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.
At home, over Wi-Fi, a day or two before you leave. Installing needs an internet connection, and that is exactly what you don’t have at the airport after landing. After installing, leave data on your main SIM until the day you leave.
With most plans the validity starts at the first connection to a network in the destination country, not at installation, so installing early costs nothing. With a plan whose validity counts from installation (its description says so), install no earlier than the day before you leave.
For Turkey, installing at home matters especially: since 2025 the Turkish regulator has blocked the websites of some foreign eSIM providers inside the country. A profile installed beforehand works without a problem.
Also worth reading
- 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.
- 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.