Looking for an eSIM for Austria? You have two routes. The Austrian carriers A1, Magenta and Drei all offer eSIM, mostly on contracts you manage in their own apps and customer portals. A1 also sells a prepaid Travel eSIM for visitors, but like every prepaid SIM in Austria, you must register it with photo ID before it works. A travel eSIM is the simpler option for a short visit: you buy it online, install it before you fly and it connects when you land. This guide shows what each eSIM provider in Austria offers, the ID rules, and how to set up a travel eSIM.
Just visiting? These Austria eSIMs fit a trip of one to two weeks. You install them at home and use them for data the moment you arrive.
Data-only plans for Austria · 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days · See all Austria eSIMs · Visiting several countries? A Europe eSIM covers Austria and 33 more
eSIM providers in Austria: the mobile carriers
The three big mobile operators in Austria are A1, Magenta and Drei. Here is what each one says about eSIM on its own website, checked in October 2026.
A1 Austria eSIM
Yes, A1 offers eSIM. New contract customers can choose eSIM instead of a SIM card and get the activation QR code by email. Existing customers order an eSIM profile in Mein A1, in the Mein A1 app, from the A1 service team or in an A1 shop. A1 says your phone should be on Wi-Fi when you scan the code (A1: eSIM).
A1 also sells a prepaid B.free Travel eSIM for visitors, valid for 2 or 4 weeks, with data, calls and texts. You get the eSIM by email, then register it with photo ID online or in an A1 shop. It works once it is registered and installed (A1: Travel eSIM Austria).
Magenta eSIM in Austria
Magenta offers a free eSIM profile, but you need a Magenta contract and an eSIM-compatible phone. You request the profile in the Mein Magenta portal under contract and tariff, or get it in a Magenta shop, then scan the QR code with an internet connection (Magenta: eSIM). Magenta's prepaid brand is called KLAX. Its page doesn't mention eSIM, so ask Magenta before you count on a prepaid eSIM (Magenta: KLAX prepaid).
Drei eSIM in Austria
Drei customers activate their eSIM in the Drei Kundenzone under "eSIM-Verwaltung" or in a Drei shop. If you order a phone or a plan with eSIM on drei.at, the QR code comes by email. You need an internet connection, for example Wi-Fi, to download the profile (Drei: What is an eSIM?).
Other mobile providers in Austria
Several smaller brands use these networks. HoT, for example, offers an eSIM you set up in the HoT app (HoT: eSIM). Other prepaid brands include yesss!, bob, tele.ring and S-BUDGET MOBILE. Check each brand's own site for eSIM before you buy.
Prepaid eSIM in Austria: the ID rules
Since 1 January 2019, every prepaid SIM in Austria must be registered before it can be activated. This applies to prepaid eSIMs too. Here is what that means for you (Austrian prepaid SIM registration portal):
- You need a valid official photo ID, such as a passport, ID card or driving licence.
- You can't use the SIM before you register it, except for emergency calls.
- You can register in a shop or online. Online, carriers check your ID with a photo of your ID and your face, through Austrian online banking or with ID Austria. Drei and Magenta list all three options (Drei: Prepaid registration, Magenta: Register prepaid).
- You can register from abroad with the online process, as long as you have Wi-Fi.
So yes, you can get a prepaid eSIM in Austria as a tourist, for example A1's B.free Travel eSIM. Just plan time for the ID check. More local options are in our guide to the best prepaid SIM cards for Austria.
Travel eSIMs for Austria
A travel eSIM is a data plan you buy online before your trip. At SimOptions, every plan on the Austria eSIM page lists Austria in its coverage. You can pick:
- Austria-only plans: data for Austria, with top-ups on most plans.
- Europe plans: data for Austria and 33 other European countries, handy if you also visit Germany, Italy or Switzerland.
- Bouygues Telecom plans: 46 countries including Austria, and they come with a French +33 number for calls and texts within Europe.
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, so you won't get an Austrian number. You call and message through WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps, and your home line can stay on your phone for texts. Comparing providers? See our list of the best eSIMs for Austria.
Want an eSIM with a phone number? No travel eSIM at SimOptions gives you an Austrian +43 number. Travel Basic+ from Bouygues Telecom has a French +33 number with calls and SMS within Europe, plus 20 GB of data for 15 days in 46 countries, Austria included.
Does your home SIM work in Austria?
- EU and EEA SIM cards: Austria is in the EU, so "roam like at home" applies. The rules also cover Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine (Your Europe: Roaming costs).
- UK SIM cards: the EU rules don't cover them. The UK government says surcharge-free roaming in EU and EEA countries is no longer guaranteed (GOV.UK: Using your mobile in EU and EEA countries). Check your provider's charges for Austria before you go.
- US, Canadian, Indian, Israeli and other SIM cards: your home carrier sets its own roaming prices in Austria.
If your plan charges for roaming, a travel eSIM for data plus your home line for texts and security codes is often the simpler setup.
How to set up a travel eSIM for Austria
Before you fly
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, your phone supports eSIM. More in our guide to checking eSIM compatibility.
- Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi at home. Scan the QR code from your email. On iPhone, you can also tap and hold the QR code and choose Add eSIM (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Austria" or "Travel" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
When you land
- Turn on the travel eSIM line if it is off.
- Make it your data line. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and choose the travel eSIM (Apple: Use Dual SIM with an eSIM). On a Pixel, use Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (Google: Use dual SIMs on Pixel).
- Turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM. On iPhone, it's under Settings > Cellular, then the travel line, then Cellular Data Options (Apple: Use cellular data on iPhone).
- Keep data roaming off on your home line if your plan charges for roaming abroad.
Not connecting? See the correct roaming settings for an eSIM.
Travelling on after Austria? Find an eSIM for your next destination.
FAQs
Which eSIM providers are there in Austria?
The three big operators A1, Magenta and Drei all offer eSIM, and smaller brands such as HoT do too. For a visit, travel eSIMs that cover Austria are the easiest way to get data without an Austrian account.
Does A1 Austria offer eSIM?
Yes. A1 contract customers order an eSIM in Mein A1, the Mein A1 app or an A1 shop. A1 also sells a prepaid B.free Travel eSIM for visitors, which you must register with photo ID.
Does Magenta offer eSIM in Austria?
Yes, for Magenta contract customers. The eSIM profile is free and you request it in Mein Magenta or in a Magenta shop.
Does Drei offer eSIM?
Yes. Drei customers activate an eSIM in the Drei Kundenzone or in a Drei shop. Orders on drei.at get the QR code by email.
Can I get a prepaid eSIM in Austria as a tourist?
Yes. A1's B.free Travel eSIM is made for visitors. Like every prepaid SIM in Austria, you must register it with a valid photo ID, such as your passport, before it works.
Do I need ID for a SIM card in Austria?
Yes, for any prepaid SIM or eSIM from an Austrian provider. You register it in a shop or online with a passport, ID card or driving licence. Without registration, only emergency calls work.
Can I get an Austrian eSIM with a phone number?
An Austrian +43 number comes with a plan from an Austrian carrier or prepaid brand. Travel eSIMs are mostly data-only. At SimOptions, the Bouygues Telecom plans come with a French +33 number for calls and texts within Europe.
Does my UK SIM work in Austria without roaming charges?
It depends on your provider. The EU roaming rules don't cover UK SIM cards, and free roaming in the EU and EEA is no longer guaranteed. Check your provider's charges, or use a travel eSIM for data.
When should I install my travel eSIM?
Before you fly, on Wi-Fi. When you land, make the eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
