Before you buy, check two things: your phone supports eSIM, and it isn't locked to a carrier. If either one fails, the eSIM won't install. The check on our site is for reference only, and making sure your phone is compatible is on you, as our Terms of service say. The model list on the site 1. Open the page for your destination, for example Turkey. 2. Below the "Buy" button, tap "Check if your phone supports eSIM". 3. Type your model into the search, like "Pixel 8". Or pick a brand: Apple, Samsung, Google or Other. Each brand is split into phones and tablets. 4. Look for notes next to your model, such as "Cellular models only", "except Japanese models", "depends on where it was bought" or "one eSIM at a time". If your model isn't on the list, it most likely doesn't support eSIM. Dial *#06# Dial *#06# like a regular number. If you see an EID line on the screen, your phone supports eSIM. Look in settings - iPhone: Settings → Cellular should have an "Add eSIM" option. - Samsung: SIM manager should have an "Add eSIM" option. - Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs should offer to download a SIM. Carrier lock Phones bought from a carrier on a contract are sometimes locked to that carrier's SIMs. An eSIM won't install on a locked phone. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → About. The "Carrier Lock" line should say "No SIM restrictions". Not sure what you're seeing? Tap the chat button in the bottom-right corner, tell us your phone model, and we'll help before you buy.

Getting started

How to buy an eSIM, step by step

You can buy an eSIM right in your browser, no app needed. It usually takes a few minutes. 1. Find your destination On the home page or on Countries and regions, search for a country, city or region. Pick a suggestion and the plans page opens. 2. Choose a plan The page has three tabs: "Best deal", "Unlimited" and "GB plans". Before you buy, open "Plan details" and "Technical details". They show the validity, networks, the country your traffic is routed via, and whether you can top up. The "Total" shows the price. You can also check your phone here with "Check if your phone supports eSIM". 3. Tap "Buy" Checkout opens. The steps are on the left, and "Your order" with the plan and total is on the right. 4. Confirm your email 1. Check the box to accept the Terms of Service and Refund Policy. The box for deals by email is optional. 2. Enter your email and tap "Send code". Your eSIM will go to this address too. 3. Enter the 6-digit code. It's valid for 30 minutes. No email? Check your spam folder. If you don't have an account yet, one is created for you. 5. Pick a payment method and pay The "Payment method" step lists the options available for this order. If you choose USDT, you'll need an exchange or wallet with USDT on the TRON network, TRC20. After "Continue to pay", your order page shows the address and amount, and you have 30 minutes to send it. The amount received must match what's shown, so let your exchange add its fee on top. 6. Get your eSIM Once payment goes through, the eSIM is issued automatically. The QR code and install steps appear on the order page, and an email with the same QR arrives in your inbox. If it's not there, check spam. Your eSIM is always in My eSIMs as well. If we can't issue the eSIM, you get your money back, see the Refund policy. Questions about an order? Tap the chat button in the bottom-right corner.

Getting started

How to choose a plan and how much data you need

Picking a plan comes down to three questions: where you're going, for how long, and how much data you'll use. Country, region or global - One country: take that country's plan, it's usually the cheapest option. - Several countries in a row: look at regions. One eSIM covers the whole trip. - Lots of countries across continents: check the "Global" tab. Global plans cost more than country plans. You can only top up an eSIM within the same region, so a Turkey plan can't be turned into a Europe plan later. Tabs on the country page - "Best deal": the plan we suggest for a typical trip with maps, messengers and social media. - "GB plans": a fixed amount of data for a fixed number of days. The "Recommended" and "Best price per GB" tags help you compare. "All GB plans" opens the full list with filters for validity, data, 5G and local IP. - "Unlimited": you pay by the day and stop counting gigabytes. You choose how many days and how much full-speed data per day. Once you hit the daily amount, speed drops until the day ends, often to 384 kbps. Messengers still work. Validity On most plans the days start when you first connect to a network at your destination. Pick a plan at least as long as your trip. Install the eSIM before the date in "Activation" on the plan card, for most plans that's 180 days after purchase. How much data to get There's no exact formula, but here's a quick way to estimate: 1. Check your phone's cellular settings to see how much mobile data you use at home in a week. 2. Multiply by the number of weeks you'll travel. 3. Add some extra if you'll lean on maps and post more photos than usual. Video, streaming and sharing data with a laptop use the most. If that's your plan, look at unlimited. If you might run out, check "Top-up" on the plan card. Networks and IP Plans with the same amount of data differ by network and by the country your traffic is routed via. With a local IP, banking and streaming apps work. With a non-local IP, they may not. Can't decide? Tap the chat button in the bottom-right corner and tell us about your trip.

