaimed and the balance cleared (a customer service post says hibernation starts at 179 days)

eSIM is only available on pay-monthly and SIM-only contracts, which require a UK credit check; PAYG is physical SIM by post only

Several EE Community Stars (volunteers, not official) say receiving ordinary texts is free worldwide (premium texts excepted), but the phone must be set up for roaming: pay-monthly customers must first text ROAMING to 150, and PAYG is enabled automatically after use in the UK. A third-party article says PAYG texts sent outside Europe cost 60p each and receiving is free. EE's official help page (Texting while abroad) doesn't say whether receiving texts is charged. EE community says Wi-Fi Calling doesn't work abroad (it can't reach the EE network)

AppWebsiteIn storeSIM by post

EE's own network (MNO, owned by BT) · Prepaid or monthly

Contract customers with existing UK credit history

SIM-only £5–29/month (Holafly 2026-02); a £1/month 5G promotion ran in 2026-06 (expired)

Contract: paying monthly keeps the number; no prepaid option for keeping a number

SIM-only plans are ‘subject to status and credit check’, minimum 12-month contract; forums say SIM-only uses a soft search and handset deals an enhanced check; some users were declined because their credit file lacked an address

From 2026-05 Roaming Passport Plus covers 120 destinations (including the US and China; Hong Kong not seen in the list) at £2/day, charged only on days when data use exceeds 10MB or you call/text a UK number (Advanced Television 2026-05-27); receiving texts alone doesn't trigger the daily fee. Rest of the world outside Passport: Wise (2023-11, older source) lists answering calls at £0.14–£2.10/min, with no rate for receiving texts; a Sky community reply (2025) says receiving texts is itself free and charges come from background data. Wi-Fi Calling supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source)

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O2 network (MVNO) · Monthly plan

Long-term UK residents with a credit history

PAYG Essentials bundles from £5/30 days (physical SIM, minimum £10 top-up to activate); eSIM pay-monthly prices unverified

Official: 6 months or more without use leads to disconnection, and the number and credit may be lost

eSIM only on pay-monthly contracts/SIM-only (credit check required, not verified separately); PAYG is physical SIM

A Wise guide (checked 2024-05-08, older source) lists Tesco Mobile in the US: receiving texts free, sending £0.40, answering calls £0.89/min; the official roaming page now gives US data at 1p/MB (pay monthly and PAYG), but the receiving-text price in the site's calculator couldn't be read. Wi-Fi Calling not supported (kenstechtips 2022, older source); PAYG needs VoLTE turned on

In storeWebsiteSIM by post

O2 network (MVNO, Tesco and VMO2 joint venture) · Prepaid or monthly

UK contract customers

Entry-level 5GB about $30/month (third party)

Minimum about $30/month. Official: missing the due date means immediate suspension (during which you can't make calls or send or receive texts, only dial 611/911); payment must be made within 60 days of the last payment date to keep the number, otherwise the account is cancelled; restoring service costs a $5 reconnection fee for a single line ($15 for multiple lines)

The official site says no credit check; online activation needs contact details, an account, a PIN and security questions; payment by MasterCard, VISA, Amex or Discover; official pages don't mention SSN or ID requirements

Unverified

WebsiteIn store

AT&T network (owned by AT&T) · Prepaid

Main US number for use in the US; fairly expensive to keep

12-month prepaid: 6GB $15/month ($180), 17GB $20/month, 23GB $25/month, unlimited $30/month ($360), taxes and fees extra; 3-month terms cost more (6GB about $25/month)

A full 3/6/12-month term must be prepaid, minimum about $180/year + tax. Mint Family terms (revised 2022-05, older source): accounts suspended for non-payment enter a 60-day suspension period, and if not restored within 60 days they are cancelled, the balance forfeited and the number may be reassigned; a third-party cancellation guide also says the number is held for 60 days after service expires. The main terms page for individual plans returned 403 and couldn't be opened directly

eSIM ordered online; third parties say most international Visa/Mastercard cards are accepted, but not gift cards or PayPal (not officially verified)

Official: free Wi-Fi Calling on all plans, and calls and texts over Wi-Fi don't use international credit; Minternational roaming packs about $10/3 days and $20/10 days, covering about 40 countries; users say iPhones can receive texts via Wi-Fi fallback, Android varies, and 2FA code delivery isn't officially confirmed

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T-Mobile network (owned by T-Mobile) · Prepaid

Cheap main US number paid annually

Official site from $10/month or $120/year (Essentials 3GB); 2026-07 promotion 3GB annual $80; the eBay store also sells an AT&T-network eSIM for about $30/year (unlimited US calls and texts + a little data)

About $30/year (eBay annual plan, counted as 360 days); renew within about 30 days of expiry or the number is lost permanently; renewal uses 3D Secure and some foreign cards are declined

Bought online; the eBay channel accepts foreign cards or PayPal, but checkout requires a US address; Wi-Fi Calling needs a US E911 address

Third party: Wi-Fi Calling is the main way to receive texts abroad; the annual plan has about 1GB/month of international roaming, but it must be turned on during setup and can't be turned on once abroad

WebsiteReseller

Choice of AT&T / Verizon / T-Mobile (MVNO; annual plans mostly on AT&T) · Prepaid

One of the cheapest annual US carrier numbers, for receiving verification codes

$25/7 days, $30/10 days, $35/14 days, $50/30 days (50GB high-speed data in the US, unlimited calls and texts within the US, Mexico and Canada; taxes and fees extra)

Doesn't auto-renew; ends on expiry and must be bought again; not suited to keeping a number long term

