topic Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad. in Network

Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 18:58:59 GMT

I am thinking of swapping my physical SIM for an eSIM.

If I were to break or lose my phone abroad, is it possible to transfer the eSIM to a different phone whilst still abroad? I was reading on an O2 forum that for O2 the eSIM needs to activated in the UK as it needs a connection to the O2-UK network.

Thanks.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

MZone — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:11:23 GMT

Pretty sure you have to be in the U.K. to activate a three eSIM.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:31:20 GMT

Thank you for the reply.

I have just asked the question using live chat and I was told it was posible to activate a new eSIM abroad. Of course that may be incorrect. It would be good to hear from someone who has actually done it.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:58:49 GMT

I went into the large Three shop on Oxford Street, London today and they said it was NOT possible to activate/transfer an eSIM whilst abroad.

One would have thought it was a simple question and one many Three customers would be interested in having a definitive answer, but apparently not.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

JonathanB — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:20:39 GMT

Hi @andy12,

I'm sorry to hear you've received two contradictory answers about this. My understanding is that the eSIM needs to be activated whilst your device is in range of Three UK coverage, but I'll get this double checked and let you know.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:31:18 GMT

Jonathan,

Thank you. I look forward to hearing the definitive answer,

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

littledesk — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:05:10 GMT

I've done it. Works just fine. Great job to 3 UK on ensuring this is possible.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

littledesk — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:07:32 GMT

I'm sorry to hear you've received two contradictory answers about this. My understanding is that the eSIM needs to be activated whilst your device is in range of Three UK coverage

Simply not true. I've activated multiple SIMs whilst outside the United Kingdom. Maybe you could comment on why eSIMs can only be provisioned between the hours of 08h00 and 20h00 UK? If a request is made outside that time..nothing comes through, yet at 08h00 on the dot, in the email comes with the activation QR code. Totally bizarre.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

littledesk — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:08:06 GMT

What have we learnt here? Don't listen to sales reps in stores. If they were knowledgeable they wouldn't be working in a phone store. HTH.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:38:19 GMT

Jonathan, have you had a chance to double check this?

Thanks.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

littledesk — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:21:54 GMT

Why do you need them to? I’ve already told you the answer.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

Issthu — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 19:56:23 GMT

Buy a SIM temporarily from the country you are visiting. It will be far cheaper than all the awful packages offered by Three. They just want all of your money for poor service.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:25:18 GMT

Littledesk,

Thank you for your advice. I am interested in hearing what Three's official position is and whether transferring/activating an eSIM abroad is supported.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:27:33 GMT

Issthu,

Thank you for your advice. I do have a local SIM from the country I spend time in, but I am sometimes there for several months and do need my UK number.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

JonathanB — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:43:19 GMT

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay there. Happy to correct my earlier answer, eSIM activation is supported abroad. 🙂

Thanks @littledesk for confirming that you've tested this too, always good to hear 1st hand confirmation too. I've not had a chance to get away for a while personally but I might take some time to swap SIM for research purposes next time I'm on holiday. 😂

Many Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

andy12 — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 17:25:04 GMT

Jonathan,

Thank you very much. That's good news.

And thanks to @littledesk for confirming that it works.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

Chatty123 — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 21:53:01 GMT

Has anybody had success in activating a replacement eSIM when abroad .. ? A relative has spent days on 3 char and tried numerous esims they sent and cannot get one activated . He’s stuck as unable to do any important banking without ability to get the otp

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

PeteG — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:26:16 GMT

Hello.

Users above have confirmed already that they have had success in completing activations while abroad. Since you haven't been able to get it done, it's possible that the issue isn't due to the fact that you're abroad, it might be that there's an issue with the eSIM. It might be worth contacting the team to find out if you can get a replacement eSIM instead.

Pete.

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

Chatty123 — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 08:35:13 GMT

Thankyou for your reply. Three have sent replacement eSIM x4 but none still work .. we have come to a dead stop in any solution

Re: Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

MZone — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:04:44 GMT

Maybe the roaming network doesn’t support eSIM so the activation won’t work?