Looking for an eSIM in Italy (eSIM Italia)? If you're visiting, the simplest option is a travel eSIM: you buy it online, install it at home and it connects when you land. If you live in Italy or want an Italian number, the main eSIM providers are TIM, Vodafone, WINDTRE, Iliad and Fastweb, plus brands like ho., Kena and Very. Local lines need an ID check and usually your codice fiscale. This guide covers each provider, how to get their eSIM, and which option fits your trip.
Just visiting? These Italy eSIMs are data only, so you keep your home number for calls and texts. Pick the one that matches the length of your trip.
Data-only plans for Italy · 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB · See all Italy eSIMs · Visiting more of Europe? See Europe eSIMs
Italian mobile operators and network providers with eSIM
Apple's list of carriers that support eSIM on iPhone includes Fastweb, Iliad, TIM, Vodafone and Wind Tre for Italy (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service). Here's how they compare:
- TIM: eSIM online or in a TIM store. Supports eSIM Quick Transfer and carrier activation on iPhone.
- Vodafone: eSIM by QR code or app, with eSIM Quick Transfer on iPhone. Now part of Fastweb + Vodafone.
- WINDTRE: eSIM by QR code or app. This is the brand you want if you're searching for a "Wind eSIM".
- Iliad: eSIM for new and existing customers, online, in the app or in a store.
- Fastweb: eSIM with all Fastweb Mobile offers, activated with a QR code.
- ho., Kena and Very: lower-cost brands that also sell eSIMs, mostly online.
- Travel eSIMs: sold online by providers like SimOptions. No codice fiscale, no store visit, ready before you fly.
Apple also lists Iliad, TIM, Vodafone and Wind Tre as offering prepaid plans for international travelers. Here is what you need to know about each operator.
TIM eSIM
TIM sells its eSIM on tim.it and in TIM stores. According to TIM:
- Buy online: you get the QR code by email and activate the line in the MyTIM app, under "Attiva SIM", with SPID or video identification.
- Have these ready: your codice fiscale, your ID document and the QR code email.
- Already a TIM customer: you can switch from a physical SIM to eSIM in a store, or in MyTIM under Linea > Gestisci > SIM > "Passa a eSIM". Your number and services stay the same.
- Changing phones: you can reuse the QR code to move the eSIM to a new phone.
On iPhone, TIM supports eSIM Quick Transfer and carrier activation, so you can also convert your SIM straight from the phone's settings on supported models.
Kena Mobile
Kena is a TIM brand. Its eSIM page says new and existing customers can get an eSIM. New customers buy on kenamobile.it, in the Kena app or in a Kena shop, receive the QR code by email and activate with VideoSelfie, SPID or CIE. Existing customers ask for a SIM change in a Kena shop with their codice fiscale and ID.
Vodafone eSIM
Vodafone Italia supports eSIM on iPhone by eSIM Quick Transfer, QR code or the carrier app, according to Apple's carrier list. Since 31 December 2024, Vodafone Italia belongs to Swisscom and runs together with Fastweb as Fastweb + Vodafone. The Fastweb, Vodafone and ho. brands are all kept (Fastweb press release).
Ask in a Vodafone store or check Vodafone's own website for its current eSIM offers before you sign up, as they change often.
ho. Mobile
ho. is one of the brands kept by Fastweb + Vodafone. It sells eSIMs with its offers, so you can start using your new line without waiting for a SIM card in the post.
Wind eSIM: WINDTRE (Wind Tre)
If you're searching for a "Wind eSIM", the brand today is WINDTRE (written Wind Tre on Apple's list). Apple lists it for eSIM activation by QR code or carrier app, and for prepaid plans for international travelers. Expect an ID check before the line works, as with the other operators in this guide. Check windtre.it or a WINDTRE store for the current eSIM offers.
Very Mobile
Very sells eSIMs online when you choose an offer on its eSIM page. You get the QR code in your summary email, install the eSIM and then identify yourself with SPID, CIE or video identification to activate it. Already with Very? In the Very app, go to "La mia linea" > "Info SIM e PUK", tap "Scrivici" and ask to replace your physical SIM with an eSIM.
Iliad eSIM
Iliad offers eSIM for individuals, businesses and the self-employed (Iliad: eSIM). How you get it depends on whether you're already a customer:
- New customers: choose an Iliad offer and follow the instructions to get the eSIM.
- Existing customers: request the eSIM in your Area Personale, in the Iliad app or at an Iliad point of sale.
Apple lists Iliad for eSIM activation by QR code or app, and for prepaid plans for international travelers. Check that your phone supports eSIM before you order.
Fastweb eSIM
Fastweb says its eSIMs are available with all Fastweb Mobile offers (Fastweb: eSIM). Here's how it works:
- Get the voucher. The QR code for your eSIM is on the voucher Fastweb gives you.
- Scan the QR code with your phone's camera, open the link and follow the steps on screen.
- Activate the profile in your phone's settings. You don't need to enter the PIN to activate it. The PIN is on the voucher and in your Area Personale.
Changing phones? Fastweb says you remove the eSIM profile from your current phone first, then add it to the new one with the same QR code.
How to get a local eSIM in Italy: ID and codice fiscale
Italian operators ask you to identify yourself before a new line works, whether it's a SIM or an eSIM. Here's what to expect:
- An ID document: TIM, Kena and Very all ask you to identify yourself before activation.