Marketed as no contract, no paperwork and no US credit card needed

Official news: each pass includes unlimited calls and texts within the US, Mexico and Canada. The official press release doesn't say whether a US number is assigned; a Roami (updated 2026-10) comparison table says it includes a real US number, while another third party says it's a temporary +1 number. Roami says it must be bought and activated after landing in the US, while WhistleOut says it can be bought before departure; these conflict. The product page small print (search snippet) says it isn't suitable for long-term use outside the US. It ends on expiry and the number can't be kept long term, so it's no use for receiving verification codes after leaving the US

Website

T-Mobile (own network) · Prepaid

Short trips to the US; not for keeping a number

Custom plans from $5/month (no data or a little data); unlimited calls and texts with 2GB $10/month; officially $5–$25 per month

Minimum $5/month to stay active; there's also ‘Park Number’ at $3/30 days, during which you can't make calls, send texts or use data; after a monthly plan expires you have 30 days to act, otherwise the number lapses and can't be recovered

Register online with an email address and payment card; no ID requirement seen (Wi-Fi Calling needs a US emergency address)

Wi-Fi Calling abroad lets you send and receive texts at US domestic rates (US emergency address required); international roaming is charged to PAYG credit, needs at least $5 PAYG credit to enable, and the line must first have been used in the US; e.g. one country page lists texts at 1¢ each and calls at 30¢/min. The free European roaming promotion (within monthly plans) ended on 2026-09-30; from October European roaming is charged to PAYG credit

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T-Mobile network (MVNO) · Prepaid

Cheap US number for receiving codes and keeping a number

$3/30 days (100 minutes, 100 texts, 100MB); beyond that $0.03/min, $0.01/text, $0.03/MB; taxes and fees extra

$3 is taken from the wallet every 30 days; if the balance is short, service is suspended for up to about 60 days, and if no payment is made within 60 days of the last one, the number and account are permanently cancelled; PayGo-only top-up cards $10/$15/$50

No credit check or deposit; the official FAQ doesn't require ID; a US ZIP code is needed to choose a number (activate by texting GOGO+ZIP to 6700 or at paygo.ultra.me/activate)

Official FAQ: international roaming for voice/SMS/MMS is supported and charged to the wallet (third parties say from about $0.25/min, texts a few cents), no data roaming; Wi-Fi Calling must be turned on in both the account and the phone with a US E911 address, after which texts arrive over Wi-Fi abroad; users report 2FA codes arriving, with occasional misses from some bank short codes

WebsiteReseller

T-Mobile network (MVNO; Ultra has been acquired by T-Mobile) · Prepaid

Cheapest US number on a real carrier; keeping a number long term for verification codes

Light $10/month 2GB (about $8/month paid annually); By the Gig from $15/month 5GB; build-your-own options: unlimited texts $6/month, unlimited calls $8/month; officially taxes and fees included

Renew each period; if not renewed for more than 90 days the line may be cancelled and the number reassigned

Register an account on the website or app; no ID requirement seen; whether foreign credit cards and overseas addresses are accepted unverified

Official: the line must first have usage in the US before international roaming can be turned on, and roaming isn't available if it was activated outside the US; plans with roaming included are Unlimited Premium (200 minutes/250 texts) and annual Unlimited Starter (200 minutes/250 texts); other plans can add roaming packs such as $5 (100 minutes + 100 texts); the official page doesn't say whether Wi-Fi Calling works abroad

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Choice of networks: Dark Star (AT&T) / Light Speed / Warp (Verizon), etc. · Prepaid

US number with a choice of network; must be used in the US first

$25/month (basic), $35/month (Visible+), $45/month (Visible+ Pro), taxes and fees included; basic plan $275/year paid annually

Minimum $275/year (annual) or $25/month. Terms (2026-08-27): after suspension for non-payment there's a 60-day hold, and if not paid within 60 days the account is cancelled and the number reassigned; porting the number out counts as cancelling that line. The terms allow service to be limited, suspended or terminated if you mainly use data on other networks outside Visible's coverage

eSIM activated online in the app; the service terms (2026-08-27 version) don't mention any US address, identity verification or credit check requirement, and payment is by a card on the account (a backup card can be set); a Best Buy user reported that activation needed the app to recognise an address and needed a credit card. Third parties say the 15-day free trial requires being in the US

The basic plan only includes calls and texts from the US to Mexico and Canada, with no Global Pass (roaming about $10/day, Mexico/Canada $5/day); Visible+ Pro can text 200+ countries from the US; one user says texts arrived abroad with aeroplane mode + Wi-Fi Calling (a single case)

AppWebsite

Verizon network (owned by Verizon) · Prepaid

Cheap unlimited plan for use in the US

12-month unlimited prepaid about $20/month ($240 upfront, new single lines online only); monthly from about $25; Rollover plans went up from 2026-02-06: $30→$33, $40→$43

Renew each period; forums say voice plans not renewed are cancelled after about 60 days and the balance forfeited (older source)

Buying an eSIM online needs a US phone number, a US address and device verification; the address field only accepts US addresses; activation needs a 5-digit service ZIP; foreign credit cards unverified

Wi-Fi Calling works abroad (must be turned on before departure), with calls and texts treated as if in the US; most plans include texting 230+ countries from the US; roaming bought separately: day pass about $12/day, $35 travel pack, etc.

