UK and Europe SIM and eSIM FAQs for US and Canadian Travelers

Your UK and Europe travel SIM or eSIM includes 5G/4G data, a real UK mobile number, UK talk and text, Europe roaming, hotspot use, and activation support.

• Choose 40GB, 100GB, 200GB or Unlimited Data.
• Get a real UK mobile number for talk, text, bookings, and forms.
• Use UK talk and text while in the UK.
• Use talk, text, and roaming data across included European destinations.
• Receive incoming talk and text while your service is active.
• Use hotspot or tethering to share data with other devices.
• Connect to free Wi-Fi on the London Underground at more than 250 Tube stations.
• Access selected UK offers through the Three+ Rewards app.

Europe roaming data limits apply:

• 40GB plan: 6GB usable in Europe.
• 100GB plan: 12GB usable in Europe.
• 200GB plan: 18GB usable in Europe.
• Unlimited Data plan: 30GB usable in Europe.

Your full UK data allowance can be used while you are in the UK.

Your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM is valid for 1 calendar month from activation.

This means it runs from the date you activate and start using it until 11:59pm on the same date of the following month, using the UK London time zone, unless the next month has fewer days.

Examples:

• If you activate on 28 December, it expires at 11:59pm on 28 January.
• If you activate on 31 January, it expires at 11:59pm on 28 February, or 29 February in a leap year.
• If you activate on 27 February, it expires at 11:59pm on 27 March.

After it expires, you can recharge the same SIM or eSIM through our website, or buy two or more SIMs or eSIMs and switch to the next one when the first expires.

Yes. Your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM works across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

While in the UK, you can use your full UK data allowance, use UK talk and text, and receive incoming talk and text while your service is active.

The Republic of Ireland is included as a European roaming destination and is subject to the Europe roaming allowance included with your selected plan.

Your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM includes roaming across many European destinations.

While visiting included European destinations, you can:

• Use your Europe roaming data allowance.
• Use talk and text with UK numbers.
• Use talk and text with local numbers in the country you are visiting.
• Use talk and text with other included European countries.
• Contact other people using our SIM or eSIM, no matter where they are.

Europe roaming data limits apply:

• 40GB plan: 6GB usable in Europe.
• 100GB plan: 12GB usable in Europe.
• 200GB plan: 18GB usable in Europe.
• Unlimited Data plan: 30GB usable in Europe.

Included European destinations:

Åland Islands, Finland | Austria | Azores, Portugal | Balearic Islands, Spain | Belgium | Bulgaria | Canary Islands, Spain | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | French Guiana | Germany | Gibraltar | Greece | Guadeloupe | Guernsey | Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Isle of Man | Italy | Jersey | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Madeira, Portugal | Malta | Martinique | Mayotte | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Réunion | Romania | Saint Barthélemy | Saint Martin | San Marino, Italy | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Vatican City

The 1-month roaming limit exists because UK mobile networks can limit continuous roaming outside the UK.

Your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM is valid for 1 calendar month from activation. Europe roaming is designed for travel use, not permanent overseas use outside the UK.

You can recharge after the first month if you are not in Europe for more than 1 continuous month.

If you are staying in Europe outside the UK for more than 1 continuous month, buy two or more SIMs or eSIMs and switch to the next one when the first expires.

Example: if you travel through France for 2 weeks, Italy for 3 weeks, then Spain for 1 week, you are in Europe continuously for more than 1 month. You may need two SIMs or eSIMs.

Example: if you travel through France for 3 weeks, then the UK for 1 week, then Spain for 3 weeks, you are not in Europe continuously for more than 1 month. Returning to the UK helps reset the continuous Europe roaming period.

No. Brexit does not stop our UK and Europe SIM or eSIM from working in included European destinations.

Some UK mobile providers charge daily roaming fees for Europe, but our SIM and eSIM do not charge extra daily roaming fees in the included European destinations.

You still get access to your included data, talk and text without additional daily roaming charges from us.

Your SIM or eSIM will not work while your cruise ship is in open waters.

It will only connect when you are docked at a port or very close to shore within land-based mobile coverage.

Once you are out at sea, mobile signals from land towers are no longer available. Cruise ships may offer onboard Wi-Fi or satellite services, but these are separate from your SIM or eSIM plan.

No. The UK and Europe SIM or eSIM is for use in the UK and included European destinations.

It is not designed for use in the United States or Canada. Do not buy this SIM or eSIM if you want mobile service at home in North America.

You can activate your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM before you travel, so it is ready when you arrive overseas.

For physical SIM cards:

• When your SIM arrives, follow the activation instructions supplied with the SIM card.
• Complete the activation steps before departure.
• You can prepare your SIM from the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, or anywhere else before you travel.

For eSIMs:

• We send you setup details after purchase.
• Follow the email instructions to install your eSIM.
• The eSIM installs on your phone in a few minutes.

You can set up before departure so you are ready to connect when you arrive.

Yes. You can buy your UK and Europe travel SIM or eSIM before your trip.

The 1-month validity starts from activation, not from the date you buy.

• Buy now, activate later.
• Set up before you leave North America.
• Useful for organized travelers who want their SIM or eSIM sorted early.

Yes. Once you receive your SIM or eSIM details, contact us with your SIM or eSIM serial number and we can confirm your UK mobile number.

This lets you:

• Share your number with family and friends.
• Add it to luggage labels.
• Use it on travel, booking, or government forms.

Yes. Your phone must be network unlocked to use our UK and Europe SIM or eSIM.

Many phones from the United States and Canada are unlocked, but some carrier-supplied phones are locked. Check before you travel.

