Colombia eSIM: eSIM Providers in Colombia and Which One to Pick for Your Trip

Need an eSIM for Colombia? You have two ways to get one. Claro, Movistar and Tigo all offer eSIM, and they are the three Colombian carriers on Apple's eSIM list. Tigo and Movistar let you order an eSIM online, while Claro is mainly set up for its existing customers. If you're visiting, the easier option is a Colombia travel eSIM: you buy it online, install it at home and it connects when you land. This guide covers each provider, what you need to know as a tourist, and how to pick a plan for your trip.

Short on time? These are data-only Colombia eSIMs you can buy now and install before you fly. Pick the one that matches the length of your trip.

Data-only plans for Colombia · 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB · See all Colombia eSIMs · Visiting more countries? Find your destination

eSIM providers in Colombia at a glance

Apple lists Claro, Movistar and Tigo as the Colombian carriers that activate eSIM on iPhone, by QR code or carrier app. Apple also lists all three for eSIM on prepaid plans for international travelers (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service).

• Claro Colombia: free eSIM for Claro prepaid and postpaid customers, in the Mi Claro app or at a Claro store.
• Movistar Colombia: prepaid and postpaid eSIM, ordered online or at a Movistar store.
• Tigo Colombia: a prepaid eSIM you buy and activate online.
• WOM: not on Apple's eSIM list for Colombia.
• Travel eSIMs: sold online by providers like SimOptions. Data only, no store visit, no Colombian ID needed.

Here is what each carrier says about its eSIM.

Claro Colombia eSIM

Claro calls its eSIM "SIM virtual". Its eSIM page says the eSIM is free, and that you can switch to it if you have a Claro prepaid or postpaid plan and a compatible phone. You can also keep a physical SIM and an eSIM from Claro on the same phone.

How to get a Claro eSIM

1. In the Mi Claro app: choose your line and confirm your identity with a one-time code and a face check.
2. Get your QR code: Claro sends it to your personal email.
3. Scan the QR code on the phone you want to use, while it's connected to Wi-Fi or the internet.
4. Prefer a person? Go to a Claro Centro de Atención y Ventas (CAV). Claro says the change is free there too.

Claro's page has a model checker. If your phone isn't listed, Claro says eSIM isn't available for it on Claro.

Can you get a Claro eSIM as a tourist?

Claro's eSIM page is written for people who already have a Claro line, and it doesn't mention visitors. If you want a new Claro line, ask at a CAV and bring your passport. If you only need data for a short trip, a travel eSIM saves you that visit.

Movistar Colombia eSIM

Movistar's eSIM page lists both a prepaid and a postpaid eSIM offer. You order your eSIM online or at a Movistar Centro de Experiencia.

• Activation: in the Mi Movistar app (Mis eSIM, then Activar eSIM), or by scanning the QR code Movistar emails you.
• Connection: your phone needs Wi-Fi while you activate it.
• Compatibility: dial *#06#. If you see an EID, your phone supports eSIM.
• New phone: Movistar says its eSIM can't be moved to another device. You ask for a replacement instead.

Movistar's page doesn't say whether visitors can order the eSIM online. It does say that if your phone isn't registered in Colombia, you have to register it through the CRC channels. More on that below.

Tigo Colombia eSIM

Tigo sells a prepaid eSIM online that you buy and activate in a few minutes. The page shows two 30-day options, one with 30 GB and one with unlimited data. Both include:

• Unlimited calls within Colombia.
• WhatsApp and Facebook included, plus unlimited social media.
• Top-ups at recharge points or in the Mi Tigo app.

Your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM. Tigo also warns you not to delete the eSIM: if you do, you can't install it again. The page doesn't say which ID you need, so check that at checkout.

WOM eSIM

WOM (Partners Telecom Colombia) also runs a mobile network in Colombia. It isn't on Apple's eSIM carrier list for Colombia, and we couldn't confirm its current eSIM offer on an official page. If you want a WOM line, ask in one of its stores.

Do you need to register your phone in Colombia?

Colombia keeps a database of phone IMEI numbers, and phones bought abroad can need registering. Here is what that means for you:

• Roaming is exempt: Colombian rules exempt phones that are using international roaming from IMEI registration (Decreto 2025 de 2015, article 3). A travel eSIM from a foreign provider normally connects to Colombian networks through roaming.
• A Colombian line can need registration: if you use a Claro, Movistar or Tigo line in a phone bought abroad, the carrier can ask you to register it. Movistar points you to the CRC registration channels.

