The best eSIM for Chad is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions Chad eSIM does that. It runs at 4G/LTE speed, activates when you land in N'Djamena and comes in sizes from 1 GB to 20 GB. It has no Chadian phone number, so you call over WhatsApp or other apps. Also visiting Niger, Nigeria or another African country? An Africa plan covers Chad and many other countries with one eSIM.
Which is the best eSIM for Chad?
Short on time? These Chad plans are 4G/LTE and data only. Pick the size from the days you stay.
Chad 5GB (7 days) · 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · data only · 4G/LTE · See all eSIMs for Chad · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Chad
- Coverage: check that Chad is on the country list. A Chad-only plan suits a stay in N'Djamena. A regional plan suits a trip that also takes you to other African countries.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a short business trip. For a week of maps, messages, email and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say whether you get 4G/LTE or 5G.
- Calls: most travel eSIMs are data only. If you need a Chadian number, a local line fits better (more below).
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
Our eSIMs for Chad: the details
Here is what the plan details on our Chad eSIM page say:
- Sizes: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, and 20 GB for 15 days.
- Networks and speed: the plans run on Airtel, at 4G/LTE speed.
- Phone number: no. The plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in Chad. Your days start then.
- Hotspot: supported, so you can share your data with a laptop or a colleague.
- Top-ups: available, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract.
How much data do you need in Chad?
It depends on how long you stay and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- 1 to 3 days: Chad 1GB or 3GB, both for 3 days. Enough for maps, messages and email on a short visit.
- Up to a week: Chad 5GB or 10GB, both for 7 days. Maps, messages, photos and some video calls.
- Two weeks: Chad 20GB, for 15 days. Room for video calls and sharing your connection with a laptop.
- Longer than two weeks: top up your Chad eSIM when you run low.
Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you stretch it.
Is there an eSIM for a short trip to Chad?
Yes. For a few days of meetings in N'Djamena, the smallest Chad plans last 3 days. You get data for maps, messages and email without paying for a week.
Where does the eSIM work in Chad?
Our Chad page says coverage is focused on N'Djamena, other urban centres and main roads, and that signal is limited in remote desert regions such as the Ennedi. The Canadian government also notes that telecommunication systems are very unreliable outside N'Djamena (Government of Canada: Chad travel advice). Download offline maps, your bookings and important contacts while you have a signal.
Can you make calls with a travel eSIM in Chad?
Our Chad plans are data only, so you don't get a Chadian number or call minutes. You can still call and text over WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps, see phone calls with a data-only eSIM. Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to the travel eSIM, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number, see how to set up a dual eSIM.
For emergencies in Chad, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) lists 2020 or 117 for the police and 112 or 18 for ambulance and fire (FCDO: Chad getting help). A data-only eSIM can't call these numbers, so keep your home SIM active or ask your host for a local phone.
Local line or travel eSIM in Chad?
Airtel Chad and Moov Africa Tchad both sell mobile lines in Chad, and Moov Africa Tchad lists an e-SIM service on its own site (Moov Africa Tchad, in French). A local line gives you a Chadian number and local calls, but you set it up after you land with the operator. Ask it which ID it needs. A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop.
Choose a local line if you need a Chadian number for a long stay or for work. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip.
Going to more than one country in Africa?
A Chad plan only works in Chad. If your trip also takes you to Niger, Nigeria or Gabon, our Africa eSIM covers Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and many other African countries with one eSIM. When we checked, Cameroon, Sudan, Libya and the Central African Republic were not on its list. The plans are 4G/LTE and data only, with 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, and 20 GB for 15 days. The country list can change, so check it on the Africa eSIM page for every country on your route. When we checked, each Chad plan cost less than the Africa plan of the same size, so only pick Africa if you really cross borders.
Heading on to a neighbour? See our guides to the best eSIM for Nigeria, Cameroon and Africa.
Africa plans · Chad and many other African countries · up to 15 days · 4G/LTE · data only · See the Africa eSIMs
Before you travel: safety and entry rules
Check the latest advice from your own government before you book. As of November 2026, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Chad, including the capital N'Djamena. It advises against all travel to the northern provinces of Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti, the Lake Chad region, the western part of Kanem Province and within 30 km of Chad's other borders (FCDO: Chad travel advice). Canada also tells its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Chad (Government of Canada: Chad travel advice).
The FCDO says that:
- Visa: British citizens need a visa. Since May 2026 you can apply online on the official Chad e-Visa platform, and the Chadian authorities recommend applying at least seven days before travel.
- Passport: it must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
- Police registration: if you stay more than 72 hours, you must register with the police, and you need a passport photo.
- Yellow fever: you need a vaccination certificate if you come from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Travel outside N'Djamena: you must get authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior.
- ID and photos: always carry a certified copy of your passport. Photographing military sites, government buildings or airports without a permit is illegal.
Sources: FCDO: Chad entry requirements and FCDO: Chad safety and security. Canada adds that you need a return or onward ticket. Rules differ by nationality, so check with Chad's embassy in your country. For handy apps on the road, see our list of must-have travel apps.
How do you get an eSIM for Chad?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Our install guide walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- When you land, use the travel eSIM for data: Apple notes that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line, so turn off data roaming on it (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating covers the usual causes. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Chad?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a Chad eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 3 GB for a few days, 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks. If you also visit other African countries, look at an Africa plan. If you need a Chadian number, get a local line.
Can I get an eSIM for Chad before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you arrive in Chad.
Does a travel eSIM for Chad include a phone number?
No. Our Chad and Africa plans are data only. For a Chadian number, get a line from Airtel Chad or Moov Africa Tchad.
Which networks does the Chad eSIM use?
Our Chad page says the plans run on Airtel, at 4G/LTE speed.
Is there 5G with the Chad eSIM?
No. Our Chad plans run at 4G/LTE speed, which is enough for maps, messages, email and video calls.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in Chad?
Compare before you go. Your home carrier sets its own roaming prices for Chad, so check its roaming page. A prepaid Chad eSIM gives you a fixed amount of data at a fixed price, with no contract.
Does the eSIM work outside N'Djamena?
Coverage is focused on urban centres and main roads, and signal is limited in remote desert regions whatever eSIM you use. Download offline maps before you leave the city.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
Is there an eSIM for Chad and Niger or Nigeria?
Our Africa plan covers Chad, Niger, Nigeria and many other African countries. When we checked, it did not cover Cameroon, so check the country list on the Africa eSIM page for every place you visit.
