Your next trip starts here.
Your cart is empty. Choose a destination to get started.
Browse destinationsIn this guide 6 sections
Keeping your Australian line on can be useful for bank codes or ordinary calls, but it also keeps that service’s roaming rules in the picture. If you don’t need its calls or SMS, turn the line off while travelling; if you do, confirm the receiving and charging rules for your exact service before departure.
Before departure: settle the Australian-line decision
Ask your carrier: “Can my current plan receive a bank SMS in [country] without buying a pack or triggering a daily charge? What happens to incoming calls and voicemail?” Use the account's actual plan name, not just Telstra, Optus or Vodafone branding.
For example, Telstra Day Pass and Optus Daily Roaming state that receiving an SMS alone doesn't trigger their daily pass. Incoming calls, sent texts, home-line data and some voicemail arrangements can. Telstra Pre-Paid uses separate pack terms. Our bank-SMS guide sets out those distinctions and bank app alternatives.
If receiving codes cannot be confirmed, arrange your bank's alternative authentication before flying. A data-only eSIM can't receive a bank text addressed to your Australian number.
Set up after landing on working Wi-Fi
Buy travel data and save its email before departure. At the destination, complete airport Wi-Fi sign-in and open a normal webpage. Then install from the order email. If Wi-Fi won't stay connected, wait for hotel Wi-Fi or another steady trusted connection.
Give the lines clear names such as Australian number and Travel data. Then set these three controls:
| Control | Setting for a travel-data setup |
|---|---|
| Mobile data line | Travel eSIM |
| Australian-line data roaming | Off |
| Automatic mobile-data switching | Off |
Follow the setup email for the travel line's roaming setting and any APN. Travel eSIMs can require roaming on their own line; that doesn't mean turning it on for the Australian service.
Where to find the data selection
iPhone: open Settings, Mobile Service or Mobile Data, choose Mobile Data and select the travel line. Turn Allow Mobile Data Switching off if shown. Open the Australian line separately and leave its Data Roaming off. Labels can also appear as Cellular depending on region and software.
Samsung Galaxy: start at Settings, Connections, SIM manager. Select the travel eSIM under the data or preferred-SIM controls and turn automatic data switching off. Roaming controls vary by model. If a toggle doesn't identify the line, temporarily switch off the Australian line for testing or send us the screen before changing it.
Google Pixel: start at Settings, Network and internet, SIMs. Select the travel line for Mobile data and disable automatic data switching if offered. Keep the home SIM's roaming off.
Our dual-SIM guide covers the full arrangement. A screenshot showing two enabled SIMs doesn't establish which one is supplying data.
Prove the setup before leaving Wi-Fi
Turn Wi-Fi off briefly and open one small webpage. Return to SIM settings and confirm Travel data is still selected, then rejoin Wi-Fi if needed. If nothing loads, leave the installed profile in place and follow the order's connection instructions.
Email hello@thesimshop.com.au with the order, country, model/software, exact error and a cropped screenshot of line selection if it still fails. Hide QR codes and private numbers. We can investigate our travel-data service; your home carrier controls its charges and roaming service.
If a home-carrier charge has already appeared
Open the carrier's usage or billing details and note the time, service type and amount. A daily-pass trigger is different from a data bundle purchase or an ordinary call charge. Ask the carrier which event triggered it and how to prevent a repeat on that exact plan.
Until resolved, turn the Australian line off if you can manage without its SMS and calls, leaving the working travel line selected. Don't delete either eSIM or reset the phone to contest a bill. Keeping the usage record gives the carrier something specific to investigate.
Sources
Checked 30 October 2026: Apple dual SIM, Pixel dual SIM, Samsung SIM setup, Telstra Day Pass and Optus daily roaming triggers. No phone setting here is a promise against every carrier charge.
