What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical SIM card.

What are the benefits of using an eSIM?

• Set up the service before your semester abroad and activate it upon arrival to Barcelona

• You'll know your new phone number right away

• You can use it as soon as you land in Europe for easy set-up

• You can retain your current phone plan and use it simultaneously with the local eSIM.

We DO NOT suggest having a new phone shipped to you from home, as it will get stuck in customs and you will have to pay a high fee to get it out. In some cases, you also have to have a Spanish ID number to get packages out of customs, meaning you would be unable to retrieve the phone.

Instead, we suggest buying a phone locally. Well-known phone companies in Barcelona like Orange, Vodafone, and Movistar all have stores throughout the city, but students have also found that the phone areas within El Corte Inglés (a department store) & Las Arenas (a mall) are a convenient way to compare prices and options.

Important: When you go to get a phone,  you typically need your passport.