Getting started

Calls, SMS and hotspot: what the eSIM includes

Short version: our eSIM is data only. It has no phone number, so you can't make calls or send SMS from it. You can share its data from your phone with a hotspot. Calls and SMS - Every plan card says it under "Plan type": "Data only, no phone number or calls". - You can't call from the eSIM, and that includes emergency numbers like 112 or 911. Keep your regular SIM in the phone for calls. - When installing on iPhone, choose data only. Calls and SMS stay on your regular SIM and your number doesn't change. - On Android, set the new eSIM for mobile data and keep calls and SMS on your regular SIM. How calls and texts on your regular SIM work abroad depends on your carrier. It's best to turn off data roaming on it so all your data goes through our eSIM. Messaging apps Messages and calls in messaging apps go over the internet, so they work on our eSIM like any other traffic and count toward your data. On unlimited plans, speed drops after the daily amount, but messengers keep working. Hotspot You can share data from your phone with your own laptop or tablet unless the plan card says otherwise. The "Hotspot" line on the plan card reads "Works, but depends on the carrier". If hotspot doesn't turn on, message us in chat. What's not allowed: - reselling eSIMs or selling data to other people; - putting the eSIM in modems, SIM farms or devices with round-the-clock automated traffic. If usage clearly isn't personal, the plan may be limited or disabled. The details are in the "Fair use" section of our Terms of service. Hotspot burns through data fast. If you plan to work from a laptop, get a bigger plan or go unlimited. Questions? Tap the chat button in the bottom-right corner or email support@skipthekiosk.com.

Install and activate

How to install the eSIM on iPhone

Setup takes a couple of minutes. You need an internet connection for it, so install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. Where to find the QR code and details - In the "Your eSIM is ready" email. It has the QR code, the manual install details and a link to your order page. - In your account: open My eSIMs and tap "Install" on the eSIM card. On the install page, pick iPhone under "Which phone do you have?". Option 1: one tap from the email If your iPhone runs iOS 17.4 or later, open the email on the phone itself and tap "Install on iPhone". The iPhone walks you through the rest. Option 2: scan the QR code 1. Open the QR code on another screen, a laptop works well. 2. Open the iPhone camera and point it at the code. An install button will pop up. 3. No button? Go to Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and scan the code from there. Option 3: enter the details by hand Use this when the QR code is open on the same iPhone. 1. Go to Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM. 2. On the scanner screen, tap "Enter Details Manually". 3. Copy the "SM-DP+ address" and "Activation code" from the install page and paste them in. What to pick next 1. The iPhone asks where you'll use the eSIM. Pick the travel abroad option. 2. When it asks about the plan, choose data only. Our plans are internet only. Calls and texts stay on your main SIM and your number stays the same. 3. The new line shows up under Cellular. To give it mobile data and turn on roaming, see the article "After installing". The QR code works on one phone only, so scan it with the iPhone you're taking on the trip. If the eSIM won't install Make sure the phone isn't carrier-locked: Settings → General → About. The Carrier Lock line should say "No SIM restrictions". If that's fine and it still won't install, message us through the chat button in the bottom-right corner or email support@skipthekiosk.com with your order number.

Getting started

What an eSIM is and how buying from Skip the Kiosk works

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. There's no plastic to insert: you download the profile with a QR code or an activation code, and your phone gets a second line for data. Skip the Kiosk sells travel eSIMs for 200+ countries. Your regular SIM stays in the phone, and on the trip your data runs through our eSIM. You don't need an app, everything happens in the browser. How buying works 1. Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Every country page has a "Check if your phone supports eSIM" button. 2. Find your country or region on Countries and regions and pick a plan. 3. Tap "Buy", confirm your email with a 6-digit code and pay. No password, your account is created automatically. 4. The eSIM is issued automatically, day or night. The QR code and install details appear on your order page and arrive by email. 5. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, before you fly. On iPhone it's one tap from the order page, on Android you scan the QR code. 6. When you land, set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. On most plans the days start counting when you first connect at your destination, not when you buy. Good to know before you buy - Our eSIM is data only. There's no phone number, calls or SMS, so keep your regular SIM for those. - An eSIM installs on one phone, once. If you delete it, you usually can't install it again. - Install the eSIM within the period shown on the plan card. For most plans that's 180 days from purchase. - All your eSIMs, remaining data and top-ups live in My eSIMs. Still have questions? Tap the chat button in the bottom-right corner or email support@skipthekiosk.com.