Step 1: does your phone have eSIM?
Most phones released in recent years support eSIM, but not all of them, and not every version of the same model.
iPhone. iPhone XS, XR and later models support eSIM. To confirm, open Settings › General › About and look for an EID number. If there is one, your iPhone supports eSIM. Some iPhone models sold in mainland China use two physical SIM slots instead of eSIM, so check yours if you bought it there.
Android. Open the phone dialler and enter *#06#. If the screen shows an EID, the phone supports eSIM. You can also look in settings: on Samsung phones it is Settings › Connections › SIM manager, and on Google Pixel phones Settings › Network & internet › SIMs. If you can add an eSIM there, you're set.
Menu names change between phone models and software versions, so if you can't find them, search your phone's settings for "eSIM".
Step 2: is your phone unlocked?
A phone locked to an Australian carrier will reject another company's eSIM. Phones bought outright are usually unlocked; phones that came with a plan sometimes are not.
- iPhone: open Settings › General › About and find Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means the phone is unlocked.
- Android: there is no single setting for this. Ask your carrier, or try another carrier's SIM if you have one.
If your phone is locked, ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel. It can take a few days.
Step 3: check the provider's list
Each eSIM provider publishes a list of compatible phones. Check your exact model there before you pay, because some providers don't refund an eSIM once it has been bought.
Next: set up your travel eSIM before you fly, or compare plans by destination.