You keep your phone number with a travel eSIM by leaving the home SIM switched on as a second line and pointing mobile data at the travel eSIM. Bank SMS codes and calls still reach your usual number, while browsing, maps and messaging run on the cheaper travel plan. The one setting to get right is data roaming on the home line, because that is where surprise charges come from.
Key takeaways
- A dual SIM phone can keep the home line for calls and SMS and use the travel eSIM for data at the same time.
- Only one line carries cellular data at a time, so you choose which one in settings.
- Your home line can still charge roaming fees abroad, even while the travel eSIM handles data.
- Most travel eSIMs, TonMobile included, are data only: no phone number and no SMS on the travel line.
- iPhone 13 and later run two eSIMs together; on Pixel, two eSIM profiles need a Pixel 7 or later.
The short answer: two lines, two jobs
Dual SIM setup splits the work between two lines on one phone. The home line stays active for your number, incoming calls and SMS, including one-time codes from your bank. The travel eSIM becomes the line for cellular data.
The travel eSIM never replaces your number. TonMobile, for example, states in its terms that its line has no phone number and no SMS, and its store listing advises keeping the home SIM and number active to receive bank SMS. Most data-only travel eSIMs work the same way, so the two-line setup is the normal way to travel with one.
How a travel eSIM and home SIM share one phone
A dual SIM phone holds two active lines and lets you assign each one a role. Your home number can sit on a physical SIM or an eSIM, and the travel plan is added as a second eSIM profile. The phone keeps both lines registered, but only one line uses cellular data at a time.
Two conditions come first. The phone must be carrier-unlocked to use an eSIM from another provider, and it needs an eSIM chip. Dialing *#06# shows an EID number on phones that have one.
| Task | Home line | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile data (maps, browsing, apps) | No, data roaming off | Yes |
| Bank SMS and one-time codes | Yes | No, data only |
| Regular calls to your number | Yes, roaming rates may apply | No |
| Messaging and internet calls | Partial, number still identifies you | Yes, carries the data |
| Roaming fees | Possible, check your carrier | No, it is the local data plan |
Home line abroad
- Stays on for your number
- Receives SMS and calls
- Data roaming switched off
- Labeled "Home" or "Primary"
Travel eSIM
- Set as the cellular data line
- Data roaming as the provider instructs
- No number, no SMS on data-only plans
- Labeled "Travel"
iPhone settings for a travel eSIM and home number
iPhone supports eSIM on the XS, XS Max, XR and later models, and iPhone 13 models and later run Dual eSIM with two eSIMs active at once. Some models, such as iPhone Air, are eSIM-only in certain countries and regions. Apple Support documents every step below.
Check the carrier lock
Open SettingsGeneralAbout. "No SIM Restrictions" next to Carrier Lock means the iPhone is unlocked and can take a travel eSIM.
Install the travel eSIM before you fly
Follow your provider's installation guide while you still have Wi-Fi at home. The travel eSIM then shows up as a second line under Cellular.
Label both lines
Go to SettingsCellulartap the numberCellular Plan Label. Clear names such as "Home" and "Travel" prevent mistakes later.
Send data to the travel line
Open SettingsCellularCellular Data and pick the travel eSIM. Keep the home line turned on so it still receives calls and SMS.
Switch off data roaming on the home line
Open the home line under Cellular and turn Data Roaming off. Turn it on for the travel eSIM only if the provider's instructions ask for it.
Voicemail and MMS
On iPhone, if data roaming is on for the data number, Visual Voicemail and MMS are disabled on the voice-only number. Plain SMS codes are not affected, but picture messages to your home number may not arrive.
Low Data Mode can be turned on per line, which helps stretch a fixed travel plan. For sizing that plan, the methodology page explains the site's rough daily-use estimate.
Android and Pixel settings
Google Pixel adds a travel eSIM through the SIMs menu, and running two eSIM profiles at once needs a Pixel 7 or later plus carrier support. Some steps need Android 11 or later. Google Pixel Help is the source for the paths below.
Add the travel eSIM
Open SettingsNetwork & internetSIMsAdd SIMSet up an eSIM and follow the prompts with your provider's QR code or activation details.
Keep the home SIM active
Leave your home SIM or eSIM switched on in the SIMs list. Turning it off would stop bank SMS and calls to your number.
