Before you buy, before you fly
Questions and answers
Everything travellers ask before their first eSIM: from checking the phone to getting a refund. Didn’t find your answer? Write to us — we’ll answer and add the question here.
Before you buy
- What is an eSIM and how does it work?An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone: you install the operator’s profile from a QR code, with no plastic and no trip to a shop.
- Does my phone support eSIM?Dial *#06# on the keypad: if you see an EID line, your phone supports eSIM. It must not be locked to a network.
- Do I have to take out my SIM card?No. The eSIM works alongside your main SIM: that one takes your calls and texts, and your data abroad goes through the eSIM.
- Will I keep my Polish number?Yes. Your number stays on your main SIM card; the siEmanko! eSIM handles data only.
- Will WhatsApp work with an eSIM?Yes, with no changes: WhatsApp is tied to your number, and data can go through any line, the eSIM included.
- Can I make calls and send texts with the eSIM?No, siEmanko! plans are data only. You call from your main number or through WhatsApp and other messaging apps.
- Is there one plan for several countries?Yes, regional plans: for Europe, Asia, the Balkans, the USA with Canada, or the whole world. One eSIM for the whole trip.
- How much data do I need for a trip?A week’s holiday with maps and messaging needs 1–3 GB, two weeks with Instagram 5 GB, remote work 20 GB.
- Does the price of a plan include taxes and fees?Yes. The price on the site is final: VAT included, with no activation fee, deposit or delivery charge.
- eSIM, local SIM card or roaming: which to choose?In the EU, stay with your Polish SIM. Outside it, an eSIM gives you data from landing with no queue; a local SIM can be cheaper, roaming costs most.
- How much does roaming cost outside the European Union?A 1 GB package from Polish operators costs 15 to 100 zł, and without a package a megabyte can cost tens of złoty. Work out your trip in the calculator.
- Is an eSIM safe?Yes. The profile is encrypted and tied to your phone, and your data goes through the operator’s network as it does with any SIM card.
Installation
- When will I get my eSIM after buying it?Straight after payment, usually in under a minute. The QR code and the activation code are waiting in your account.
- When should I install the eSIM: at home or after landing?At home, over Wi-Fi, a day or two before you leave. In most cases the plan starts only when it connects to a network at your destination.
- When does the plan’s validity start?Usually at the first connection to a network in the destination country; with some plans at installation. The plan’s description says which rule applies.
- I have nothing to scan the QR code with. What do I do?Paste the activation code: tap “Copy code” in your account, and in the phone’s settings choose to add the eSIM manually.
- Can I delete the eSIM and install it again?Don’t delete the eSIM before the plan ends: the code works only once and reinstalling is usually not possible.
- Will one eSIM work on two phones?No. The profile installs on one phone and can’t be moved. For a second phone, buy a second plan.
While travelling
- Do I have to turn on data roaming? Won’t my operator charge me?On the eSIM, yes, or it won’t connect to a network. There are no charges if data goes through the eSIM and data roaming is off on your Polish SIM.
- How do I check how much data I have left?Your account shows the usage next to each eSIM. The operator reports it with a delay, sometimes of several hours.
- What happens when my data runs out?The plan simply ends: nothing renews and we take nothing. Need more? Buy another plan for the same destination.
- Data over the eSIM isn’t working. What do I do?Check that data goes through the eSIM and that its data roaming is on, then turn aeroplane mode on and off. Still nothing? Write to us from your account.
- Can I share data from the eSIM (hotspot)?With most plans, yes, as with any SIM; the usage comes out of the plan. If the hotspot is essential for you, write to us before you buy.
- Will the eSIM use up my plan during a layover in another country?No, a single-country plan works only on that country’s networks. A regional plan may start on a layover if it covers that country.
Payment and refunds
- How can I pay?With BLIK, a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, in złoty. Payments are handled by Stripe, with no subscription and no automatic renewal.
- Can I return an eSIM and get my money back?Until the eSIM is installed, we refund it in full. After installation you can withdraw within 14 days of purchase, less the part already used.
- I bought a plan, but my phone doesn’t support eSIM. What now?Don’t install it. Until the eSIM is installed, we refund the money in full; ask for a refund in your account.