Looking for eSIM providers in Belgium? The big Belgian carriers, Proximus, Telenet and BASE, all offer eSIM, and they suit you if you live in Belgium or need a Belgian +32 number. If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is simpler: you buy it online, install it before you fly and it connects when you land. This guide covers how to get an eSIM from each Belgian carrier, how EU roaming works in Belgium, and the travel eSIMs that work there.
Just visiting? Belgium plans are data only, so you keep your home number for calls and texts. A Europe plan also works in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany, which helps if you cross a border by train.
Belgium data plans and a plan with a French +33 number · See all Belgium eSIMs · See Europe eSIMs · All destinations
eSIM providers in Belgium at a glance
Apple's list of carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone includes BASE, Proximus and Telenet for Belgium, with activation by QR code or carrier app (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service on iPhone). The list doesn't show any Belgian carrier under prepaid plans for international travelers. Here's how your options compare:
- Proximus: order a subscription online or in a shop and choose eSIM as the SIM type.
- Telenet: request an eSIM in the MyTelenet app or website, or order online and get the QR code by email.
- BASE: prepaid cards and monthly plans with eSIM, ordered and activated in the My BASE app.
- Travel eSIMs: sold online by providers like SimOptions. Data only, or with a French +33 number, no store visit and ready before you leave.
Proximus eSIM
According to Proximus:
- Every subscription supports eSIM. You order online and choose eSIM as the SIM type, or ask in a Proximus shop.
- Fast setup. The activation email with your number, PIN and PUK arrives within 2 hours, and the installation is fully digital.
- Move to a new phone. Existing customers can move their SIM or eSIM and number with Quick Transfer. You can also swap a physical SIM for an eSIM in your phone settings, in the Proximus app or in a shop.
- No QR code reuse. If you delete the eSIM or reset the phone, you can't reuse the QR code. You need a new one from a Proximus shop.
- No smartwatch yet. A Proximus eSIM can't be used on companion devices such as Apple or Samsung smartwatches.
Proximus can only verify eSIM compatibility for devices it sells. Check your model with its compatibility finder, or read our guide to checking eSIM compatibility.
Telenet eSIM
Telenet explains its eSIM on its eSIM help page (in Dutch). It says:
- Online order: you register with itsme on the Telenet website and the QR code arrives by email. You can also order in a Telenet shop.
- Swap from a physical SIM: in the MyTelenet app or website, go to "Je simkaarten" and choose "Vraag een eSIM aan". Only the account administrator can do this, and you request it on the phone where the eSIM will be installed.
- One QR code, one install. The QR code works only once, so don't delete the eSIM on your old phone when you move to a new one.
- One line per number. A number has either a physical SIM or an eSIM, not both.
- Compatible phone and stable internet are required.
Telenet also has a separate page for business customers, eSIM for Business Mobile (in Dutch).
BASE eSIM
BASE says its eSIM is already embedded in your smartphone, so you don't need a physical card. On its eSIM page, BASE says:
- Monthly plans and prepaid: you can choose a plan or a prepaid card with eSIM.
- Activation in the app: you order and activate the eSIM in the My BASE app, which checks right away whether your phone is compatible.
- Swap for free: BASE swaps a physical SIM for an eSIM at no cost and keeps your number.
- Phones: BASE lists recent models from Apple (iPhone XS onwards), Samsung (Galaxy S20 onwards), Google Pixel and others. The list isn't complete.
Prepaid eSIMs in Belgium need ID
Belgian law requires prepaid customers to identify themselves. Proximus says that without identification you can't make or receive calls, and texts and mobile internet won't work (Proximus: identification of your prepaid card). Its online tool needs a Belgian eID, so check with Proximus if you don't have one. BASE lets you identify with itsme, or with a selfie and a photo of a Belgian or European ID card or an international passport (BASE: mandatory identification for prepaid SIM cards). If you're only visiting for a few days, this is a lot of effort. A travel eSIM skips it.
Roaming in Belgium: EU "roam like at home"
Belgium is in the EU's "roam like at home" area. If your SIM comes from another EU country, calls, texts and data in Belgium are charged at your domestic rates. Your operator can apply fair use limits, and the rule is meant for occasional travel (Your Europe: mobile roaming costs). Check your own plan's terms before you go.
If your SIM is from the US, Canada, the UK, India or anywhere outside the EU, roaming depends on your operator's prices. That's where a travel eSIM helps. More in our guides to avoiding roaming charges and using an eSIM in Europe.
Belgium travel eSIM: data without a local SIM
A travel eSIM is a prepaid plan you buy online. You get a QR code by email, install it on Wi-Fi before you leave, and it connects when you arrive. According to the plan details, SimOptions offers:
- Belgium data plans: from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 180 days, 4G and 5G, Belgium only, with top-ups.
- Europe data plans: one eSIM for Belgium and its neighbours. See our guide to the best eSIM for Europe.
- Bouygues Telecom plans: 46 countries including Belgium, no top-ups.
- No paperwork: no passport check and no store visit.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Not sure which plan fits? Our guide to the best eSIM for Belgium compares them by trip length.
Need a phone number in Belgium?
Belgium and Europe data plans have no phone number. You can still call with WhatsApp or FaceTime, see how to make calls with a data-only eSIM. If a hotel or a rental desk needs to call or text you on a normal number, Travel Basic+ from Bouygues Telecom gives you a French +33 number with calls and SMS within Europe. It isn't a Belgian +32 number. If you need +32, get a Belgian carrier line.
How to set up your Belgium eSIM
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, your phone supports eSIM.
- Buy your plan and wait for the QR code by email.
- Install it on Wi-Fi before you leave. Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Belgium" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
- When you land, make the travel eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
Not connecting? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.
Belgian carrier eSIM or travel eSIM: which is right for you?
A Proximus, Telenet or BASE eSIM fits if
- You live in Belgium or stay for several months.
- You need a Belgian +32 number for banks, apps or local services.
- You can complete the carrier's ID and ordering steps.
A travel eSIM fits if
- You're on a short trip and want data the moment you land.
- You'd rather skip the shop and the ID check.
- You want to keep your home number active too. See how to set up a dual eSIM.
FAQs
Which eSIM should I get for Belgium?
If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is the simplest choice. If you live in Belgium or need a Belgian number, pick a carrier eSIM from Proximus, Telenet or BASE.
Which mobile providers offer eSIM in Belgium?
Proximus, Telenet and BASE. Apple lists all three for eSIM on iPhone, activated by QR code or carrier app.
Can I get a Belgian eSIM with a phone number as a tourist?
Belgian carrier eSIMs come with a Belgian number, but prepaid lines need identification first. For a number without that process, a Bouygues Telecom plan gives you a French +33 number for calls and SMS within Europe.
Can I use my EU plan in Belgium without roaming fees?
Yes, within your operator's fair use limits. Belgium is part of the EU's roam like at home area, so an EU plan is charged at domestic rates.
Which providers offer plans for business travelers in Belgium?
Telenet has a business eSIM page for Business Mobile customers. For a short business trip, a Belgium or Europe data eSIM installed before you fly covers email, maps and video calls.
Can I use a Proximus eSIM on my smartwatch?
Not yet. Proximus says its eSIM can't be used on companion devices such as Apple or Samsung smartwatches.
Can I reuse a Telenet or Proximus eSIM QR code?
No. Telenet says its QR code works only once, and Proximus says you can't reuse it after deleting the eSIM.
Does a SimOptions Belgium eSIM come with a Belgian number?
No. Belgium plans are data only. Travel Basic+ gives you a French +33 number.
