Replace/transfer eSIM whilst abroad.

[andy12]

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.

[JonathanB · Accepted solution]

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

[andy12]

Jonathan,

Thank you very much. That's good news.

And thanks to @littledesk for confirming that it works.

[littledesk]

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. 

[littledesk]

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

[Issthu]

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.

[andy12]

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.

[Chatty123]

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 

[PeteG]

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. 

[Chatty123]

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

[MZone]

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