Everything you need to know about Telstra eSIM

If you’ve bought a mobile phone in the last few years, the chances are good it has support for both a physical SIM card and eSIM. That “e” in “eSIM” is short for “embedded”, but it’s more practically a digital SIM card, meaning you don’t need a physical SIM card anymore. As with most new technologies, there are some disclaimers, and here’s everything you need to know about choosing an eSIM with Telstra.

But before we delve into that, here’s a list of the most popular mobile plans in our comparison engine.

Telstra eSIM is the same as eSIM from any other mobile provider that supports the digital technology. All you need is a compatible mobile phone. Then it effectively means there’s no need to wait for a physical SIM card, pop open a SIM card tray and fiddle around with putting in a tiny SIM the right way. Because eSIM is a digital SIM card, it can have you connected to a new Telstra plan in minutes.

Another perk is it effectively turns a compatible mobile phone into a dual-SIM handset—one digital eSIM and the other a physical SIM—so you can effectively have two phone numbers. That’s potentially handy for keeping work and personal use separate on the same phone, or for adding a travel SIM when heading overseas because Telstra eSIM is fully compatible with travel and international roaming. Certain newer smartphones also let you have two or more eSIM plans.

All Telstra mobile plans are offered in eSIM or physical SIM card varieties, including Telstra Upfront SIM-only plans. Below is a list of popular Telstra eSIM-compatible SIM-only plans from our database.

And for comparison, here’s a list of popular SIM-only plans from mobile providers we track that support eSIM.

Telstra has a range of prepaid starter packs and prepaid plans that support eSIM, and the popular ones are below.

For comparison, here’s a list of popular prepaid plans from eSIM-supporting mobile providers in our comparison engine.

If you’re after an eSIM plan on the main or wholesale Telstra network, here’s a list of popular plans, including Telstra MVNO providers.

The activation steps for a Telstra eSIM are different depending on whether you’ve gone with a SIM-only Upfront plan or with a prepaid option. Here are the eSIM activation steps for a Telstra Upfront plan (these steps are the same for Telstra data-only plans):

1. Choose a Telstra Upfront SIM-only plan.
2. Select the eSIM option at checkout.
3. Connect your eSIM-capable device to WiFi and follow the prompts for eSIM installation and activation.

And here are the eSIM activation steps for Telstra prepaid users:

1. Download the My Telstra app (with WiFi) on your eSIM-compatible device.
2. Select the eSIM option on the home page or in the ‘Services’ tab, then purchase a recharge.
3. Connect to WiFi and follow the eSIM installation prompts.

If you’re an existing Telstra customer looking to transfer from a physical SIM card to an eSIM, follow these steps:

1. Connect to WiFi and download the My Telstra app on the device you’re switching SIMs on.
2. Go to the ‘Services’ tab in the My Telstra app, choose the service you’re transferring and then tap on ‘Transfer or restore eSIM’.
3. Follow the My Telstra app prompts to complete eSIM transfer and activation.

Note that your physical SIM will no longer work once transferred to eSIM. If you want to switch back to a physical SIM, order a replacement SIM card from Telstra. You also won’t lose prepaid credit if you switch from a physical SIM card to an eSIM with a Telstra prepaid plan. If you’re transferring from another mobile provider to Telstra, you’ll have to start with a physical SIM card, then switch to eSIM once you’re using your Telstra mobile plan.

Telstra notes that devices purchased overseas may not be compatible with eSIM. To confirm compatibility, dial *#06# on a potentially eSIM-compatible phone. If it’s eSIM compatible, you’ll see a 32-digit Embedded Identity Document (EID) number.

The mobile phones below are listed as eSIM compatible by Telstra (note that newer models may be missing from the official compatibility list):

• Apple: iPhone 11–16, iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone SE (2020 and 2022).
• Samsung: Galaxy S20–24, plus Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip.
• Google: Pixel 3a, Pixel 4–9.
• Others: Nokia X30 5G; Oppo Find N2 Flip, Find X3 Pro, Find X5 Pro; Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and Razr 40.

Telstra also supports eSIM in the following tablets and laptops:

• Apple: iPad (gens 7–10), iPad Air (M2), iPad Pro (M4; 3–5th gens), iPad Air (4–5th gens), iPad Mini (6th gen).
• Samsung: Galaxy Tab S9 (5G, FE 5G, Ultra 5G), Galaxy Tab S9 Plus 5G and SM-X816B.
• Microsoft: Surface Go 3, Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro 9 (5G) and Surface Go 2 LTE.
• HP: HSN-I45C-4, Elitebook 840.