China travel eSIM — no VPN needed

An eSIM ("embedded SIM") is a digital SIM card already built into your phone — there's no plastic chip to insert or swap. Instead of visiting a store, you add a plan by scanning a QR code (or tapping a link) we email you, and your phone connects to a local network at your destination. For travel it means: buy online before you leave home, install in about a minute, and land with working data — no airport SIM kiosk, no SIM swap, and no surprise roaming bill. Your regular SIM stays in place, so your home number keeps working for calls and texts while the eSIM handles data abroad (dual-SIM). Most phones from 2018 onward support eSIM — iPhone XS or later, Google Pixel 3+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, and recent Android models. One important exception: iPhones bought in mainland China have a dual physical-SIM tray and do NOT support eSIM.

You need two things to both be true: (1) your phone is carrier-unlocked, and (2) it supports eSIM. Unlocked — on iPhone, open Settings → General → About and check "Carrier Lock"; it should say "No SIM restrictions". If it says your phone is locked, ask your carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) to unlock it before you travel. eSIM support — most phones from 2018 onward: iPhone XS or later (US iPhone 14 and later is eSIM-only), Pixel 3+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, recent Motorola/OnePlus. Look for an EID in Settings → About — if you see one, your phone supports eSIM. Note: iPhones sold in mainland China have a physical SIM tray and do NOT support eSIM. Run the quick 2-step check below to confirm both.

Check my phone now →

Each eSIM is country- or region-specific. Search by country on our homepage — if we list a plan for that country, you're covered. Regional plans cover multiple countries (e.g. Europe, Americas). Coverage is shown on each plan page before you buy.

No. Modern phones run an eSIM alongside your physical SIM (dual-SIM). You keep your home number active for calls and texts, while data flows through the eSIM at your destination. You can switch between them in your phone settings any time.

Yes. Your home number stays on your original SIM. The eSIM gets its own number (which you won't usually use — it's data-only for most travel plans). You can receive calls and SMS on your home number while abroad if you leave your home SIM enabled.

Most travel eSIMs are DATA-ONLY — no voice calls, no SMS. You use apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, iMessage, or WeChat for communication. If you need voice/SMS, check the plan details before buying (a few plans include them).

Rough guides: light use (maps, messaging) → 1 GB / week. Moderate use (social media, occasional video) → 3-5 GB / week. Heavy use (video streaming, hotspot) → 10+ GB / week. You can always top up mid-trip if you run out.

A few plans must be installed within a fixed number of days after purchase, or they expire unused — even if you never install them. The badge shows how many days you have. Today this applies to Annatel and Annatel+ (Israel) and Mamma Mia (Italy), all with a 90-day install window. What to do: only buy these plans if you plan to travel within the window shown. If your trip is further out, wait to buy until closer to your departure date. This is different from the red 'Install starts clock' badge — the amber one is about a deadline to install, not about the clock starting at install.

For MOST plans: install before you fly, activate at your destination. Here's the key thing to understand — installing and activating are two separate steps, and only activation starts your plan's clock: • Installing just loads the eSIM onto your phone over Wi-Fi at home. This does NOT use any data and does NOT start your validity period. • Activation — and the countdown of your plan's duration — happens automatically the first time the eSIM connects to a network at your destination. That first connection abroad is the moment your days begin counting, not the moment you install. So installing early costs you nothing. That's why we say install before you fly: get the eSIM loaded at home while you have reliable Wi-Fi, then simply arrive, turn the line on, and the clock starts fresh on day one. Don't wait until you land to install — airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable for QR-code setup. 📍 Going to China? Installing before departure is essential, not just convenient. Once you're behind the Great Firewall, Gmail and the one-tap install are blocked and your receipt/QR can be hard to reach — so set it up at home (or before takeoff) and it'll be ready to switch on the moment you land. Installing early won't waste a single day, because the countdown only begins when you connect in China. EXCEPTION: A few plans (marked with a red 'Install starts clock' badge on the plan page) begin counting validity the moment you install — even before connecting to a network. For those, wait until you arrive at your destination before installing. See the next question for details.

A small number of plans count their validity period from the moment you install the eSIM on your phone — not from when you first connect to a network. We mark these with a red 'Install starts clock' badge on the plan page so you see it before buying. Even if your phone is in airplane mode or you never use the eSIM after install, the clock keeps running. What to do: wait until you arrive at your destination before tapping 'Install eSIM'. Operators using this policy today include Bosher (Bosnia), Choungui (Mayotte), Pondocom (Suriname), and Latamlink's Unlimited plans (Latin America). Latamlink's data-only plans use the standard 'starts on first connection' rule, so they're not affected.

