Moving Abroad: Your Connectivity Plan for the First 30 Days
You cannot get a local SIM without an address, and you cannot arrange an address without a phone. Here is how to bridge the first month after relocating.
Relocating has a genuine chicken-and-egg problem: local phone plans want proof of address or a local bank account, and getting either requires being contactable.
Short answer: use a travel eSIM as your bridge for the first two to four weeks, keep your home number alive for banking and admin, then switch to a local contract once you have an address and bank account. Do not cancel your home number early.
The first-30-days plan
| Phase | What to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–3 | Travel eSIM + home SIM | Land connected, sort transport and viewings |
| Week 1–2 | Same, top up if needed | Still no local address or bank |
| Week 2–4 | Add local prepaid SIM once possible | Local number for deliveries, services |
| Month 2+ | Local contract; eSIM kept for travel | Cheapest long-term |
Why you should not cancel your home number yet
Your home number is tied to more than you think: bank two-factor codes, your tax authority, old accounts, family. Losing it mid-move can lock you out of your own finances at the worst time. Keep it active — even on a cheap minimum plan — until every account is migrated. See 2FA abroad.
The chicken-and-egg problem, solved in order
- Arrive with data (travel eSIM) so you can navigate, call viewings and receive emails.
- Secure temporary accommodation with a real address you can use.
- Open a bank account — many countries now allow app-based accounts that accept a temporary address.
- Get a local prepaid SIM — usually needs only ID.
- Move to a local contract once you have an address and bank account.
Practical admin to do before you go
- Move 2FA to an authenticator app — do not leave it on SMS to a number you might lose.
- Download offline maps of your new city.
- Screenshot your visa, insurance and job documents.
- Tell your bank you are relocating to avoid frozen cards.
- Check whether your phone is unlocked — a locked phone cannot take a local SIM either. See how to unlock.
How much data for the first month?
More than a holiday: you will be navigating constantly, on video calls with landlords and employers, and often without home Wi-Fi. Budget 15–20 GB for the first month, or a plan you can top up.
Popular relocation bases
Portugal, Spain, Estonia, Georgia, UAE and Colombia all combine reasonable admin with decent infrastructure.
The bottom line
An eSIM is the bridge across the gap between landing and belonging. Keep your old number, buy a generous plan, and switch local when the paperwork allows. Browse plans for 190+ destinations.
Relocation rule: keep the home number until every account is migrated. It is the cheapest insurance in the whole move.