For a holiday, this is one more reason a travel eSIM is the simpler choice.

Colombia travel eSIM: get connected before you fly

A travel eSIM is a data plan you buy online. You get a QR code by email, install it on Wi-Fi at home, and it connects when you arrive. Here is what the SimOptions Colombia plans include, according to their plan details:

• Data only: no Colombian phone number, no calls or SMS. You call and message with apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage.
• Speed: 4G/LTE.
• Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you reach Colombia.
• Top-ups: available if you run low on data.
• Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
• Coverage: Colombia only. If your trip goes on to Ecuador, Peru or other countries, look at South America eSIMs. Heading to Brazil? See eSIM providers in Brazil.

Not sure what you can do without a local number? See how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM. Comparing more providers? Read our list of eSIMs for Colombia. Also visiting Central America? See eSIM providers in Guatemala: Claro, Tigo and travel eSIMs.

How much data do you need for Colombia?

The Colombia plans range from 1 GB for 3 days to 50 GB for 30 days. As a rough guide:

• A long weekend in Bogotá or Cartagena: 1 GB to 5 GB covers maps, messages and ride apps.
• One to two weeks (for example Bogotá, Medellín and the Coffee Region): 10 GB for 7 days or 20 GB for 15 days.
• Two weeks to a month, or remote work: 20 GB to 50 GB.

Staying a month or working online from Medellín or Bogotá? The largest Colombia plan gives you the most room for video calls and uploads.

How to set up your Colombia eSIM

1. 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.
2. Buy your plan and wait for the QR code by email.
3. Install it on Wi-Fi before you fly. On iPhone, open the Camera app, scan the QR code and tap Add Cellular Plan (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
4. Label the line "Colombia" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
5. When you land, make the travel eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.

Not connecting after you arrive? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.

Local eSIM or travel eSIM: which one is right for you?

A Claro, Movistar or Tigo eSIM fits if

• You live in Colombia or stay for several months.
• You need a Colombian phone number for calls, local services or apps.
• You want local call rates, like Tigo's unlimited calls within Colombia.
• You're fine with ID checks, a possible store visit and registering your phone.

A travel eSIM fits if

• You're on holiday or a business trip of a few days to a few weeks.
• You want data the moment you land, for maps, taxis and messages.
• You'd rather skip the store, the ID check and the phone registration.
• You want to keep your home number on your phone at the same time.

Tips for staying connected in Colombia

• Keep your home line on. Most eSIM phones run two lines at once. Keep your home number for calls and security codes, and use the travel eSIM for data. See how to set up a dual eSIM.
• Turn off data roaming on your home line so it doesn't use data abroad.
• Download offline maps before hikes and long bus rides. Mobile signal can drop in the mountains and remote areas, whatever eSIM you use.
• Install before you travel. You need an internet connection to download an eSIM, so do it on Wi-Fi at home.

FAQs

Does Claro Colombia offer eSIM?

Yes. Claro offers a free eSIM to its prepaid and postpaid customers. You switch in the Mi Claro app, with a one-time code and a face check, or at a Claro CAV store.

Can a tourist get a local eSIM in Colombia?

Apple lists Claro, Movistar and Tigo for eSIM on prepaid plans for international travelers. Tigo sells its prepaid eSIM online. Claro's eSIM page is aimed at existing customers, so for a new Claro line, ask in store with your passport.

What is the easiest eSIM for Colombia?

For most visitors, a travel eSIM. You buy it online, install it before you fly and it connects when you arrive in Colombia. You don't need a store visit, a Colombian ID or phone registration.

Can I get a Colombia eSIM with a phone number?

Yes, from a local carrier like Claro, Movistar or Tigo. The SimOptions Colombia plans are data only, so you keep using your home number and call or message with WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage.

Does Tigo support eSIM Quick Transfer on iPhone?

Apple doesn't list any Colombian carrier for eSIM Quick Transfer. Claro, Movistar and Tigo are listed for other activation methods, like scanning a QR code or using the carrier's app.

Do I need to register my phone's IMEI in Colombia?

Not if you only use roaming. Colombian rules exempt phones on international roaming from IMEI registration. If you put a Colombian line in a phone bought abroad, the carrier can ask you to register it.

Can I top up my Colombia eSIM?

Yes. The SimOptions Colombia plans list top-ups as available, so you can add data if you run low.

Does a Colombia eSIM work in Ecuador or Peru?

No. The Colombia plans cover Colombia only. For a trip across several countries, look at South America eSIMs or find your destination.