Telstra eSIM. How it works at home and abroad

You may have noticed that sim cards have been consistently getting smaller over the last decade. Well now you may not even need a physical card if you have a device that is compatible with an eSIM. Telstra, one of the largest telecommunications companies in Australia is one provider adding eSIMs to their available service offers.

This article will explore the type of eSIMs you can use with Telstra at home and abroad.

💸 Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise Debit card while abroad.

Learn more about the
Wise Account and card

What is an eSIM and how does it work?

An embedded sim or eSIM as it is more known is a digitised sim that is pre-built into a mobile or portable device. An eSIM allows you to connect to a telecommunications network without having to have a physical SIM card.¹ On a compatible device, you can have multiple numbers connected to the eSIM at the same time. This is in comparison to a typical dual sim device which generally allows only 2 numbers attached with two separate SIM cards.

Telstra eSIM plans

Telstra offers a few ways to get an eSIM. You can either¹:

• Buy one of the prepaid eSIM offers
• Re-activate your existing number and plan as an eSIM
• Buy a new eligible plan with Telstra opting for an eSIM

We’ll go through what each of these options look like.

eSIM Prepaid Offers

There are 6 different prepaid Telstra eSIM plans that are available when you have an eSIM compatible device. Here is a breakdown of what's available.²

Prepaid Plan	Cost	Expiry	Data Allowance	Australia calls and texts	Making international calls or texts
Plan 1	$12	7 days	3 GB	Unlimited	Text only
Plan 2*	$35	28 days	35GB for first three recharges and 15GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts
Plan 3*	$45	28 days	50GB for first three recharges and 25GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts
Plan 4*	$55	28 days	70GB for first three recharges and 35GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts
Plan 5*	$65	28 days	105GB for first three recharges and 70GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts
Plan 6*	$160	6 months	110GB for first three recharges and 70GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts
Plan 7*	$320	6 months	230GB for first three recharges and 160GB thereafter	Unlimited	Calls and texts

*Price and package listed for new customers only as of 3rd April 2024

Each of these offers are only for a limited time. They include continuous data rollover for leftover data if you recharge before the expiry date up to 200GB, excluding prepaid plan 6 and 7.³ To make international calls or texts using your eSIM, Telstra separates countries by zones which attract different call and text limits based on the above eSIM prepaid plans.

Telstra eSIM plans

eSIMs are available for those who already have a postpaid plan or contract with Telstra. They are also available for those who are looking to port their number from their existing network to a plan with Telstra.¹

Read more: Telstra international roaming. The rates, fees & how it works

Can you use Telstra eSIM abroad?

Unfortunately, Telstra eSIMs are targeted towards use in Australia, especially if you want to use your eSIM for mobile data.⁴ However, as you can see above, some prepaid offers will allow you to use your package to make international calls and texts.³

Benefits of Telstra eSIM

There are several benefits for using a Telstra eSIM which include¹:

• The ability to access a new number without having to organise a physical SIM
• You can connect multiple numbers
• Organising, Purchasing, managing and activating each eSIM all through My Telstra App
• An eSim Is more environmentally friendly than the classic SIM card

The process to set up and activate an eSIM is generally faster than the process of organising a traditional physical SIM card.

How to get an eSIM with Telstra

You can get an eSIM with Telstra by accessing the My Telstra App. To switch from a physical Telstra sim to an eSIM, here are the steps.⁵

1. Go to services in the My Telstra App
2. Click transfer or restore eSIM
3. Follow the prompts to activate.

If you cannot see step 2, your plan may not be eligible or your device is not compatible.

Cost and fees for eSIM and services with Telstra

Unfortunately, Telstra eSIMs are not able to be used abroad unless you only want to receive international calls or texts.⁴

To be able to purchase an international roaming day pass through the My Telstra app, you will need to be on a Telstra Upfront plan. You can choose between three day pass options on this plan.⁶

Zone countries	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zone 3
Cost and feature	$5 per day for 1 GB data and unlimited calls and texts	$10 per day for 1GB and unlimited calls and texts	$10 a day for unlimited calls and texts
Eligible countries	New Zealand only	70 destinations	7 destinations

If you don’t have an eligible Telstra plan to access roaming but still want to use your device abroad, you can purchase and activate a local eSIM abroad on your device in your destination country. If you do this, it is recommended to disconnect your Telstra eSIM to avoid any extra charges.

How to install the eSIM on your device

To get and activate an eSIM on your device, you need to¹:

1. Download the My Telstra App
2. Select eSIM on the homepage
3. Pick the eSIM plan that suits you
4. Confirm the purchase
5. Make sure your connected to Wifi
6. Activate and wait to connect to the network

If you are porting your number from a different network, it could take a few hours to complete the process. For Telstra plans, it will only take a few minutes.

Which devices do Telstra eSIMs support

The most important thing to know when it comes to getting an eSIM is that you need to make sure you have a compatible device. Generally, most mobile phones manufactured after 2020 come with eSIM compatibility.

Nonetheless, here is a list of popular devices that support Telstra eSIMs.¹

Iphone	Samsung	Google	Nokia	Oppo	Motorola
XR XS 11 12 13 14 15 SE (2020 & 2022)	s20 s21 s22 s23 s24 Galaxy z flip Galaxy z fold	Pixel 3a Pixel 4 Pixel 5 Pixel 6 Pixel 7 Pixel 8	X30 5G	Find N2 Flip Find X3 Pro Find X5 Pro	Razr40 Ultra Razr40

If you have a device from overseas, it may not be compatible with a Telstra eSIM.

What to keep in mind when using Telstra eSIMs abroad

Unless you purchase an additional roaming package through the My Telstra App, it's recommended to disable roaming for each number you have linked with an eSIM on your device. If you don’t, you can incur high international data roaming charges unintentionally when travelling.⁴

Contacting Telstra

If you need to contact Telstra, you can:

• Call 13 22 00 from within Australia
• Message online or through My Telstra App
• Visit a local Telstra store

There are also several other ways to contact Telstra if you require specific or specialised support on their website.

eSIM related questions — FAQs

Want to learn more? Here are some extra FAQs for Telstra eSIMs.

Does switching to an eSIM impact your plan?

No, switching from a physical sim to an eSIM does not impact your plan. It also does not impact any prepaid account balances you have left or your actual phone number.¹

Are eSIM’s more environmentally friendly?

Yes, changing over to an eSIM is more environmentally friendly. This is by removing the CO2 emissions associated with manufacturing and logistical processes involved in getting a physical sim card to you.²

Will the old physical sim still work after an eSIM is activated?

No, your old physical SIM card will be deactivated.⁷

Give the Wise Account and Debit Card a try

If you are planning on travelling abroad in the near future, or you want to hold and spend multiple currencies, you should check out the Wise Account and Debit Card.

With a Wise Account you can hold money in over 40 currencies and spend it in over 150 countries. Whenever you exchange currencies it’s done using the mid-market rate with a transparent conversion fee shown upfront.

To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it and charge no fees. If you don’t, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a conversion fee.

Join over 16 million customers currently using Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.

Register your Wise account
in minutes

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

---

Sources:

1. Telstra eSIM information
2. Telstra eSIM prepaid plans
3. Telstra eSIM data rollover
4. Telstra eSIM heading overseas
5. Telstra activate eSIM
6. Telstra international day pass
7. Telstra eSIM manage

Sources checked on: 3rd April 2024