How to Keep Your Number Active Abroad with a Cheap eSIM Plan
Living or studying abroad? SimForMe data eSIM keeps you connected locally from €3.44, while your home number stays active on your second SIM slot. Canada, UK, and Germany plans available.
Best eSIM Plans for Expats Who Want to Keep Their Home Number
One of the first questions expats and international students ask is: "Can I keep my home number while using a local SIM abroad?" The answer is yes — and with a dual-SIM or eSIM-capable smartphone, the setup is simpler than most people expect.
The strategy works like this:
- Your home SIM or eSIM profile stays active for calls and messages to your home number
- A SimForMe eSIM provides affordable local data in your destination country
You get the best of both worlds: local data rates without roaming charges, plus your original number stays reachable.
How to Keep Your Number Active While Living Abroad
Modern smartphones support two SIM profiles simultaneously — either two physical SIMs, or one physical SIM plus one eSIM. For expats and students:
- Keep your home SIM or contract — the number stays active, calls and texts work as normal (you pay your home carrier's standard rate for incoming calls if applicable)
- Add a SimForMe eSIM for data — local data in Canada, UK, or Germany at local rates
This setup avoids two costly scenarios:
- Paying your home carrier's roaming data rates (often €10–25/day)
- Cancelling your home number and losing contacts, services, and 2FA SMS
SimForMe eSIM Plans for Expat Destinations
Canada
Preferred destination for students, skilled workers, and long-term stays.
- 3 GB / 7 days: from €7.74
- 5 GB / 7 days: from €12.04
- 5 GB / 15 days: from €12.90
- 10 GB / 15 days: from €17.20
- 5 GB / 30 days: from €15.48
- 10 GB / 30 days: from €19.78
- 20 GB / 30 days: from €31.82
United Kingdom
Major destination for European expats, EU graduates, and workers.
- 1 GB / 7 days: from €3.44
- 3 GB / 30 days: from €7.74
- 5 GB / 30 days: from €11.18
- 10 GB / 30 days: from €16.77
Germany
Growing hub for tech workers, international students, and Erasmus participants.
- 1 GB / 7 days: from €3.44
- 3 GB / 30 days: from €6.88
- 5 GB / 30 days: from €9.89
- 10 GB / 30 days: from €13.76
Can I Order a Canadian eSIM Before I Leave?
Yes — this is the recommended approach. You can purchase a Canada eSIM on simforme.com from anywhere in Europe. The QR code arrives by email. Install it on your device at home, and it activates automatically when your phone connects to the Canadian network after landing.
This means you arrive in Canada with local data already configured — no SIM shop on day one, no airport kiosk pricing.
Note: SimForMe plans are data-only. They provide affordable internet access. For a local Canadian phone number (for banking, local contacts), you would need a local SIM from a Canadian carrier, typically purchased in-country.
How Long Can You Keep Your Home Number Active?
This depends on your home carrier's policy. Most European mobile contracts allow temporary suspension or roaming status for months without cancellation. Some carriers offer a "keep number active" plan at a reduced monthly rate.
For the data side, SimForMe plans can be renewed month by month from your account — no commitment, no minimum term. As your stay extends, you simply reorder the same plan each month.
Data Plan Sizing for Long-Term Expats
For a working or studying expat, monthly data usage is typically:
| Usage pattern | Monthly needs |
|---|---|
| Light: remote work, calls only | 5 GB |
| Standard: streaming + work | 10 GB |
| Heavy: hotspot + streaming | 20 GB+ |
The 10 GB / 30-day Canada plan at €19.78 or UK plan at €16.77 covers most moderate-use months. Reorder monthly through your SimForMe account history — it takes under 2 minutes.