Will a travel eSIM work on your phone?
Two things decide it: the phone needs eSIM hardware, and it must not be carrier locked. Type your model to see where yours stands.
Nothing is sent anywhere. The list runs inside your browser.
The EID check, five seconds
- 1Open the phone dialler.
- 2Type *#06# without pressing call.
- 3Look for a line labelled EID, underneath the IMEI.
- 4An EID means the phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means it does not, whatever the spec sheet says.
You can also find it on iPhone under Settings, General, About, and on Android under Settings, About phone, Status.
Carrier lock, the one people forget
- On iPhone: Settings, General, About, scroll to Carrier Lock. You want to read No SIM restrictions.
- On Android: usually Settings, Connections or Settings, Network. Wording differs by maker.
- Still unsure? Borrow a friend's SIM from another operator for a minute and see if it registers.
The operator that sold you the phone unlocks it, normally free once the handset is paid off, and normally within a couple of days.
Phone checks out?
Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi and land already online. Unactivated eSIMs can be handed back, so booking early is not a gamble.
Get your eSIMCompatibility questions
How do I know for certain my phone takes an eSIM?
Dial *#06# on the phone itself. If an EID appears under the IMEI, the hardware is there. A spec sheet can be wrong about a regional variant; the EID cannot.
My phone has an EID but the eSIM still will not install.
Three usual causes: the phone is carrier locked, you are not on Wi-Fi, or the QR code has already been used once. Support can reissue it.
Does the region I bought the phone in really matter?
Yes, more than the model number does. The same iPhone sold in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau often ships with two physical SIM slots and no eSIM, and Samsung phones bought in South Korea had no eSIM until late 2022.
What is a carrier lock and how do I check it?
A lock ties the phone to the operator that sold it, usually on an instalment plan. On iPhone check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock. On Android look under Settings, Connections or Network.
My phone is not on your list.
The list covers the models people ask about most, not every phone ever made. Run the *#06# check, and if you are still unsure, message support with the exact model and where you bought it before you pay for anything.