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AT&T (own network) · Prepaid

Main US number for use in the US; annual payment to keep the number

Free (personal)

May be reclaimed after 3 months of inactivity, with a 45-day recovery period

Community experts say personal numbers are only issued to US residents (Google's official pages don't say so explicitly); new numbers require identity verification, with manual review taking up to 3 working days

Twilio lookups return the type nonFixedVoip; many banks, PayPal, WhatsApp and others often refuse to send verification codes to VoIP numbers (mostly third-party/user sources)

App

VoIP virtual number (not a carrier SIM) · Prepaid

For comparison: shows why a real carrier number is the better choice

Connect: $15/month 5GB, $25/month 8GB, $35/month 12GB (unlimited calls and texts, hard data cap, taxes and fees extra); the $10 tier has been withdrawn

Monthly renewal, minimum $15/month + tax; number of days before the number is reclaimed after suspension unverified

Opened online via the T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app; needs an email address and credit card (with CVV and billing ZIP); users report that a US address is needed and the card form won't accept a billing address outside the US

Wi-Fi Calling supported (on compatible handsets); Connect originally had no international roaming (2020 review), and a 2026 update says there's now an add-on for calls and texts from the US to other countries; roaming rates for receiving texts abroad unverified

AppWebsiteIn store

T-Mobile (own network) · Prepaid

Cheap main US number for use in the US; harder to set up from abroad

Flexible about $20/month + $10/GB (single line); Unlimited Essentials $35, Standard $50, Premium $65 (per month)

At least the Flexible base of about $20/month + tax; risk of data being suspended with long-term use abroad

Official: Fi is only offered in the US, and payments.google.com needs a valid US address; third parties say a US-issued payment card is needed and sign-up and activation must be done in the US

Flexible and Unlimited Premium include roaming texts and data in 200+ destinations at no extra cost; the terms require mainly US use: if most usage is outside the US for 90 consecutive days, data may be suspended (calls and texts keep working); some users say they got a warning at about 50 days

AppWebsite

T-Mobile network (MVNO run by Google) · Prepaid or monthly

Travellers who often return to the US; not suited to keeping a number long term while living in the UK

Unlimited eSIM $25/month (MoneySavingPro); another source says from $15/month (not consistent)

Official terms (updated 2026-08-25): after a prepaid account is suspended, the amount owed must be paid within 120 days, otherwise the account is cancelled and the balance and number lost; a payment extension can be requested within 15 days of suspension (for a fee). Boost's reboost page says 90 days; accounts differ

Unverified; the official general terms (updated 2026-08-25) don't mention ID, SSN or credit check requirements, nor a US address; BYOD handsets must be unlocked and support eSIM (iPhone XS or later)

Unverified

AppWebsite

Boost's own network + AT&T / T-Mobile roaming (owned by EchoStar) · Prepaid

Cheap unlimited plan for use in the US

STARTER from about $35/month (with autopay); MAX 5G $45/month on the official site, taxes and fees included

Minimum about $35/month; number reclaim rules unverified

eSIM can be activated online (physical SIM kit $0.99); address, ID and foreign card requirements unverified

All plans can text 200+ countries from the US; STARTER roaming covers only Canada and Mexico, higher tiers include roaming in 140+ countries; Wi-Fi Calling availability abroad unverified

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Verizon network · Prepaid

Main US number on Verizon's network; fairly expensive to keep

SIM price unverified; International Supreme Card top-up vouchers HK$50/80/100; the 365-day prepaid eSIM must be activated within 60 days of purchase

International Supreme Card: a HK$50, 80 or 100 top-up voucher extends validity by 365 days from the top-up date, i.e. about HK$50/year. hahaSIM costs about HK$10/year to keep (third-party claim, unverified)

Online real-name registration on the official site: scan the ID document, check and submit; non-residents can use a travel document but must declare they have no Hong Kong ID card; if the registration text doesn't arrive you can register with the ICCID starting 89852, and the verification link is valid for 48 hours. Each person can hold at most 10 prepaid SIMs per operator

Local +852 number; blogs say hahaSIM generally doesn't charge extra for receiving texts in mainland China, but a forum user says hahaSIM doesn't receive Telegram codes. No official rules found on charges for receiving texts while roaming

WebsiteAppIn storeReseller

3HK network (MNO, Hutchison Telecom) · Prepaid or monthly

Keeping a Hong Kong number and receiving verification codes (test it yourself)

Visitor prepaid SIMs from about HK$78/7 days (third-party price); 30GB shared annual SIM HK$198/365 days (third party); minimum online top-up HK$50 each time

Official online top-up: each HK$50 extends validity by 180 days, HK$200 or more by 365 days (counted from the top-up date; if the existing validity is longer, that applies). Minimum about HK$100/year (two HK$50 top-ups). If the SIM expires or is suspended for more than 30 days, the balance isn't refunded

Hong Kong prepaid SIM real-name registration: non-residents can register with a travel document (passport, or Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao); in the app choose ‘non-Hong Kong ID card holder’, and the address can be a hotel or a mainland address; each person can hold at most 10 prepaid SIMs per operator (the government proposed cutting this to 3 in 2025-07; not seen in force). BN(O) passports can't be used for registration

Local Hong Kong +852 number that can receive texts; nothing found on official pages about whether receiving texts while roaming abroad is charged. The 一卡两号 (one card, two numbers) product can also receive texts to a mainland number at the same time (third-party claim)

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CMHK's own network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Main Hong Kong number, long-term number keeping, verification for opening Hong Kong and US stock brokerage accounts

Unverified

Unverified

Must be real-name registered before use: register online on the registration page at cuniq.com, then scan the code to activate the eSIM (according to a third-party sales page)

Unverified

WebsiteReseller

China Unicom (Hong Kong) (MVNO, mainly on the 3HK network, among others) · Prepaid

Hong Kong SIM for travel to and from mainland China

A first purchase of a bundle over HK$50 comes with a free eSIM (e.g. HK$38 mainland and Macau data + HK$15 Asia data pass = HK$53); physical SIMs are only posted to Hong Kong addresses

Buy any paid service again within 365 days of the last purchase and the number's validity is extended by 1 year from the purchase date. The old HK$6 SMS pack has been withdrawn (around 2026-06-30; some say it rose to HK$28); the current minimum is about HK$15/year (Asia data roaming pass)

