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.

[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 

[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.

[MZone]

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

[andy12]

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.

[littledesk]

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

[andy12]

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.

[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. 

[JonathanB]

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