eSIM and SIM Cards by Country: The Complete Guide
eSIM and SIM cards by country means choosing the right way to get mobile data in a specific destination — a removable physical SIM, a remotely-provisioned eSIM, or roaming on your home plan — given that country’s operators, prices, and registration rules. A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is the credential that authenticates your device to a mobile network; an eSIM is a soldered-in, reprogrammable version of that credential that you activate over the air instead of inserting a card. This guide explains the difference, the GSMA standards behind eSIM, country-specific registration rules, and how DROAM compiles its neutral, country-by-country data so you can stay connected anywhere.
TL;DR — key takeaways
- Physical SIM = removable card, one profile, swap to change network. eSIM = embedded chip, multiple downloadable profiles, activated by QR code or in-app.
- Consumer eSIM runs on GSMA SGP.22; IoT/M2M eSIM runs on the newer GSMA SGP.32 (2023), which replaced the SGP.02 architecture.
- Many countries require passport/ID registration for prepaid SIMs and eSIMs; rules are set by the national regulator and change often.
- For short trips a travel eSIM usually beats both roaming and a local shop SIM on convenience and price; for long stays a local SIM is often cheapest and gives a local number.
- The DROAM SIM Encyclopedia is a neutral, date-stamped, country-by-country reference — not a storefront.
What is a SIM, and what is an eSIM?
A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a secure smart card that stores the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and cryptographic keys a mobile network uses to authenticate your device and bill the right account. The physical SIM has shrunk over the years from full-size to mini, micro, and the current nano-SIM. An eSIM is the same logical credential implemented on an embedded UICC (eUICC) — a tamper-resistant chip soldered into the device that can store multiple operator profiles and download new ones over the air. Instead of physically swapping a card, you provision an eSIM by scanning a QR code, tapping an in-app activation, or, on newer devices, choosing a carrier from a built-in discovery menu. The eSIM does not change how the radio talks to the network; it changes how the credential gets onto the device and how many credentials one device can hold.
eSIM vs physical SIM: which should you use?
Use an eSIM when you want instant, remote activation and the ability to keep several profiles on one device — ideal for travellers who want to add a destination data plan without removing their home SIM, and for anyone whose phone is eSIM-only. Use a physical SIM when you need a removable credential you can move between devices, when the operator or plan you want is only sold as a card, or when buying a local prepaid SIM on arrival is the cheapest option for a longer stay. Most modern flagships support both simultaneously (one nano-SIM plus one or more active eSIM profiles), so the choice is rarely either/or in practice. The table below summarises the trade-offs.
| Attribute | Physical SIM (nano-SIM) | eSIM (eUICC) |
|---|---|---|
| Provisioning | Insert a card | QR code, in-app, or carrier discovery |
| Profiles per device | One per slot | Multiple stored, switch in software |
| Speed to activate | Shop visit or postal delivery | Minutes, fully remote |
| Move between devices | Yes, swap the card | Re-download / transfer profile |
| Best for | Long stays, local number, hand-me-down devices | Short trips, multi-profile, eSIM-only phones |
| Standard | ETSI smart-card form factors | GSMA SGP.22 (consumer), SGP.32 (IoT) |
Consumer eSIM (SGP.22) vs IoT eSIM (SGP.32)
The eSIM ecosystem splits into two GSMA standards tracks. The consumer track, GSMA SGP.22 (in production since 2016 with the matching SGP.21 architecture), is what phones, tablets, and wearables use: a Local Profile Assistant (LPA) on the device downloads a profile from an SM-DP+ server, with the user actively triggering the download — usually by scanning a QR code. The IoT track, GSMA SGP.32 (published 2023, with the matching SGP.31 architecture), is purpose-built for connected machines. It introduces an eIM (eSIM IoT Manager) that issues remote profile-management commands and an IPA (IoT Profile Assistant) on the device that executes them, removing the consumer-style QR scan and the older SGP.02 M2M push model (SM-SR). Travellers and individuals interact with SGP.22; enterprises managing fleets of sensors, meters, vehicles, and trackers deploy SGP.32. Both share the eUICC profile format and the SM-DP+ provisioning core.
How does mobile roaming fit in?
Roaming is using your home operator’s subscription on a visited network abroad. Your home operator has wholesale agreements with foreign operators and settles the cost behind the scenes, then bills or fair-uses you according to your plan. Within Roam-Like-At-Home (RLAH) zones — most prominently the EU/EEA — roaming is included at domestic rates up to a fair-use limit. Outside those zones, pay-as-you-go roaming is usually the most expensive per gigabyte of all the options, which is exactly why travel eSIMs and local SIMs exist. The practical decision tree: if your destination is in an RLAH zone you belong to, roam; if not, compare a travel eSIM (best for convenience and short trips) against a local prepaid SIM (often cheapest per GB for longer stays, and the only reliable way to get a local number). DROAM’s country pages give you the local operator and price data to make that comparison.
SIM registration rules: why ID is sometimes required
Many countries legally require prepaid SIMs and eSIMs to be registered to an identified person — typically a passport or national ID presented at purchase or activation. These rules are set by the national telecom regulator (for security, anti-fraud, and lawful-intercept reasons), not by the operator, and they change frequently. Markets with strict registration include most Gulf states, much of Southeast Asia, India, Türkiye, and many African countries; a number of European markets also require registration. Travel eSIMs sold by international providers often sidestep personal registration because the underlying profile is registered to the issuing operator’s wholesale account, which is one reason travellers prefer them in registration-heavy destinations. Because the rules shift, always check the current registration requirement on the specific DROAM country page before you travel rather than relying on what was true on a previous trip.