- Your codice fiscale: this is the Italian tax code. TIM and Kena ask for it with your ID.
- Online identification: SPID and CIE are Italian digital identity tools. If you don't have them, look for video identification (TIM, Very) or VideoSelfie (Kena), or buy in a store.
Getting a codice fiscale as a visitor
According to Italy's Revenue Agency, you can apply for a codice fiscale at an Italian consulate in your country of residence, or at an Agenzia delle Entrate office in Italy. EU citizens need a valid ID card or passport. Non-EU citizens need a document such as a passport with a visa if required, plus proof of their right to stay in Italy. For a first codice fiscale, you book an appointment and go to the counter in person (Agenzia delle Entrate: tax code for foreign citizens).
That's fine if you're moving to Italy. For a holiday, it's usually a lot of steps for a few weeks of data.
Do you need an Italian eSIM at all?
If your SIM is from another EU country, probably not. Under the EU's "roam like at home" rules, you use your home plan in Italy like you do at home. The rules cover the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as Moldova and Ukraine. The UK isn't included, so check your UK operator's roaming terms (Your Europe: mobile roaming costs).
If you're coming from outside the EU, roaming on your home plan can get expensive. That's where a travel eSIM helps.
Italy 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 Italy plans include, according to their plan details:
- Data only: no Italian phone number, no calls or SMS. You call and message with apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage.
- Speed: 4G and 5G.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you reach Italy.
- No paperwork: no codice fiscale, no store visit.
- Top-ups: available if you run low on data.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
- Coverage: Italy only. Going on to France, Switzerland or elsewhere? Pick a Europe eSIM instead.
Not sure what you can do without a local number? See how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
How much data do you need for Italy?
The Italy plans range from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 180 days. As a rough guide:
- A weekend in Rome, Florence or Venice: 1 GB to 3 GB for maps, messages and tickets.
- Up to a week: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days.
- One to two weeks: 20 GB for 15 days.
- A month or longer: 50 GB for 30 days, or the larger plans for long stays.
Need a phone number, or visiting more countries?
If you need calls and texts, or Italy is one stop on a longer trip, the My European eSIM from Bouygues Telecom fits better. It covers 46 destinations, including Italy, San Marino and the Vatican, and comes with a French (+33) number with unlimited calls and SMS within Europe. More options in our guide to Europe eSIMs with a phone number.
How to set up your Italy eSIM
- 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.
- Buy your plan and wait for the QR code by email.
- Install it on Wi-Fi before you fly. On iPhone, open the Camera app, scan the QR code and follow the steps to add the eSIM (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Italy" 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 after you arrive? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.
Local eSIM or travel eSIM: which one is right for you?
A TIM, Vodafone, WINDTRE, Iliad or Fastweb eSIM fits if
- You live in Italy or stay for several months.
- You need an Italian phone number for banks, apps or local services.
- You have a codice fiscale, or you're ready to get one.
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, trains and messages.
- You'd rather skip the shop, the ID check and the codice fiscale.
- You want to keep your home number on your phone at the same time.
Comparing travel eSIM options for Italy? See our list of eSIMs for Italy.
Tips for staying connected in Italy
- 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, unless your plan includes Italy.
- Install before you travel. You need an internet connection to download an eSIM, so do it on Wi-Fi at home.
- Planning the rest of your trip? Our Italy holiday guide has ideas for where to go.
FAQs
Which eSIM should I get for Italy?
If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is the simplest choice. You buy it online, install it before you fly and it connects when you land. If you live in Italy or need an Italian number, pick a local operator such as TIM, Vodafone, WINDTRE, Iliad or Fastweb.
Which Italian mobile operators offer eSIM?
Apple lists Fastweb, Iliad, TIM, Vodafone and Wind Tre for eSIM on iPhone. The brands ho., Kena and Very also sell eSIMs.
Does Fastweb offer eSIM?
Yes. Fastweb says eSIM is available with all its Fastweb Mobile offers. You activate it by scanning the QR code on your voucher.
Does Vodafone Italy support eSIM?
Yes. Apple lists Vodafone in Italy for eSIM Quick Transfer, activation by QR code or app, and prepaid plans for international travelers. Vodafone Italia is now part of Fastweb + Vodafone.
Does Wind offer eSIM?
Wind is now WINDTRE, and yes, it offers eSIM. Apple lists it for activation by QR code or carrier app.
Can tourists get an Iliad eSIM?
Iliad gives an eSIM to new customers who sign up for one of its offers, and Apple lists Iliad among the Italian carriers with prepaid plans for international travelers. Expect an ID check, as with the other Italian operators, and check Iliad's site for what visitors need. A travel eSIM skips that step.
Can I buy an Italian eSIM online?
Yes. TIM, Kena and Very sell eSIMs online and send the QR code by email. You still need to identify yourself, usually with SPID, CIE or video identification. A travel eSIM from SimOptions is bought online with no ID check.
Do I need a codice fiscale for an Italian eSIM?
For a local line, usually yes. TIM and Kena ask for your codice fiscale with your ID. You don't need one for a SimOptions travel eSIM.
Do I get an Italian phone number with a travel eSIM?
No. The SimOptions Italy plans are data only. If you need a number, the My European eSIM comes with a French (+33) number for calls and SMS within Europe.
Does an Italy eSIM work in other European countries?
Not the SimOptions Italy plans: they cover Italy only. If you're visiting other countries too, a Europe eSIM covers Italy and the rest of your trip.