Real-name registration in the app: photograph a passport or Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (choose ‘other travel documents’) for recognition and submit; usually approved quickly; each person can have at most 10 numbers with this operator, and expired numbers can be de-registered on the official site to free up slots

Several blogs say receiving texts in mainland China is generally free; users say it works for registering Telegram, WhatsApp, cross-border e-commerce and banks, but some AI platforms (ChatGPT and Claude were named) don't deliver codes or won't allow registration. The official terms of the HK$15 data pass exclude international SMS and roaming voice

AppReseller

HKT/csl network (an HKT brand) · Prepaid

Cheap number keeping; receiving verification codes from overseas platforms

Prepaid annual SIM about HK$148/365 days (78GB, third-party price); visitor eSIMs come in 7-day and 15-day versions (prices unverified)

Official site (all-in-one prepaid SIM): from 2024-03-01 SIM validity is 90 days; a single top-up under HK$49.9 extends it by 30 days, HK$50–199.9 by 180 days. If the balance is ≤0 and the SIM is unused for 3 consecutive months, csl may end service without notice. Minimum about HK$100/year

Real-name registration: after adding the eSIM you receive a registration text; follow the link and complete it with an ID document; non-residents use a travel document; limit of 10 prepaid SIMs per person per operator

Local +852 number that can receive texts; official pages only list roaming charges for sending texts ($1.5 per text to the mainland, $1.8 per text to other countries) and don't say whether receiving is charged

WebsiteAppIn storeReseller

HKT network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Local Hong Kong number, number keeping

Unverified

Several official prepaid SIM pages: a single top-up of HK$50 or more resets validity to 365 days (user guides for some older SIM types say 180 days), i.e. about HK$50/year

Hong Kong prepaid SIM real-name registration (travel documents accepted; limit of 10 prepaid SIMs per person per operator); the official registration page refused access, details unverified

Local +852 number; no rules found on charges for receiving texts while roaming

AppIn storeReseller

SmarTone network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Keeping a Hong Kong number

Tourist SIM S$12 / S$14 / S$30 (30 days from registration)

Passport registration: the number ends on day 31 and can't be extended or recovered. Local ID registration: a Super$28 top-up extends SIM validity by 180 days; the S$5 validity extension pack adds 90 days (up to 180 days cumulative)

Registered at purchase: foreigners use a passport (or a work pass issued after 1999-05-03); SIMs registered with a passport expire automatically after 30 days, and you must switch to a local ID such as NRIC or FIN to keep the number

Local texts can be received while valid; the FAQ doesn't cover receiving texts while roaming

In storeReseller

M1 network (MNO) · Prepaid

Short trips; long-term use for pass holders

Unverified

Numbers registered with only a passport end after 30 days and can't be renewed; to keep a number long term you must re-register with a Singapore NRIC or pass (FIN)

Passport registration; under IMDA rules, from 2024-07-15 SIMs registered with a passport are valid for only 30 days; each person can hold at most 3 prepaid SIMs across all operators combined

Local texts can be received within the 30 days; eSIMs registered with a passport are data-only with no number (third-party claim)

In storeReseller

Singtel network (MNO) · Prepaid

Short trips only; can't keep the number

Unverified

SIMs registered with a passport stop working after about 30 days and top-ups can't extend them; for local ID holders, certain top-up amounts extend SIM validity (third parties say S$20/30/50 extends it by 180 days)

Registered with a passport at purchase; the IMDA 30-day passport rule applies; each person can hold at most 3 prepaid SIMs across all operators combined

Local texts can be received while valid; the number can't be kept beyond 30 days

In storeReseller

StarHub network (MNO) · Prepaid

Short trips

Unverified

Monthly payment (no contract); exact monthly fees unverified

Postpaid can't be registered with a passport alone; a Singapore-issued document is required (NRIC or FIN pass card); online sign-up uses Singpass login and often requires proof of address (2026 guide). A third-party review says Circles.Life accepts NRIC, a work or student pass, or ‘passport + pass’

Local number provided; charges for receiving texts while roaming unverified for each provider

AppWebsite

GOMO uses Singtel, giga uses StarHub, Circles.Life uses M1, Simba has its own network · Monthly plan

Only for people holding a Singapore pass or ID

SIM ¥4,950 + Voice-Only ¥1,430/month (number only, no data); Voice+Data ¥1,650/month (1GB) to ¥5,280/month (50GB)

Monthly from ¥1,430, no minimum contract term; receiving texts abroad requires turning on ‘Voice & SMS Roaming’ separately, at ¥5,995 each time

Voice SIMs require the holder's original valid passport (no copies or scans); if delivery is chosen, the ID must be uploaded first; 18 or over; no residence card or Japanese bank account needed

Real 070/080/090 mobile number (not an 050 virtual number); with roaming on, receiving texts abroad is free and sending costs ¥180 per text; no data roaming abroad

WebsiteSIM by postReseller

docomo network (MVNO) · Monthly plan

A real Japanese mobile number for foreigners without a residence card, for receiving texts from Japanese platforms

From ¥3,278/month (5GB, incl. tax); activation fee ¥5,500

Monthly from ¥3,278, no lock-in

People with a registered Japanese address use a residence card or My Number card; others can use a passport; ID must be shown when collecting at an airport counter or the Shinjuku office

Calls and texts charged separately; official pages don't cover use abroad (a wiki says Voice+Data can be used outside Japan)

WebsiteIn store

Unverified · Monthly plan

People staying in Japan for the medium to long term

Rakuten 最強プラン (Saikyo Plan): up to 3GB ¥1,078/month, 3–20GB ¥2,178/month, over 20GB ¥3,278/month (incl. tax)

Minimum ¥1,078 per month (tiered by usage)

