Stay accessible on vacation? This is how e-SIM works abroad

No more hassle with the search for local SIM cards or changing small cards: with an E-SIM you can easily and quickly arrange a data bundle for your holiday destination, often before departure. In this article you can read everything about the benefits, activation and the different providers.

Why e-SIM is ideal for vacations outside the EU

Nowadays you can simply use your own data bundle within Europe without extra costs, but as soon as you travel outside of Europe, this unfortunately no longer applies. An alternative is buying a local SIM card abroad, but that is often cumbersome. You usually first have to detect a store, enter local data or, for example, call a foreign number to get the SIM card activated.

The arrival of Dualsim makes it much easier: you use a physical SIM card and an e-SIM on your phone at the same time. This way you stay available on your Dutch number, while you control cheap internet through a local or international e-SIM provider abroad. That way you circumvent high roaming costs and you are flexible in choosing the cheapest rates. Below you will find an overview of everything you need to know about e-SIM during your vacation.

How does activating an e-SIM work for abroad?

Do you want to activate an e-SIM on your iPhone? First request this from your provider. You often get installation data or a QR code that you can scan.

1. Then go on your iPhone to Settings> Mobile Network and tap ‘Add E-SIM’ or ‘Add mobile subscription’;
2. Choose to scan a QR code and focus your camera on your provider’s code. Don’t have a QR code? Then you can enter the data manually;
3. After installation you can recognize the subscription by choosing a label, for example ‘vacation’.

Finally: set in which subscription you want to use for data, calls and text messages via your iPhone and don’t forget to turn on dataoing if you want to use the e-SIM abroad. Make sure your iPhone is connected to WiFi or mobile internet during activation. E-SIM works from iPhone XS and newer.

All e-SIM providers in a row

There are more and more international providers that offer special e-SIM bundles for places outside of Europe. Below you will find an overview of the most popular e-SIM providers, so that you can easily choose which best suits your trip.

• Roamless: Roamless has two subscriptions: RoamlessFlex, where you upgrade and pays for what you use without a expiry date, and Roamlessfix, a prepaid data subscription of 30 days for one country or region. Both work with one worldwide e-SIM, without having to change SIM cards. In addition, with code Summer20 you now temporarily receive a 20 percent discount on your first purchase.
• Ubigi: active worldwide, with plans in more than 200 countries. Ubigi offers both loose bundles and regional and world bundles. Easy to install and use via their own app. Now receive a temporary 10 percent discount during checkout with discount code Welcome10.
• Nomad: is known for the wide range of data subscriptions and favorable rates for world travelers. You can choose from local, regional or global data subscriptions for almost every country outside of Europe. Receive a 25 percent discount on your e-SIM with discount code Nomjuly25.
• Jetpac: offers global coverage and attractive prices, with flexible data bundles especially for international travelers. Especially suitable for those who visit many different countries in a short time. Get a 10% discount on your e-SIM with code Summer.

Prefer a temporary foreign bundle?

Would you rather use a bundle of foreign instead of an e-SIM? Then there is good news: various providers offer special data bundles for use outside of Europe. Which provider suits you best depends mainly on your holiday destination. A short beach holiday requires a different data consumption than a long tour.

It is therefore smart to compare in advance which provider best suits your use and destination. Below you will find an overview of various providers that offer foreign bundles, so that you can easily make a choice that fits your travel plans.

1. Internet traveling from Odido: from 3 euros

For travel outside the EU, Odido offers special internet on travel bundles, so that you can easily stay online abroad. The range varies per destination: for Turkey you can choose from four different collection formats. For example, there is the XS bundle, which you use for 3 euros of 500 MB data that is valid for 24 hours. If you choose the S-Bundel, you pay 7.50 euros for 2 GB data with a validity of three days.

Those who want more data can opt for the M-bundle: for 15 euros you get 6 GB, which remains valid for ten days. The XL bundle even offers 18 GB of data and can be used for thirty days for a price of 30 euros. This way you always choose a suitable bundle for your use and travel time, without being surprised by unforeseen costs.

NB: This is data Only bundles, do you want to know what the costs are for calling and being called? If you are still in the Netherlands, send a free SMS to 5545. For example, in the SMS you put price Spain or Price New Zealand.

2. Everything in 1 world bundle of Vodafone: from 5 euros

At Vodafone you have the choice of three bundles: the everything in the world, everything in 1 world XL and the everything in 1 world XXL bundle. The standard bundle costs 5 euros per day and offers 50MB data, 50 calling minutes, 50 text messages and 50 minutes of free. For the XL bundle you pay 8.50 euros per day and contains 150MB, 150 calling minutes, 150 text messages and 150 minutes of free.

Do you need more? Then there is also the XXL bundle for 15 euros per day. This bundle contains 500 MB data, 150 calling minutes, 150 SMSs and 150 minutes of free calls. You can easily activate the bundles via an SMS message, and they are only charged on the days that you actually use them. Note: the bundles only work if you are physically outside the EU and the roaming function on your iPhone is on. The bundle expires at midnight Dutch time. Do you want to know for sure whether your bundles are also valid in the destination country? You can easily check that on the Vodafone website.

3. Outside of KPN: already from 10 euros

Since 2025, KPN has had an extensive range of 13 foreign bundles for popular holiday destinations such as the US, Canada, Morocco, Japan and Thailand. These bundles are valid for 31 days and easy to activate via the MijnKPN app or SMS.

To prevent unexpected high costs, KPN uses a ceiling of 60.50 euros for use outside the EU and automatically blocks your internet after drawing up your bundle. Multiple bundles can be combined if you need more credit.

4. Bundles of Youfone: from 22.50 euros

For travel outside the EU, Youfone has special foreign bundles with which you can use the internet inexpensively abroad. You can easily purchase these bundles via MyYoufone or the MyYoufone app.

The bundles are valid for thirty days and you decide which and how many bundles you activate. Is your bundle on? Then your internet is automatically blocked to prevent unexpected costs. You receive handy text messages at 50 percent, 80 percent and 100 percent consumption of your bundle.

You have a choice of different bundles per zone and country. For example, you can choose from the world benefit country bundle with 4 GB, which costs 22.50 euros. Does your holiday destination not fall under one of these countries? Then you can opt for the world other countries bundle, it costs 55 euros and contains 100 MB. Do you want to know which bundle your holiday destination falls under? Youfone has a handy sun distribution overview for this.