How a Horizon travel eSIM works,
from purchase to landing
Buy a plan for where you’re going, install the eSIM over Wi-Fi at home, and turn it on when you land. Validity does not start until the eSIM first connects to a supported mobile network at your destination.
Three steps
Choose a plan for your route
Search the live catalogue for where you’re going. A country plan covers one stop, a regional plan covers a listed group of countries, and a global plan covers a wider route.
Install it before you travel
On a compatible, carrier-unlocked phone, tap the install link or scan the QR code while you’re on Wi-Fi. Many dual-SIM phones keep your home line next to the Horizon eSIM, and how the two lines behave depends on the phone and its settings.
Turn it on when you land
At your destination, switch the eSIM line on and enable data roaming for it. Validity does not start until the eSIM first connects to a supported mobile network there.
Step by step
What to do at each stage of your trip
Most of the setup happens at home over Wi-Fi. When you land, you switch the Horizon line on and turn on data roaming for it.
Before you buy
Check your phone, then match the plan to your route
You need a phone or tablet that supports eSIM and is not locked to a carrier. The plan has to list every country you will be in, including the ones you only pass through.
- Check the exact model and the region it was sold in. eSIM support can differ between versions sold under the same name, so match the model number on our supported devices page.
- Make sure the phone is carrier-unlocked, because a locked phone cannot use another provider’s eSIM. On iPhone, open Settings → General → About: Carrier Lock should say “No SIM restrictions”.
- Read the plan listing before you pay: the destinations it covers, the data allowance, the validity, the networks and any top-up notes.
See supported devicesCountry, regional or global?
- Country planCovers one country. It does not cover a neighbouring country, even for a border crossing or an airport connection.Country plans
- Regional planCovers a listed group of countries in one region. Compare its country list and price with separate country plans.Regional plans
- Global planCovers a wider list of destinations across continents. “Global” does not mean every country, so check each stop in the plan’s current list.Global plans
Right after you pay
Where do I find my eSIM after paying?
The installation details arrive by email and in My eSIMs. They include a QR code and manual activation details and, on a compatible phone, an install link that opens the phone’s own eSIM setup.
- With an account, open My eSIMs. As a guest, use the secure order link in your confirmation email; once you sign in with the same email address and verify it, the eSIM appears in My eSIMs.
- If the email has not arrived, check your spam or promotions folder. Delivery timing can vary, so please do not pay again while an order is pending.
- Your receipt goes to the email you used at checkout. Keep it and the secure order link somewhere you can open without mobile data.
Open My eSIMsKeep the QR code private
Treat it like a password. Do not post or forward the QR code, the SM-DP+ address, the activation code or the secure order link. An installed eSIM profile is tied to one device, and deleting or moving it may not be reversible.
Before you leave
Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before your trip
Install it at home on a stable Wi-Fi connection, for example the day before you travel. Installing does not start your plan. If you do not need the line yet, keep it switched off until you arrive.
- On the phone you will travel with, open the plan and tap the install link. It opens the phone’s built-in eSIM setup with your plan details filled in. Check them, then approve the download.
- If the link is not supported on your model or software version, scan the QR code instead, or choose the manual option on the Add eSIM screen and enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code.
- Give the new line a name you will recognise, such as “Horizon travel”, and leave your usual SIM’s settings as they are.
When you land
What do I do when I land?
Switch the Horizon line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. There is no separate activation step. Validity does not start until your eSIM first connects to a supported mobile network at your destination.
- Your phone treats a travel eSIM as roaming, so data roaming has to be on for the Horizon line. The plan is prepaid: Horizon does not bill you after checkout for the data you use.
- Keep your usual line on for calls and texts if you need them, with data roaming off on that line. On iPhone, also turn off Allow Mobile Data Switching (Android phones have a similar setting), or the phone can fall back to your home line for data.
- Wait for the phone to register on a network, then open a web page to test it. If you have signal but no internet, check that the Horizon line is on, selected for mobile data and allowed to roam. Do not delete the eSIM to fix it.
During the trip
How do I check my data and top up?
Sign in and open My eSIMs to see your plan, its status, your remaining data and its validity. You can refresh usage there, but networks can report it with a delay.
- When the data runs out, the plan stops rather than slowing down. You can add data from My eSIMs when a top-up is offered for your eSIM, or buy another plan.
- A top-up has its own validity. It does not start until its first connection to a supported network in a covered destination.
- Switching the line off does not pause or extend a plan that has already started.
After the trip
What happens to the eSIM after my trip?
Nothing renews, and you are not charged again unless you buy another plan or a top-up. The eSIM stays in My eSIMs, and when a top-up is offered for it, you can add data for your next trip.
- Keep the eSIM installed. An eSIM profile usually cannot be installed twice, so do not delete it unless support asks you to.
- If you change phones, contact support before you reset or replace the old one. An installed eSIM may not move to another phone or survive a reset.
Read the refund policyRefunds
We always refund the full amount you paid when you request it, whether your eSIM is unused, partly used or fully used. There is no time limit for requesting a refund.
FAQ
Questions travellers ask about Horizon eSIMs
Can I keep my home number and WhatsApp?
Yes. Horizon installs as a second line next to your usual SIM. Keep your usual line on for calls and texts and choose Horizon for mobile data. WhatsApp keeps your existing number. Your home carrier may still charge for calls, texts or data on its own line.
Does a Horizon eSIM include a phone number, calls or SMS?
No. Horizon plans are data-only. Use internet-based apps such as WhatsApp, Viber or FaceTime over the data connection, and keep your usual SIM switched on if you need calls and texts on your own number.
How early can I buy my eSIM?
Whenever you like. Validity does not start until your eSIM connects to a supported mobile network at your destination, so you can install it before you travel. There is no deadline for first use. You can buy now and keep your plan for a future trip.
How much data do I need?
Maps, messaging and browsing use less data than video calls, streaming, cloud backups or hotspot sharing. Check how much mobile data your phone used in a recent month, allow for the length of your trip and leave some room to spare. Each plan page estimates what its data allowance covers.
Can I use one eSIM in several countries?
Yes, with a regional or global plan that lists every country on your route. A local plan works only in its own country. Check the coverage list on the plan page, including countries you only pass through.
How do I top up?
Open My eSIMs, select your eSIM and choose Top up for the same destination, or Add country for your next stop, when these options are shown. A top-up adds a plan to the eSIM already on your phone, so there is no new QR code to scan.
Can I use one eSIM on several phones?
No. An installed eSIM profile is tied to one device. Buy a separate plan for each phone or tablet that needs its own data, or share your data with the personal hotspot.
What if I delete the eSIM by accident?
Contact support before you try to install it again. Whether a deleted profile can be installed again depends on that eSIM, so never delete it as a troubleshooting step.
Find a plan for
your next trip
Search your destination, compare data, validity and coverage, and install the eSIM on a compatible phone before you leave.