From 2026-04-01 ID photos and AI simplified eKYC are no longer accepted online, replaced by IC chip reading; foreign nationals can use a residence card or special permanent resident certificate, but an official notice of 2026-05-15 says some foreign customers' residence cards can't be used online and they must go to a store; nothing found saying a passport can be used

Receiving texts is free in Japan and abroad; texts between Rakuten Link and numbers in eligible countries are free, but the ‘data type’ plan applied for after 2026-02-24 can't use international SMS; the iOS version of Rakuten Link can't send texts. 2GB/month of roaming abroad at no extra charge (several blogs)

WebsiteIn store

Rakuten's own network + au roaming (MNO) · Monthly plan

Cheap main number for Japanese residents; receiving codes abroad

¥2,970/month (30GB, includes 5-minute domestic calls); 大盛り (Ōmori, ‘large serving’) ¥4,950/month (110GB)

¥2,970 every month (monthly billing, no zero-fee option)

Standard Japanese carrier real-name verification: Japanese ID such as a residence card + a Japanese address; from 2026-04 online verification is mainly by IC chip reading; often requires a Japanese credit card or bank account for payment (third-party guide)

Roaming in 91 countries and regions with no sign-up needed and no extra charge within the monthly 30GB; speed is cut to 128kbps after 15 days abroad; receiving texts abroad is free, sending is charged; both making and receiving calls are charged

WebsiteApp

docomo network (online brand) · Monthly plan

Main number for Japanese residents; short-term roaming abroad

2GB voice SIM ¥850/month (incl. tax, selectra.jp updated 2026-10-21); 5GB voice SIM ¥950/month (official site); contract fee ¥3,300

Monthly payment, minimum about ¥850/month (2GB voice SIM, incl. tax)

From mid-January 2026 online verification changed to My Number card public personal authentication (公的個人認証) or IC chip reading; from 2026-05 a copy of the residence record (住民票) can be sent by post (simplified registered post, fee ¥2,200 each). Nothing found on whether residence cards can be used for online verification

Receiving texts in Japan is free, sending ¥3.3–33 per text (by length, selectra.jp 2026-10-21); from 2026-09-01 eSIMs with SMS were added (docomo and au networks); no rules found on receiving texts while roaming abroad

WebsiteSIM by post

docomo / au networks (MVNO) · Monthly plan

Japanese residents

¥990/month (up to 3GB, incl. tax); ¥2,090/month (up to 10GB)

Minimum ¥990 per month

Japanese real-name verification (residence card, etc.) + a Japanese address; payment by credit card or bank transfer (third party)

With 「世界対応ケータイ」 (worldwide mobile service) added, calls and texts work abroad: receiving texts free, sending 100 yen per text (2025-11 information); users say SMS verification codes arrive on entering the country. From 2026-09, 「海外あんしん定額」 (overseas flat-rate plan) gives up to 7 days of free data in flat-rate country group L

WebsiteApp

SoftBank network (online brand) · Monthly plan

Cheap number keeping for Japanese residents

Base fee 0 yen/month; buy paid トッピング (‘toppings’, i.e. add-ons) as needed

Suspended if no paid topping has been bought in the past 180 days (voice + data version: also avoided if domestic call and domestic SMS charges in the same period total more than 660 yen including tax); if still nothing is bought within 30 days of suspension, the contract is terminated. Official toppings: 1GB/7 days ¥390 (incl. tax); time-based unlimited data toppings from ¥250 (official topping list), i.e. a minimum of about ¥250/180 days

The voice + data version requires real-name verification with a driving licence, My Number card or residence card; from 2026-04-01 online verification reads the ID's IC chip and uploading ID photos is no longer possible. Credit cards accepted: VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners. The data-only version needs no ID (can't send or receive texts)

Official: with international roaming on, receiving texts abroad is free; sending is charged per text (e.g. Korea 100 yen per text); calls and texts available in more than 200 countries and regions

App

au network (KDDI's online brand) · Prepaid

Zero-monthly-fee number for Japanese residents to keep

Starter packs from the three carriers about 150–200 CZK (including credit); the Twist calling option auto-renews at 149 CZK after 30 days (can be turned off by SMS)

Credit expires unless you top up from time to time; several carriers do not accept foreign bank cards for online top-ups, so once you leave the Czech Republic you may be unable to keep the line alive remotely (exact number of days unverified)

bento.travel (2026-07) says prepaid SIMs need no ID, though you may have to sign a form in Czech; another third party says a passport must be shown and mentions a 2022 registration law, so the two contradict each other

Unverified

In store

T-Mobile CZ's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

EU number bought on the spot in the Czech Republic without registration (registration rules are disputed)

Prepay 15: a single top-up of at least €15 every 28 days gives 10,000 minutes of calls to any network, 3000 Tesco-to-Tesco texts, 15GB of data and €15 credit (official terms, effective 2025-05-27); whether eSIM is available: Unverified

Official Prepay 15 terms (effective 2025-05-27): suspended after 6 months without a top-up or chargeable use; after more than 13 months (395 days) of inactivity without porting out or reactivation, the number is terminated and cannot be reused

Travel sources say Irish prepaid SIMs have no mandatory registration, but you must register a My Tesco Mobile account to get EU roaming (unregistered lines pay standard roaming rates); no ComReg original text on official registration rules was found

Official Prepay roaming page: in Ireland and the EU, receiving SMS is free under the standard out-of-bundle rates; the Prepay 15 terms state the offer excludes non-EU roaming. Whether the UK (Great Britain, Northern Ireland) is treated as the EU and the cost of receiving SMS in the UK: Unverified; Irish carriers once announced the end of roaming charges between Ireland and the UK, but the date is unknown