Choose the travel line for mobile data
In the SIMs settings, set the travel eSIM as the line used for mobile data. Exact labels vary by Android version, so look for the mobile data preference on each line.
Turn off roaming on the home line
Open the home line in the SIMs list and switch roaming off there. Leave the travel eSIM's roaming setting as the provider's guide describes.
Other Android phones
Other Android brands label these menus differently. Check your phone maker's help pages, and confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked first.
Roaming charges on your home line
A travel eSIM does not switch off roaming fees on your home SIM. Apple Support states that roaming with an eSIM works the same as with a physical SIM, and that using a travel eSIM together with the home line may still incur roaming fees on the home line. Calls you answer, SMS you send and any data that slips onto the home line can be billed by your carrier.
Warning
Check your home carrier's roaming terms before you leave. Ask whether incoming SMS, incoming calls and any daily roaming pass are charged in your destination, since this depends on the carrier and country.
Three habits keep the home line cheap: data roaming off, outgoing calls kept to a minimum, and texts answered through a messaging app over the travel data. For long stays, read our note on unlimited eSIM fair use so the data line does not slow down when you rely on it most.
Making calls when the travel eSIM has no number
A data-only travel eSIM still lets you call people, just not through the phone network. Messaging and voice apps run on the travel data, and your contacts see your usual account. Your home line keeps receiving SMS codes in the background.
Some providers add a number as an option. Saily offers an optional US number for calls and texts at US$1.99 per month, with identity verification. Third-party reviews such as TechRadar's describe Airalo Discover+ global plans with a phone number for calls and texts in 130+ countries.
Neither option replaces your home number for banking. A bank sends codes to the number on your account, so the home line has to stay on whichever travel provider you choose. For trips across several borders, see our guide to an eSIM for a multi-country trip.
After the trip: switching back
Switching back means making the home line your data line again and retiring the travel eSIM. On iOS 26 and later, the travel eSIM is usually switched off and the home line switched back on automatically when you return home. On older versions, reverse the Cellular Data choice by hand.
Pixel erases an eSIM through Network & internetMobile networkpick the eSIMErase eSIM. Erase only when you are sure the plan is finished. TonMobile, for instance, does not refund a profile the user deleted, and its app lets you top up without reinstalling or hide old eSIMs instead.
If something went wrong on the trip, read about travel eSIM refunds before you erase anything. TonMobile, for example, asks for the eSIM ICCID, the device model and screenshots of your eSIM settings.
- Phone shows "No SIM Restrictions" or is confirmed unlocked
- Travel eSIM installed over home Wi-Fi before the flight
- Lines labeled "Home" and "Travel"
- Cellular data assigned to the travel eSIM
- Data roaming off on the home line
- Home carrier's SMS and call roaming terms checked
- Bank app and SMS codes checked once on arrival
- Plan to switch data back to the home line after landing home
FAQ
Can I keep my phone number with a travel eSIM?
Yes. Leave your home SIM or eSIM switched on as a second line and set the travel eSIM as the cellular data line. Your number keeps receiving calls and SMS while the travel plan carries data.
Will I receive bank SMS abroad while using a travel eSIM?
Yes, as long as the home line stays active. Bank codes go to the number on your account, not to the travel eSIM. Data-only travel eSIMs have no SMS on their line, so the home SIM has to stay on.
Does the home SIM charge roaming fees when the travel eSIM handles data?
It can. Apple Support notes that using a travel eSIM with the home line may still incur roaming fees on the home line. Turn off data roaming on the home line and check your carrier's rates for incoming calls and SMS.
Which iPhones can run a travel eSIM and home line together?
iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later support eSIM. iPhone 13 models and later support Dual eSIM, so two eSIMs can be active at the same time. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
Can a Google Pixel use two eSIMs at once?
Two eSIM profiles at the same time need a Pixel 7 or later and carrier support. You add the travel eSIM under Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, Add SIM. Some steps need Android 11 or later.
Can I get a phone number on a travel eSIM?
Some providers offer one. Saily has an optional US number for US$1.99 per month with identity verification, and reviews describe Airalo Discover+ plans with a number. Your bank still texts your home number, so keep that line on.