Phone Data while you travel; How to activate your Nomad eSIM: Step-by-step guide

One of the many things that worries me as a digital nomad is the struggle of managing data coverage while I’m on the move. I often travel between counties at a quick pace and having to find data coverage on arrival in each new place is a massive headache. Not only that, but if I try to use my Europe data roaming abroad, I often get slammed with surprise roaming charges that are usually eye-poppingly expensive and I’m paying a lot for internet coverage that usually isn’t that great.

As a digital nomad who travels a lot, I’ve found that the best solution for overcoming these hurdles is to get an eSIM. It is the cheapest, easiest, and smartest way to get special data plans while traveling. Nomad is an eSIM marketplace that provides flexible, high-speed, prepaid data plans with no hidden fees for more than 100 countries across the globe and it’s revolutionized the way I think about data plans and internet while I’m on the road.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for how you can set up your Nomad eSIM profile and activate it in your own device so you can also travel between countries without thinking about roaming charges and where to find a local SIM. The whole process is incredibly easy and intuitive and you’ll be up and running with their fast internet in no time.

How to purchase your eSIM

Getting your own Nomad eSIm really couldn’t be easier! I was amazed at how quick and straightforward the process was for me. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to hassle-free data on the road.

Log in/Sign up

Open the Nomad app (iOS only) or visit the website (Android and iOS) and click on Log in/Sign up. You will have to provide some basic information and your email address to create your account. If you already have an account, then you can simply log in.

Search for your location

Once you have successfully logged in, go to the Shop Plans page from the top menu. Enter

the location that you are traveling to in the search bar provided. All the plans for the

destination and their details will appear.

Select plan and purchase

Select the plan that best suits your needs and make the purchase. The purchased eSIM will

be added to the My eSIMs page. Now you will need to install the eSIM, and then activate the plan. Click on

the plan and you get instructions to install it. Note that you can install it first (e.g. at home) and then activate later (e.g. when you’ve landed at your destination) – but make sure to activate within 30 days of purchase. Once activated, the plan is live for as long as the expiry of your stated plan (7 days, 15 days, 30 days, depending).

How to install your eSIM

In order to install and activate the eSIM, your device needs to be eSIM compatible and its

network unlocked. To check your device compatibility with Nomad’s eSIMs, here’s the full list. Make sure that you have a stable internet connection, preferably WiFi, to

properly download and install the eSIM.

Go to Settings

To install the eSIM in your iPhone and start using your new data plan, the first thing to do is

to go to the settings of your device. You can access it by tapping on the Settings icon in

your app drawer.

Tap on Cellular

There will be an option called Cellular in the settings. Tap on it to move to the next menu.

Tap on Add Data Plan

In the Cellular menu, click on Add Data Plan.

Scan the QR code or enter data manually

A screen will pop up asking you to scan the QR code. You can either scan the QR code you

got from Nomad app/website or enter the details manually. If prompted, enter the 4-digit

confirmation code. You can skip this step if you are not provided with any confirmation code.

Set up Label Default Line

Once you have finished adding the data plan, you can use an existing label option or create

a custom label for your eSIM. This is to help you easily identify it later.

Set up Default Line

Default lines helps you use your existing number and keep the eSIM for cellular data only. In

the Default Line page, select primary sim for calls and other services and select your eSIM

for cellular data.

How to activate and use the eSIM data

Once your eSIM is successfully installed you will be able to see it under your Cellular Data or

Mobile Data plans. You can start using it by turning on your Cellular Data or Mobile Data – be sure to turn on Data Roaming as well once you’re in your destination.

Activate the eSIM by logging onto your account on the website or on the app, navigate to “My eSIMs”, and click on activate plan.

FINAL THOUGHTS

That’s it! No horribly expensive roaming charges and no hassles trying to find a local SIM card in each new destination! The whole experience of buying and setting up my eSIM was super simple and the app is very intuitive and easy to use. Plus the internet is fast which is one of the most important things us digital nomads need when we’re on the road. Plus, if you have friends who you think would benefit from this amazing service, check out the referral program within the app where you can earn $3 each time you refer a friend for their first eSIM.

This service really is a game changer for anyone who travels a lot and especially for digital nomads who can’t afford downtime as they travel between countries. An eSIM is the solution for the future and if you haven’t already signed up, what are you waiting for? Getting started is easy and having an eSIM will make your life so much easier and allow you to focus on the fun stuff!