In storeWebsite

Unverified (sources differ: Three or O2) · Prepaid or monthly

The EU number closest to the UK (insufficient information)

eSIM starter pack €9.99 (includes €10 credit); the Basistarif with no monthly fee has been available only to existing customers since 2026-03-02; new customers activating Tarif L online pay €10 for the first 4 weeks, then €19.99 / 4 weeks (Home & Go S €19.99 / 4 weeks)

Initially valid for 12 months after activation, extended by top-ups: €5 adds 4 months; several €15 top-ups or a single €30 top-up give up to 24 months; after expiry there are about 2 months in which you can only receive calls and SMS, then the line is deactivated. To take the number with you, you must formally cancel

German law (§172 TKG) requires identity verification before any SIM/eSIM is activated; a passport can be used (foreign passports depend on the verification provider, and some may be rejected); on a phone, verify by video in the app (24 hours) or at one of about 10,000 partner stores via Shop-Ident; residence registration is not required, a temporary German contact address (a hotel is fine) is enough

Third-party sources say the UK is currently charged as part of the EU zone (no extra roaming fees), but only until 2026-12-31; from 2027-01-01 the UK moves to ‘country group 2’ (the same group as Switzerland), with charges yet to be announced. Sending SMS abroad on the Basistarif costs 13 ct per message (7 ct in some countries). Whether receiving SMS while roaming is charged: Unverified. Wi-Fi Calling: Unverified

WebsiteAppReseller

o2 Telefónica network (MVNO; not stated directly in the sources used here) · Prepaid

Keeping a German number and receiving codes within the EU; for long-term UK residents, it may get more expensive from 2027

€2/month (€0 for Freebox customers), no contract; includes 2 hours of calls in France, unlimited SMS, 50MB

The €2 monthly charge keeps the number (no contract, cancel at any time); specific rules on suspension for non-payment: Unverified

Official tariff brochure (2026-03-31 edition): the 2€ plan is ‘only for users living in metropolitan France or who can prove a stable link with metropolitan France’. Universfreebox (2021, older source) says an eSIM can be opened online from abroad, but you need a bank card, a RIB (bank account details) and an address in metropolitan France; it does not say whether the RIB must be for a French account. Another third party says ID and recent proof of address are required

Official tariff brochure (from 2026-03-31): the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales) is listed in the 2€ plan's ‘Europe’ zone, and SMS from the Europe zone to France/Europe/DOM is unlimited; the brochure states ‘Les SMS reçus ne sont pas facturés’ (received SMS are not charged). Outside Europe (e.g. the US, Hong Kong) you must first enable Option Voyage in the customer area (requires a €10 credit prepayment by bank card). Fair use: if over 4 consecutive months your use and time in the Europe zone exceed those in metropolitan France, or the SIM is inactive in France for a long time and used mainly abroad, surcharges per the tariff sheet may apply after 15 days' notice. Wi-Fi calling is only supported on the Free 5G+ and Free Max plans, not on the 2€ plan

WebsiteIn store

Free's own network (MNO) · Monthly plan

Cheapest EU number for keeping a line (€2/month)

HoT smart MINI €1.90 / 30 days (550MB, 3.9 cents per minute or SMS, Austria only); HoT flex with no monthly fee, 3.9 cents per minute or SMS, 0.9 cents per MB

Unverified

Prepaid SIMs in Austria must be registered since 2019; HoT verifies identity before activating a SIM/eSIM. Online activation needs an already-registered Austrian number or Austrian online banking / eID; otherwise take ID to a HOFER store checkout; whether foreign passports can be verified online: Unverified

Unverified (the official site has roaming packs for 45+ non-EU countries, but gives no country list)

WebsiteAppIn store

MVNO (host network unverified) · Prepaid

Cheap Austrian number; easiest to open online if you have Austrian ID

Iliad Voce €4.99/month (unlimited calls and SMS in Italy and the EU, 40MB); Giga 150 €7.99/month; activation fee €9.99 (same for eSIM)

Plan fee charged monthly; how long until the number is reclaimed after the balance runs out or the line is suspended: Unverified

New customers order online and then complete video identity verification in their personal area; most sources say an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) is required, while a forum says it is not, so accounts conflict; whether foreigners can sign up with a passport alone: Unverified

Key change: Iliad removed the UK and Gibraltar from its no-roaming-charge list on 2025-12-31, and from 2026-01-01 they are charged at non-EU rates (SmartWorld, 2025-12-03). Official tariff sheet (5,99€ plan, from 2026-01-01) for the UK: outgoing calls €0.18/min, incoming calls €0.06/min, sending SMS €0.06 each, data €0.06/MB; the roaming notes say ‘SMS ricevuto: incluso’ (received SMS included, no extra charge); Hong Kong: sending SMS €0.60 each, incoming calls €1.45/min. EU roaming is included in the plan; fair use requires staying mainly in Italy. The tariff sheet for the Voce 4,99€ plan was not checked separately. Wi-Fi Calling: Unverified

WebsiteIn storeReseller

Iliad's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

Low-cost Italian number (tax code needed)

The eSIM itself is free (available on all plans); plan prices unverified (official site returned 403 and could not be read)

Unverified

Statutory identity verification: video verification (Video-Ident) recommended, PostIdent also possible; the eSIM QR code is emailed only after verification; whether a foreign passport passes depends on the verification provider

UK roaming rules, SMS receiving charges and Wi-Fi Calling are all unverified

WebsiteApp

Unverified · Prepaid

German number (video verification needed)

€7 / 28 days (7GB, unlimited domestic calls, 7GB EU roaming); €10 / 28 days (100GB); up to €30 / 28 days

Renews every 28 days; unused data rolls over on renewal; how long until the number is reclaimed after renewals stop: Unverified

Two-step online identity verification as required by Spanish law; a passport or EU ID card can be used; prepaid does not require an NIE