How DROAM compiles SIM and eSIM data by country
The DROAM SIM Encyclopedia is a neutral, consumer-facing reference maintained by the same telecom desk that tracks the operators and networks behind it. For each country we record the principal mobile operators, the SIM and eSIM options available, indicative prepaid data tariffs, the current SIM-registration rule, and coverage notes. Pricing is editor-maintained and date-stamped because prepaid tariffs move constantly — a figure verified last quarter may already be stale. We do not order operators by any commercial relationship, and the encyclopedia is informational rather than a storefront: it links to operators and reputable sources but does not sell plans. Where the publisher, Droam BV, has a commercial interest in the roaming or eSIM market, that overlap is disclosed under our editorial policy. The goal is a guide you can trust to be accurate and unbiased, not a sales funnel.
Choosing connectivity for your trip: a checklist
- Confirm device support: does your phone have eSIM hardware, and is it carrier-unlocked? Check the exact model variant.
- Check the destination’s registration rule on the relevant DROAM country page before you travel.
- Compare your roaming rate against a travel eSIM and a local SIM for your data volume and trip length.
- Decide whether you need a local number — if yes, a local physical SIM is usually required.
- For longer stays, price a local prepaid SIM; for short trips, a travel eSIM usually wins on convenience.
- Keep your home eSIM/SIM active for calls and 2FA while adding a data-only travel profile.
Related on DROAM
- Browse the SIM Encyclopedia by country — operators, prices, and registration rules for top destinations.
- Mobile & Wireless news — eSIM, device, and consumer-connectivity coverage.
- Local & Roaming news — roaming economics, RLAH, and travel connectivity.
- IoT & M2M news — SGP.32 and enterprise eSIM coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an eSIM and a physical SIM card?
A physical SIM is a removable smart card (nano-SIM is the current consumer size) that stores a single operator profile; you swap the card to change networks. An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a soldered-in eUICC chip that can hold multiple operator profiles downloaded over the air, with no plastic to insert. Functionally both authenticate the device to a mobile network using an IMSI and security keys. The practical differences are that an eSIM can be provisioned remotely — you scan a QR code or activate in-app instead of waiting for a card by post — and a single device can store several profiles and switch between them in software. Most flagship phones from 2022 onward ship dual-SIM as one physical nano-SIM plus one or more eSIM profile slots; some 2023+ US iPhone models are eSIM-only.
Do I need to register my SIM or eSIM with my passport in some countries?
Yes. A large and growing number of countries enforce mandatory SIM registration, requiring a passport or national ID at the point of purchase or activation before a prepaid SIM or eSIM can be used. Examples include most Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), much of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia), India, Türkiye, and many African markets. Registration rules change frequently and are set by the national telecom regulator, not the operator, so a country that allowed anonymous prepaid SIMs last year may require ID this year. Travel eSIMs sold by international providers are often registered to the issuing operator’s wholesale account rather than to you personally, which is one reason travellers favour them — but you should always check the destination’s current registration rule on the relevant DROAM country page before you travel.
What is the difference between consumer eSIM (SGP.22) and IoT eSIM (SGP.32)?
GSMA SGP.22 is the consumer remote SIM provisioning standard used by phones, tablets, and wearables: a Local Profile Assistant (LPA) on the device downloads a profile from an SM-DP+ server, typically triggered by the user scanning a QR code. GSMA SGP.32, published in 2023, is the IoT-specific standard that replaces the older SGP.02 M2M architecture. It introduces the eIM (eSIM IoT Manager) that issues remote profile commands and the IPA (IoT Profile Assistant) on the device, removing the need for user interaction and the legacy SM-SR push model. Consumer travellers use SGP.22 eSIMs; enterprises deploying connected sensors, trackers, and machines at scale use SGP.32. Both share the same underlying eUICC profile format and SM-DP+ provisioning model.
How does DROAM compile its SIM and eSIM data by country?
The DROAM SIM Encyclopedia is a neutral, country-by-country reference maintained by the same telecom desk that tracks operators and infrastructure. For each country we record the principal mobile operators, available SIM and eSIM options, indicative prepaid data tariffs, current SIM-registration rules, and coverage notes. Tariff and plan data is editor-maintained and verified against operator and reputable third-party sources; we date-stamp when figures were last checked because prepaid pricing moves constantly. We do not rank operators by commercial relationship, and the encyclopedia is informational — it is not a storefront. Where Droam BV (the publisher) has a commercial interest in the roaming or eSIM market, that overlap is disclosed under our editorial policy.
Is it cheaper to use a local SIM, a travel eSIM, or roaming abroad?
It depends on trip length and data needs. Roaming on your home plan is the most convenient and, within Roam-Like-At-Home zones such as the EU/EEA, often free up to a fair-use cap. Outside those zones, home-operator roaming is usually the most expensive per gigabyte. A travel eSIM from an international provider is typically the best balance for short-to-medium trips: instant activation, no shop visit, no ID registration, and per-GB pricing far below pay-as-you-go roaming. A local physical SIM bought on arrival is often the cheapest per gigabyte for longer stays and is the only option that reliably gives you a local phone number, but it may require passport registration and a trip to a shop. The DROAM country pages list the local operators and indicative prices so you can compare against your roaming rate.
Will an eSIM work in my phone?
Your phone needs both eSIM hardware (an embedded eUICC) and carrier support that is not locked. Most flagship and mid-range phones released from 2020–2021 onward support eSIM, including recent iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy S and flagship models — though some region-specific variants (notably certain models sold in mainland China and Hong Kong) omit eSIM. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked to accept a third-party eSIM profile. To check, look for an “Add eSIM” or “Add cellular plan” option in your device settings, confirm the device is unlocked, and verify the specific model variant supports eSIM, since support can differ between regional SKUs of the same phone.