How to check if your iPhone is unlocked:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap About.
• Look for Carrier Lock or Network Provider Lock.
• If it says “No SIM restrictions”, your iPhone is unlocked.

For other phones, insert a SIM card from a different provider and restart the phone. If the new provider’s name appears, your phone is unlocked. If you see an error such as “Invalid SIM”, contact your provider to unlock it.

Nothing changes. Your contacts, apps, photos, emails, settings, and WhatsApp chats stay on your phone.

• Your contacts stay on your phone.
• Your apps, photos, emails, and settings stay the same.
• Your WhatsApp number and conversations are not affected.

Your phone data is stored on your phone, not on the SIM card.

Yes. You can use your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM as a personal hotspot.

You can share your mobile data with devices such as:

• Laptop.
• iPad or tablet.
• Games console.
• A travel companion’s phone.

This is useful for remote work, streaming, maps, bookings, and general travel use. Hotspot can use a lot of data, so consider this when choosing your plan.

Yes. You can recharge your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM if you are staying longer than 1 month.

• Recharges can be made directly on our website.
• You can use major secure payment methods.
• You can keep recharging month after month if needed.
• Unused data does not roll over.

Important Europe roaming note: this service is designed for travel use. If you are staying in Europe outside the UK for more than 1 continuous month, buy two or more SIMs or eSIMs to cover your full stay.

You can check your remaining data by logging in to your Three UK account online.

• Remaining data balance.
• Usage history.
• Plan details.

No app is required. You can visit the website from your phone or laptop.

Yes. You can use WhatsApp and FaceTime as normal with your UK and Europe SIM or eSIM.

WhatsApp:

• You can keep your US or Canadian number, contacts, and chat history.
• No special setup is needed.
• You can send messages and make audio or video calls.
• Calls use your mobile data or Wi-Fi.

FaceTime:

• You can make FaceTime audio and video calls as usual.
• FaceTime uses mobile data or Wi-Fi.
• There are no standard phone call charges because it uses your data allowance.

Standard international talk and text to the United States or Canada is not included.

Most travelers use WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger, iMessage, or similar apps to contact family and friends back home using mobile data or Wi-Fi.

When you are in Europe, your plan includes talk and text to UK numbers, local numbers in the included European country you are visiting, and other included European countries.

Talk and text from the UK to Europe is not included. Use an internet calling app if you need to contact someone in Europe while you are in the UK.

When you are in the UK, UK talk and text includes UK landlines, UK mobiles, UK national numbers, and UK freephone numbers.

• UK landline numbers starting with 01 and 02.
• UK mobile numbers starting with 07.
• UK national numbers starting with 03.
• UK freephone numbers starting with 0800.

Some UK businesses use premium-rate numbers starting with 084 or 087. These can cost more and are not included in your plan. Before calling, check the business’s website for an 01, 02, 03 or 0800 number instead.

In the UK, your SIM or eSIM uses the Three UK mobile network.

Three UK and Vodafone UK merged in 2025, so your phone may use whichever network has the best available signal at your location in the UK.

In Europe, your SIM or eSIM automatically roams onto supported local network partners across included European destinations.

You can expect fast and reliable 4G/5G speeds in many major cities, towns, and tourist areas across Europe.

• 4G and 5G speeds are available in many major cities and tourist areas.
• Coverage is suitable for browsing, maps, streaming, video calls, and travel apps.
• Your phone automatically connects to an available local partner network.

Speeds can vary based on your location, the local network, network congestion, building coverage, and your phone model.

Yes. Our support team can help with setup, activation, data, roaming, and troubleshooting while you travel.

You can contact us by email or WhatsApp message if you need help.

Our WhatsApp Support team can be reached at +44 7882 165545.

If you order an eSIM, nothing is sent in the mail. We send setup details digitally.

If you order a physical SIM card, delivery options are shown at checkout. Order before you travel so you have time to receive your SIM card and prepare it before departure.

• eSIM is the fastest option if your phone supports it.
• Physical SIM cards are available for travelers who prefer a removable SIM card.
• Delivery times depend on your location and the shipping option selected at checkout.

We accept major secure payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

• Visa.
• Mastercard.
• American Express.
• PayPal.
• Apple Pay.
• Google Pay.

Our checkout is protected by SSL encryption. For this reason, we do not take orders over the phone.

We offer a refund if your SIM or eSIM does not work because of a genuine technical fault.

To claim:

• Contact us via WhatsApp on +44 7882 165545 or through our contact page within 24 hours of arriving in the UK or Europe.
• Include your name, order number, and a detailed description of the issue.
• Give us time to troubleshoot the problem. Many issues are fixed quickly once we have the details we need.
• If we cannot fix a genuine technical fault, we will refund what you paid.

The money-back guarantee does not apply if your phone is network locked, your phone is not compatible, you did not follow the activation or setup instructions, you do not contact us within 24 hours of arrival, or you wait until returning home to report the issue.

Yes, but only if the service is recharged before the mobile network cancels it due to inactivity.

After a period of inactivity, the SIM or eSIM may be permanently cancelled by the mobile network. Once cancelled, it cannot be reactivated and the UK mobile number cannot be retrieved.

For most travelers, it is usually easier and cheaper to buy a new SIM or eSIM for a future trip.

Yes. Our website is protected by SSL encryption.

SSL helps encrypt information sent between your device and our website, including personal details and checkout information.

When you shop with us, your payment and personal details stay private and secure. For this reason, we do not take phone orders.

No. We operate online and provide support by email and WhatsApp.

This keeps ordering simple and allows travelers from the United States and Canada to buy before they leave home.