The official site mentions EU roaming data but not UK roaming or SMS; Wi-Fi Calling unverified

Website

Unverified · Prepaid

EU number opened while in Spain

Tourist SIM about €15 / 30 days (15GB), third-party data from 2026-07

Unofficial users on the MEO community forum say a number with no calls made in 6 months is cancelled (not officially verified)

Tourist SIMs require a passport and in-store registration, and tourists do not need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) (third-party); opening a new eSIM number often requires a store visit and possibly an NIF or local address

Unverified

In store

MEO's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

Local number you can only get once you are in Portugal

SIM/eSIM free to order on the official site; cheapest pack €10/month (1GB + 25 minutes, or 512MB + 50 minutes, both with unlimited SMS)

Activate with a first payment within 18 months; remaining credit is valid for 6 months and extended with each top-up; deactivation rules: Unverified

Belgian law requires prepaid SIMs to be registered (BASE official explanation: Belgian eID / EU ID / international passport with selfie match, or itsme); which verification method Mobile Vikings itself uses: Unverified

Domestic rates within the EU; outside the EU (including the UK) mobile data cannot be used, and calls and SMS are charged by country; whether receiving SMS is charged: Unverified

WebsiteApp

MVNO (host network unverified) · Prepaid or monthly

Belgium's only carrier with prepaid eSIM (per CallMePower, 2026-07)

Cheapest plan about 30–35 zł/month (2025 source, 2026 price unverified); SIM/eSIM free; there is also prepaid Orange na kartę at 31 zł / 31 days

Paid as a monthly subscription; what happens to the number after pausing or stopping payment: Unverified

Identity verification is done in the Flex app; Orange's official page for foreigners says a passport can be used; users report scanning the passport plus a selfie, possibly with a 1 zł verification charge that is refunded

Unlimited calls and SMS in Poland and when roaming in the EU; the UK is not in the EU, so a ‘UK pack’ is needed (2025 prices: 9 zł / 1GB / 15 days, 10GB / 30 days 50 zł); whether receiving SMS in the UK is charged: Unverified

App

Orange Polska network · Monthly plan

EU number that can be opened entirely online in the app (passport verification)

SIM free, with CHF 10 credit; Swiss calls CHF 0.49 per call (up to 60 minutes), SMS CHF 0.12; data packs from CHF 9.95 / 1GB / 30 days; Europe roaming pack CHF 14.95/week (5GB)

Moneyland's 2024 table: suspended after 435 days unused, and credit expires after 435 days (official terms unverified)

Enter passport or ID details when ordering; before dispatch, scan the document and record a face video with the Salt ID Checker app; if the app fails, after 15 days it switches to delivery by post, and you must show the same document when collecting. A third-party guide says foreign passports and foreign IDs are also accepted (not stated on the official page)

The official site says receiving SMS is free in all roaming zones, and sending SMS while roaming costs CHF 0.60 each; roaming data needs a separate pack

WebsiteIn storeReseller

Salt's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

Swiss number for receiving codes; receiving SMS while roaming is free

No monthly fee, pay per use: Austrian calls/SMS €0.04, data €4/GB (tariff for new contracts from 2025-07-11)

Unverified (the tariff document does not state credit validity or deactivation rules)

Austrian law requires prepaid SIMs to be registered; how spusu verifies identity and whether it accepts foreign passports: Unverified (the tariff document only says you can register on the official site with your name, address and email)

UK roaming in the tariff table: data €4/GB, outgoing calls €0.04/min, incoming €0.00, sending SMS €0.04; the table has no charge item for receiving SMS

Website

spusu (Mass Response Service GmbH; host network unverified) · Prepaid

EU number with no monthly fee and cheap roaming in the UK

Starter pack CHF 19.90 (includes CHF 20 credit); Unlimited CH basic rate charged by use at CHF 2.50 / 24 hours (includes Swiss data, calls, SMS); Unlimited Europe 7/30 prices not listed on the official page

A SIM unused for 17 consecutive months is deleted and any remaining credit is cleared (email and SMS reminders are sent before deletion); Moneyland's 2024 comparison table says 18 months (547 days)

Identity verification required: upload ID (ID card or passport) and record a short video selfie; the official site says an address abroad can be registered for an eSIM

The UK is among the countries covered by Unlimited Europe 7/30 (60 GB of high-speed data in Europe); the official page does not say whether receiving SMS while roaming is charged; the Wi-Fi Calling page only has a link and does not say whether prepaid can use it

WebsiteAppSIM by postReseller

Sunrise's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

Opening a Swiss number online while in the UK; low-effort number keeping (use it once every 17 months)

Starter pack from €1 (300MB usable within the EU / 30 days); the €4 pack includes 4GB + 40 calls + 40 SMS / 30 days; renewal needs a top-up of at least €5

Unverified (the official site only says packs are valid for 30 days, not how long the number and balance are kept)

The official prepaid page does not state a real-name requirement; one third party says that since January 2024 local prepaid SIMs/eSIMs must be registered in store with a passport or EU ID, another says not necessarily, so this is Unverified

The official site says data in the €1 and €4 packs can be used within the EU; UK roaming and SMS receiving rules are not stated

AppIn storeSIM by postReseller

Telia's own network (MNO) · Prepaid

Trying e-Estonia; an EU number

Cheapest plan €8/month + tax (under €14/month including tax); information from 2022

Monthly fee (from about €14/month including tax, 2022 data)

Log in to Telia's self-service site with an ID card (including the e-Residency card), Mobile-ID, Smart-ID or Estonian online banking, then sign the contract online

