eSIM

[mgw26]

I'm new to eSIM's and need help to understand how this works internationally.  Can someone help? 

Thanks 

[SynthpopAddict · Accepted solution]

An eSIM is simply a data file stored on your phone instead of having the information stored on a physical SIM card.  If your phone is locked to Verizon, you cannot use a foreign eSIM from a provider overseas for service with a local carrier.  You would have to pay for Travel Pass, International Service Plan, or pay-as-you-go rates for international roaming.

If your phone is unlocked, you can have service with whatever carrier when you download a compatible eSIM for their service.  An eSIM is typically downloaded from some webpage, oftentimes there's a QR code you would scan to access the site the carrier uses or you might be able to get a compatible eSIM from some other website if you look around, but I can't vouch for how safe every 3rd party website is.

[SynthpopAddict · Accepted solution]

An eSIM is simply a data file stored on your phone instead of having the information stored on a physical SIM card.  If your phone is locked to Verizon, you cannot use a foreign eSIM from a provider overseas for service with a local carrier.  You would have to pay for Travel Pass, International Service Plan, or pay-as-you-go rates for international roaming.

If your phone is unlocked, you can have service with whatever carrier when you download a compatible eSIM for their service.  An eSIM is typically downloaded from some webpage, oftentimes there's a QR code you would scan to access the site the carrier uses or you might be able to get a compatible eSIM from some other website if you look around, but I can't vouch for how safe every 3rd party website is.

[mgw26]

Appreciate your help.   I believe my phone is unlocked; how do I verify?

Can an eSIM be used for an unlimited amount of time?  If I'm moving to Europe for a couple of years, would I be able to use an eSIM?  Would I be able to retain my US phone number or does my phone number change?    How does WhatsApp work with this?   Just trying to understand.   Thank you. 

[vzw_customer_support]

We'll be happy to help with your questions. In order to review in detail, we can look up on our end. Is your service with Verizon postpaid or prepaid? I'll be sending you a Private Message, please reply to it, so we can further assist. 

~Maria

[mgw26]

My service is post paid

[SynthpopAddict · Accepted solution]

You're welcome.  I would look in the phone's settings to see if it is unlocked.  My phone is an Android and I've never had an iPhone, but seems like there would be something in there saying it is unlocked because my phone specifically says it is unlocked when I dig around in the settings.  Or you can simply ask Verizon to look up your phone under your account, and they should be able to tell you.

Yes, an eSIM can theoretically be used indefinitely, but as carriers upgrade their towers, an old eSIM may start having problems.  For instance, if 6G comes out and your eSIM is configured only for 4G and 5G, then your phone would not know what to do with 6G until you get a new eSIM.

The iPhone 15 is eSIM only, so you must use an eSIM with some carrier for the phone to work.  As for keeping your US phone number, the only way to do that is to maintain a Verizon eSIM (the iPhone is capable of storing 2 different eSIMs) and continue to pay for a line of service with Verizon for the entire time you are overseas.  To avoid having to pay for a monthly International Service Plan if your phone is unlocked, I would get a second, local, eSIM with a carrier in whatever country you're living in for the 2 years and utilize that local carrier's service.  You would have a foreign phone number on that eSIM and would have to get a new Apple ID hooked up to the foreign phone number so WhatsApp and whatever other apps you use will go through that number.  Otherwise, they will be running through your Verizon number and you run the risk of getting huge international roaming fees tacked onto your Verizon bill.

Someone asked a similar question several months ago and the suggestion to them to save some money while they were away for a few years was to pay for a basic Verizon prepaid plan (there's one which is talk/text only, no data, but I'm not sure if it will work on your iPhone) as they did not want to lose their US phone number and they had an unlocked phone which they were going to get a local carrier's service.

[mgw26]

Very helpful; thanks again.