Open the email/link we sent with your eSIM. On iOS 17.4 or later, tap the 'Install eSIM' button — it opens Settings and installs in one tap. On older iOS: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code → scan the QR. Follow prompts to label the plan (e.g., 'Japan trip') and confirm.

Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add mobile plan → Scan QR code. Or on Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Download a SIM instead → Next → scan QR. Each manufacturer has slight wording differences — search 'add eSIM [your phone model]' if stuck.

Common causes: (1) You're scanning with the wrong app — use your phone's CAMERA app or the eSIM install flow in Settings, not WeChat or another scanner. (2) The QR was already used — eSIMs install once per device. Contact us if you need a replacement. (3) Weak signal — install on a strong Wi-Fi connection. 📍 Already in China? China's firewall (the Great Firewall) blocks US services like Gmail and often breaks the eSIM one-tap install, so the QR can scan with no result. If you're already in China on Wi-Fi, install using Manual Entry instead: on the Add eSIM screen choose Enter Details Manually and type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your receipt email. This bypasses the blocked one-tap install so your eSIM installs and connects. Watch the short video below for the step-by-step. 💡 Tip: before you fly, screenshot or write down your SM-DP+ address and activation code (both are in your receipt email) — that way you'll still have them even if Gmail is blocked once you're in China.

No. eSIMs are locked to the first device that installs them. If your phone breaks mid-trip, contact us — we'll evaluate case by case, but a replacement may require buying a new eSIM.

Try in this order: (1) Turn Data Roaming ON for the eSIM line — this is required even though it sounds expensive (it's free with the eSIM). (2) Set the eSIM as your 'Cellular Data' line in Settings. (3) Toggle Airplane Mode on then off. (4) Manually select a network: Settings → Cellular → Network Selection → turn off Automatic → pick a carrier. (5) Restart your phone.

YES, ALWAYS. This is the #1 reason travel eSIMs don't work. 'Data Roaming' sounds like it would cost extra, but for your travel eSIM it's required for any data to flow at all. Turn it ON for the eSIM line (you can leave it OFF for your home SIM to avoid home-carrier roaming charges).

iPhone: Settings → Cellular → set the eSIM as your 'Cellular Data' line. Calls/texts can stay on your home SIM. Android: Settings → SIM card manager → choose default for data. The travel eSIM should handle data; your home SIM keeps voice/SMS.

Yes. WhatsApp and iMessage are tied to your home number (the one you registered with), not whichever line is currently active for data. Keep both lines enabled and you'll receive messages on your home number while data routes through the eSIM.

On iPhone, usually no — it auto-configures. On Android, sometimes yes. If you have no internet after enabling Data Roaming, check Settings → Mobile Network → APN. We send the APN value in your install email — set it manually if needed.

For most plans, the validity clock starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination — NOT when you bought it. A 30-day plan installed at home and used a week later is still valid for 30 days from that first connection. EXCEPTION: Plans marked with the red 'Install starts clock' badge begin counting the moment you install the eSIM on your device, regardless of network connection. Installing one of those a week before your trip uses up a week of validity before you arrive. See the 'Install starts clock' question in the Installation section above.

Yes. Sign in to your account, find your eSIM under 'My eSIMs', and tap 'Top up'. The new data is added to the same eSIM — no re-installation needed. Top-ups extend the validity period too.

Unused data doesn't roll over. If you have 2 GB left when the validity ends, that data is gone. Top up before expiration if you want to keep the data flowing.

You can, but you don't have to. Once expired, the eSIM stops working but sits dormant on your phone. To delete: Settings → Cellular → tap the eSIM → 'Remove eSIM'. Note: deleted eSIMs cannot be reinstalled.

Once an eSIM expires, it can't be reactivated — you'd buy a new plan. Some plans support top-ups within a window after the original validity ends; check the plan details. As a rule, plan to buy fresh for each trip.

eSIMs can be refunded within 14 days of purchase if they have not been installed (never activated, no data used). Once installed, or after 14 days, they are non-refundable; top-ups are also non-refundable. If an eSIM is defective (fails to install, or no signal at the destination), submit a request and we'll review it manually. Email support@sinoconnection.com with your order ID. See our full refund policy at /refunds.

Two places: (1) the email receipt we sent with the QR code and installation link, (2) your account on sinoconnection.com → 'My eSIMs' tab. If you can't find the email, check spam — it comes from noreply@sinoconnection.com.

Email support@sinoconnection.com. Response within 1-2 business days. For refund requests, please use email only (we don't process refunds over the phone).