ELI5 : Getting a new SIM card abroad

May 1, 2024 6:41 AM

Hello! I am wondering about the logisitics of getting a new sim card.

I am traveling to Kathmandu for two weeks this month and I am anticipating I will get a new SIM card at the airport.

I have all my contacts on WhatsApp already, but I'm thinking once I get a new SIM isn't my phone going to be like....a new phone? Like, how can I best import those contacts while I am abroad?

posted by aetg to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Best answer: You will need to share information in order to get a best answer. What phone brand and model do you have? Does it have eSIM capabilities?

Without more information, my suggestion is an eSIM like the ones provided by Airalo. They have Nepal eSIMS.

When I used their eSIM in the UK, I didn't have to do anything with my contacts, etc, which are in my iPhone and not on the SIM. I used WhatsApp, Signal, and even Apple Messages without issue.

Good luck and have a great journey.
posted by terrapin at 6:57 AM on May 1 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Oh, yes, I do NOT have ability to use eSim, I spoke with my phone provider about that.

I will have to buy a physical SIM card, but I have the ability to swap mine out. I have a Samsung s23 and it runs Android.
posted by aetg at 7:16 AM on May 1

Best answer: Just asking to be sure, the S23 (upon which I typed this) supports esim. If yours doesn't do to a carrier thing, you could request it be unlocked (international travel is a valid reason) and it takes just a few minutes. Sorry if this isn't helpful, just wanted to verify that my S23 does have that support...
posted by chasles at 8:01 AM on May 1

Best answer: A long time ago, contacts used to be stored on the SIM card. Now, that's no longer the case (they are stored on your device and likely backed up to your Google account). So you can switch your SIM card as much as you like, as long as the phone is unlocked, and nothing will happen to your contacts (you can use a physical SIM or an eSIM). Your Whatsapp under your regular number will still work as usual.
posted by ssg at 9:08 AM on May 1

Best answer: you can buy an eSim for like $1-2 for a day's data and see if it works as a test.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 9:28 AM on May 1

Response by poster: Thank you everyone! I am relieved to hear that this won't be a huge process.
posted by aetg at 10:35 AM on May 1

You might get some alert from WhatsApp related to the SIM change, but don't worry about it - you shouldn't need to change anything, and people will still be able to contact you on WhatsApp as usual.

It's a good idea to have everything on your phone backed up though!
posted by trig at 12:08 PM on May 1

I have a mid-level Samsung (A73). I have used local sims in Brazil and Colombia, no problems, whatsapp keeps working the same as before. They're usually dirt cheap to get a 15 day plan or something like that.
posted by signal at 7:10 PM on May 3