Looking for eSIM providers in Singapore? Singtel, StarHub and M1 all offer eSIM, and SIMBA offers eSIM plans too. Singtel, StarHub and M1 also sell tourist eSIMs, so you can get one even if you're only visiting. This guide shows what each carrier says on its own site, what the registration rules mean for visitors, and how a travel eSIM compares.
Just visiting? A SimOptions Singapore eSIM is data only. You buy it online, install it before you fly and keep your home number for calls and texts. Singapore is small and well covered, so a plan of 5 GB to 20 GB suits most trips.
Data-only plans for Singapore · See all Singapore eSIMs · All destinations
eSIM providers in Singapore at a glance
Apple's list of carriers that support eSIM on iPhone includes M1, Singtel and StarHub for Singapore. All three support activation by QR code or carrier app, and all three are also listed for prepaid plans for international travelers (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service on iPhone). SIMBA isn't on that list. Here's how they compare:
- Singtel: hi! Tourist plans for visitors with a foreign passport, ordered online.
- StarHub: data-only Tourist eSIMs, bought online on a mobile device with a passport check.
- M1: Tourist eSIMs online or at M1 shops and Changi Airport counters, as data-only or all-in-one plans.
- SIMBA: eSIM plans on its own plan page, with no tourist plan mentioned there.
- Travel eSIMs: sold online by providers like SimOptions. Data only, no passport check, ready before you leave.
Singtel eSIM (hi! Tourist)
Singtel sells eSIMs for visitors as hi! Tourist plans. According to Singtel's hi! Tourist page:
- Who can buy: only foreign passport holders.
- How to buy: order online. You can pay with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
- Phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. If you see "Cellular plans from this carrier cannot be added", your phone is probably locked.
- Calls and SMS: on some plans they are not included by default. You enable them at a Singtel hi! retailer in Singapore, and you need your passport.
- hi! App: you can use it to check your balance and expiry, and to set up or restore an eSIM.
Singtel's traveller's guide adds that you install the eSIM in your phone's SIM settings, and that Wi-Fi helps during setup. Plans and prices change, so check the hi! Tourist page before you buy.
StarHub Tourist eSIM
StarHub's Tourist SIM page lists three data-only eSIM plans: Lite, Core and Max. Each is valid for 30 days. According to StarHub:
- Buying: online on the StarHub website, on a mobile device only. You finish the passport check (eKYC) on that same device, otherwise verification fails.
- Delivery: after the check, the QR code arrives in the StarHub app and by email.
- Activation: activate the data eSIM within 18 days of purchase, and only after you arrive in Singapore. It works only in Singapore.
- Phone: it must support eSIM and not be carrier-locked.
- Calls and SMS: the eSIM data-only plans do not include voice or SMS.
M1 Tourist eSIM
M1 explains its eSIMs on its Tourist SIM page. According to M1:
- Where to buy: online with the "Buy Now (eSIM)" button, or offline at M1 shops, Changi Airport counters and authorised M1 retailers.
- Data only or all-in-one: the data-only eSIM has no calls or SMS. The all-in-one eSIMs add local call minutes and SMS.
- Setup: connect to stable Wi-Fi, go to Settings, choose Add Cellular, Mobile or Data Plan, and scan the QR code.
- Phones: M1 lists iPhone XR, XS and XS Max or later, and flagship Samsung models, as examples. The list isn't exhaustive.
Offline and online listings can differ in validity, so check the plan you buy.
SIMBA eSIM
SIMBA's website labels its mobile plans "eSIM | 5G". The plan page doesn't say whether any plan is prepaid or made for tourists, and it doesn't list registration steps. If you plan to use SIMBA, check its site or ask its support before you travel.
Registration rules for visitors
Both Singtel and M1 say a SIM registered with a passport is valid for 30 days. To keep the line longer, Singtel says you re-register with Singpass or a Singapore-issued ID at an authorised retailer. M1 says you update your NRIC or FIN in the M1 Prepaid App within that period. In practice, a local tourist eSIM suits a stay of up to about a month. For longer stays, ask the carrier about your options (M1: Tourist SIM, Singtel: hi! Tourist).
Singapore travel eSIM: data without a local SIM
A travel eSIM is a data 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. Here is what the SimOptions Singapore plans include, according to their plan details:
- Network and speed: runs on Singtel, with 4G/LTE and 5G listed.
- Data only: no Singapore phone number, no calls or SMS. You call and message with apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Telegram. See how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you reach Singapore.
- Top-ups: available if you run low on data.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
- Coverage: Singapore only. Going on to Malaysia or Thailand? Pick an Asia eSIM instead.
How much data do you need?
The Singapore plans range from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 180 days. As a rough guide:
- A few days: 1 GB to 5 GB for maps, messages and tickets.
- One to two weeks: 10 GB for 7 days, or 20 GB for 15 days.
- A month or longer: 50 GB for 30 days, or the larger plans for long stays.
Want help choosing? Our best eSIM for Singapore guide goes through the plans in more detail. Crossing into Malaysia? See our guide to eSIM providers in Malaysia.
How to set up your Singapore 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 leave. Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Singapore" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
- When you arrive, make the travel eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
Not connecting after you land? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.
Local eSIM or travel eSIM: which one is right for you?
A Singtel, StarHub, M1 or SIMBA eSIM fits if
- You live in Singapore or stay for more than a few weeks.
- You need a local number or local calls and SMS.
- You don't mind a passport check and the registration rules above.
A travel eSIM fits if
- You're on a short trip and want data the moment you land.
- You'd rather skip the retailer visit and the passport check.
- You want to keep your home number on your phone at the same time. See how to set up a dual eSIM.
FAQs
Which eSIM should I get for Singapore?
If you're visiting, a travel eSIM is the simplest choice. You buy it online, install it before you leave and it connects when you arrive. If you live in Singapore or need a local number, look at Singtel, StarHub, M1 or SIMBA.
Which telcos in Singapore offer eSIM?
Singtel, StarHub and M1 all offer eSIM, and Apple lists all three for eSIM on iPhone. SIMBA labels its mobile plans as eSIM on its own site.
Does Singtel support eSIM?
Yes. Singtel sells hi! Tourist eSIMs for visitors with a foreign passport. Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked.
Does StarHub have a tourist eSIM?
Yes. StarHub lists three data-only Tourist eSIM plans, valid for 30 days. You buy online on a mobile device and verify your passport in the process.
Does M1 have a tourist eSIM?
Yes. M1 sells Tourist eSIMs online and at M1 shops and Changi Airport counters. It offers a data-only eSIM and all-in-one eSIMs with calls and SMS.
Do I need to register a tourist eSIM in Singapore?
For local carrier tourist plans, yes. Singtel and M1 both say a passport registration is valid for 30 days. Check the carrier's page for the plan you buy.
Do I get a Singapore phone number with a travel eSIM?
No. The SimOptions Singapore plans are data only. If you need a Singapore number, get a tourist or regular eSIM from a local carrier.
Does the Singapore eSIM work in Malaysia?
No. The Singapore plans cover Singapore only. For Malaysia and other nearby countries, choose an Asia eSIM (see also our best eSIM for Asia guide).
Can I use my phone's eSIM if it is carrier-locked?
No. Singtel, StarHub and M1 all say the phone must be carrier-unlocked, and the same goes for a travel eSIM.
