By Lisa Salter
Montreal travel advisor · Updated June 26, 2026
If you've heard "just get an eSIM for your trip" and quietly nodded along — this is the plain-English explanation. No jargon, no tech background needed.
Ready to try one on your next trip?
Browse eSIM planseSIM vs. a physical SIM card
They do the same job — connect your phone to a network — but one is plastic and one is software.
| Physical SIM | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A removable plastic chip | A digital profile on your phone |
| Getting it | Buy in store, insert by hand | Scan a QR code — arrives instantly |
| Switching plans | Swap the chip (easy to lose) | Tap to switch in settings |
| For travel | Find a shop abroad, lose your number | Buy before you fly, keep your number |
How an eSIM works, in 3 steps
- Buy a plan online for the country you're visiting. You get a QR code by email.
- Scan the QR code in your phone's settings (on Wi-Fi, at home). The plan installs in under a minute.
- Switch it on when you land and your phone connects to a local network automatically.
Does your phone have an eSIM?
Most phones from the last few years do. As a rough guide: iPhone XR / XS (2018) and newer, recent Google Pixel (3 and up), and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer all support eSIM. If you're unsure, search your phone model plus "eSIM" — or just ask Lisa.
Why travellers love them
Ready before you fly
No airport kiosk, no hunting for a shop. Buy it from your couch and it's on your phone in minutes.
Stay reachable
Your home number stays active for calls and texts; the eSIM just carries data.
Pay local rates
You buy data for your destination — often a fraction of a single day of carrier roaming.
One phone, many plans
Store several eSIMs and switch between them — handy for multi-country trips.
Are there any downsides?
A few — and we'd rather be straight with you:
You need a compatible phone
Older or budget phones may not support eSIM. It takes a minute to check (see above).
You install it online
You need Wi-Fi or data to scan the QR code — which is why you set it up at home before you leave.
It's data-first
Travel eSIMs are built for internet. You keep calls and texts on your home number over Wi-Fi — which is what most travellers want anyway.
The mechanism, in plain terms
Every recent phone has an embedded SIM chip built inside — that's the "e" in eSIM. A physical SIM stores your carrier details on a removable card; an eSIM stores the same kind of details as a downloadable profile on that built-in chip. Buying an eSIM simply downloads a new profile (via a QR code or app), and your phone can hold several profiles at once and switch between them in Settings — no card, no swapping.
How it connects you abroad
A travel eSIM provider has agreements with mobile networks around the world. When you arrive and switch your eSIM on, its profile authenticates with a local partner network — say a carrier in Mexico or Japan — and you get data at local rates instead of your home carrier's roaming prices. Because it's using a partner network, the eSIM line needs "Data Roaming" turned on to connect — that's normal and free, since it's the eSIM's own data, not your Canadian carrier's roaming.
Dual-SIM: how your number and the eSIM coexist
Modern phones are dual-SIM — they run two lines at once. You keep your Canadian line as your primary number for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your data line for the trip. Your phone uses each line for what you've assigned, so you stay reachable on your own number while the eSIM quietly handles the internet.
One phone, several eSIMs
You can store multiple eSIM profiles and switch between them — handy if you travel often. Finished with a trip? Turn that eSIM line off or delete the profile; it won't charge you, and the slot is free for next time.
How it works for your trip
In practice it's three steps: buy a plan, install it on Wi-Fi at home, and switch it on when you land. We cover the full routine in how to use an eSIM for travel, and the exact iPhone steps in how to activate an eSIM on iPhone. New to the whole idea? Start with what is an eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
Does an eSIM replace my phone number?
No. A travel eSIM is a second line for data. Your existing number stays active for calls and texts — nothing changes with your home plan.
Can I use an eSIM and my physical SIM at the same time?
Yes, on most recent phones. That dual-SIM feature is exactly what lets you keep your Canadian number while using the eSIM's data abroad.
How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?
iPhone XR/XS and newer, recent Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer all support it. Search your model plus "eSIM" to confirm, or ask Lisa.
Do I need internet to install an eSIM?
Yes — to scan the QR code and download the plan. Set it up at home on Wi-Fi before you travel; you only switch it on once you land.
Is an eSIM safe?
Yes. It uses the same secure technology as a physical SIM, and there's no card to lose or have stolen. You can delete the profile any time after your trip.
Still not sure if an eSIM is right for your trip? Lisa Salter, a Montréal travel advisor with 20+ years' experience, will tell you straight — and set the whole thing up if it's a fit. Ask Lisa →
