How to buy a tourist SIM card for Indonesia?

Indonesia, the stunning archipelago nation comprising thousands of islands, is a paradise for travelers seeking diverse landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're exploring Bali's pristine beaches, hiking in Java's lush jungles, or immersing yourself in the vibrant streets of Jakarta, staying connected is crucial to navigate your way around, share your adventures with loved ones, and access useful travel information.

Which prepaid tourist SIM card to get in Indonesia?

Indonesia boasts several telecom operators, but the most popular ones for tourists are Telkomsel, XL Axiata, and Indosat (IM3). Of the three operators, Telkomsel has the best coverage and speeds, and is the preferred choice for most travelers.

Telkomsel offers prepaid tourist SIM cards which include 25 GB of data and 25 minutes of calls to local numbers at RP 150,000 (~9.50 USD), and the SIM card is valid for a period of 30 days. It is important to note that after the period of 30 days is over, the plan will be invalidated and you will no longer be able to use it. You will not be able to extend or renew the plan. However, you can choose to purchase another variant of their plans from their app, by dealing *363#, or visiting one of their physical stores.

How to get a Telkomsel tourist SIM card?

There are two main ways that you can get a Telkomsel tourist SIM card:

• Pre-order online: Pre-order for a Telkomsel tourist SIM card within 14 days of your trip, and pick it up at one of their pickup locations after arrival. Note that pick-up is currently only available in Bali and Mandalika - Lombok, so if you will be going to other cities in Indonesia, pre-ordering might not be an option for you.
• Purchase at the retail stores upon arrival: Look out for Telkomsel stores and outlets (called GraPARI) upon arrival. You can purchase your tourist SIM card there.

Take note that if you are planning to get a Telkomsel tourist SIM card, the following set of criteria needs to be met:

• Your phone cannot be carrier-locked (Find out what it means to have a carrier-locked phone)
• You will need to submit a copy of your passport
• You will need to provide your device's IMEI number so that Telkomsel can whitelist your phone for their SIM card (How to find your IMEI number)

Does Telkomsel offer eSIMs for tourists?

If you have an eSIM-only phone, or if you are looking to use an eSIM instead of a travel SIM, unfortunately, Telkomsel currently only provides the option for a physical SIM card for tourist plans. You will not be able to get an eSIM for the Telkomsel tourist plan.

And for the benefit of those who don't know what an eSIM is, it stands for embedded SIM, and is essentially a chip that is in your device that functions similarly to a SIM card.

Get a Nomad travel eSIM for Indonesia

Instead of getting a prepaid SIM card for Indonesia, consider getting a Nomad travel eSIM for Indonesia. Nomad offers various data eSIM plans for Indonesia with varying data volumes and rates from as low as $1.40/GB. And if you are someone with high data consumption patterns, there are also unlimited plans available for you.

Nomad's eSIMs for Indonesia work with the Telkomsel network, giving you the benefit of the extensive coverage and stable connections, but also saving you the hassle of having to purchase a SIM card at the airport after arrival. You also do not have to worry about having to submit copies of your identity documents or IMEI number of your device to purchase a phone. The only thing that you need to check is to make sure that your device is eSIM-compatible.

An added advantage of getting a Nomad eSIM for Indonesia is that if you ever run out of data, or if your data plan is about to expire, you can easily purchase an add-on from the Nomad app to extend the validity or top up your data volume. You will get data added to the same eSIM plan in just a few taps on your device! Note that add-ons are not available for unlimited data plans for Indonesia.

How to get a Nomad travel eSIM for Indonesia?

You can easily get a Nomad travel eSIM for Indonesia by creating an account with Nomad, finding an Indonesia data plan that best fits your needs, and check out! It's as simple as that.

Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email containing the installation and activation instructions for your eSIM. Remember, you will need a stable internet connection for the purchase and installation of your eSIM, so it is recommended to buy and install your eSIM before you fly.