Unverified

Website

Telia's own network (MNO) · Monthly plan

People with an e-Residency card getting an Estonian number online

Sim Only 1GB + 250 minutes: €2/month for the first 6 months, then €4/month (24-month contract, providers.nl 2026-06 tariff); prepaid from about €5/month (DutchReview, date unknown); one-off €15 activation fee for new Sim Only customers (Androidplanet, date unknown)

Unverified

Travel sources say the Netherlands has no mandatory prepaid registration law, but retailers may ask to see a passport; online orders may require an electronic ID, electronic signature or bank transfer to confirm identity (providers.nl, date unverified)

Unverified

Website

Unverified · Prepaid or monthly

Dutch number (insufficient information)

When numbers were released in 2022 the cheapest plan was CNY 38/month (10GB + 50 minutes); older source, current price unverified

Unverified

Mainland mobile numbers require real-name registration; Broadnet's specific application process: Unverified

Unverified

In storeWebsite

China Broadnet 5G (own licence) · Monthly plan

People who already have a 192 number: phone eSIM not available yet

eSIM tariffs are the same as physical SIM plans (no separate price list seen); for keeping the number, see the ‘CNY 8 flexible plan’ at about CNY 8/month (self-media source; confirm with 10086)

The plan's monthly fee is charged each month; a common way to keep the number is switching to the CNY 8 plan (about 30 minutes of calls or 100MB, effective the following month, requires no contract or bundled services; self-media source, customer service may try to talk you out of it)

In person, with the original valid ID document and the eSIM phone, at a China Mobile-owned store for on-site real-name verification; 2025 reports say foreign nationals need a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents are accepted only with a Residence Permit, not a passport (source is foreign media, not official)

The official international / Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan roaming page states ‘Receiving SMS: free’; sending costs about CNY 0.39–2.89 per message depending on the country. International / Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan roaming must be enabled before leaving (official site, app or 10086); to receive verification codes only, no data pack is needed, but turn off data roaming to avoid accidental data charges. Whether Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) works abroad: Unverified

In store

China Mobile's own network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Keep your mainland main number for bank/payment verification codes; receive SMS long-term in the UK

eSIM tariffs match physical SIM plans; some regions charge a card function fee of CNY 10–20 each time for a first eSIM application or replacement (third-party); CNY 8 plan about CNY 8/month (200MB + caller ID, self-media)

The plan's monthly fee is charged each month; you can switch to the CNY 8 plan to keep the number (self-media source; confirm with 10000)

In-store facial recognition plus ID check. A third-party guide lists acceptable documents: resident ID card (including the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card), passport, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Residents, etc.; but 2025 foreign media say foreign nationals need a permanent residence card, which contradicts this; confirm with 10000

China Telecom's official roaming SMS page displays garbled text, so free receiving could not be confirmed; third-party sources generally say receiving SMS abroad is basically free on all three carriers. International / Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan roaming must be enabled before leaving. Wi-Fi Calling: Unverified

In store

China Telecom's own network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Keep a mainland number for verification codes

No separate eSIM price list seen; CNY 8 plan about CNY 8/month (30 minutes, 100MB; self-media source)

The plan's monthly fee is charged each month; you can switch to the CNY 8 plan to keep the number (self-media source; confirm with 10010)

Valid personal ID in person, plus system rule checks and manual review; the same ID number counts as the same user. A 2025 foreign media report says Unicom also accepts Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan travel permits and other documents besides ID cards (no official text seen)

Third-party sources say receiving SMS while roaming abroad is free (no official Unicom text found); a third-party guide says prepaid users have roaming for some countries and regions enabled by default, and postpaid users can enable it by SMS; sending SMS back to the mainland used to cost CNY 0.86 per message, possibly outdated. Wi-Fi Calling: Unverified

In storeApp

China Unicom's own network (MNO) · Prepaid or monthly

Keep a mainland number for verification codes

A$365 / 365 days (365GB, new customers activating before 2026-11-02)

Valid for 12 months (about A$365/year); the official site does not state the grace period or number-retention rules after expiry

Activation needs one ID: Australian driver's licence, Medicare card, Australian passport, or a foreign passport plus a valid Australian visa; buying an eSIM also requires ID

The official site lists roaming packs for 42 countries but does not say whether receiving SMS abroad is charged

WebsiteSIM by postReseller

Telstra network (MVNO) · Prepaid

Long-term holding for people with an Australian visa

Tourist cards from about NT$300 / 5 days (third-party; prices vary between sources)

A prepaid card stays valid for about 6 months after the last top-up (third-party guide; not verified against official sources)

Real-name registration with two IDs: passport (tourists need an entry stamp) plus a second document (e.g. driving licence, residence permit, air ticket or boarding pass; requirements vary by store); minimum age 20; many sellers allow online pre-registration before collecting the card

Unverified

In storeReseller

Chunghwa Telecom and others (MNO) · Prepaid

Short trips to Taiwan

Unverified

Topping up with a recharge card extends validity; buying value-added services or data packs does not; the official page does not give the number of days. After expiry the balance is not refunded and the number is not kept: it is reclaimed and reassigned

Real-name registration at purchase with the original ID card or a valid passport (Cybersecurity Law, Law No. 13/2019); from 2025-11-21, holders of travel documents may register at most 3 cards, Macau residents 6

Unverified

In storeReseller

CTM network (MNO) · Prepaid

Short-term use in Macau

Unverified

Tourist SIMs generally end after 90 days unless extended; extending beyond 90 days requires re-registration with an ARC; some carrier terms say passport-only numbers are cancelled automatically after departure and cannot be restored

Tourists can get an 010 number with a passport; passing the ‘identity verification’ used by banks and websites requires an Alien Registration Card (ARC)

Receives ordinary SMS, but a passport-only number cannot be used for identity verification on Korean websites and banks; some platforms send codes via KakaoTalk

In storeReseller

KT / SKT / LG U+ networks · Prepaid

Short trips only