France Travel eSIM
Plans
Prepaid eSIMs for France from A$9.90: data only, or Orange France with a French number, calls and texts.
Available Plans
A prepaid France travel eSIM gets you online from the moment you land at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly or Nice, with no SIM kiosk queue and no roaming bill from your home carrier. Choose a data-only plan from A$9.90, or an Orange France plan with a French +33 number, calls and texts. Every plan here also works in neighbouring European countries, so Paris, the Riviera, the Alps and a side trip to Italy or Spain can run on a single eSIM.
Compare France eSIM Plans
| Plan | Network | Data | Validity | Calls & number | ID needed | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange France eSIM (Europe & UK) | Orange France | 20GB / 50GB / 100GB | 30 days | Unlimited local calls and SMS, international minutes and texts, French +33 number | None for the first 30 days; ID registration only to recharge and keep using it after that | A$34.90 |
| Europe & UK data eSIM | Three plan; SFR in France | 5GB – 50GB, then unlimited at 128Kbps | 7 / 15 / 30 days | Data only, no number | No | A$9.90 |
| Orange Spain Europe eSIM | Orange Spain plan, roaming in France | 15GB / 22.5GB / 30.1GB of European roaming data | 28 days | Unlimited calls within Spain and the EU, no SMS, Spanish +34 number | Passport | A$19.90 |
| Orange Holiday Europe eSIM | Orange Spain plan, roaming in France | 30GB of European roaming data | 15 days | 100 minutes of calls within the EU, no SMS, Spanish +34 number | Passport | A$29.90 |
| Vodafone Europe & UK eSIM | Vodafone plan, roaming in France | 26GB / 40GB | 28 days | 100 or 200 minutes of calls, no SMS, Spanish +34 number | Passport | A$47.90 |
| Orange France Holiday SIM (physical card) | Orange France | 20GB | 14 days | Unlimited calls and texts within Europe, international minutes and texts, French number | No | A$39.90 |
Prices are in Australian dollars and convert automatically if you shop in another currency. The five eSIMs are delivered by email as a QR code. The Orange France Holiday SIM is a physical card sent by Australia Post, so it ships to Australian addresses only.
Which France eSIM Should I Choose?
A French number on Orange France: the Orange France eSIM
If you searched for an Orange France eSIM, this is the one. The Europe & UK Prepaid Travel eSIM Card – Orange runs on the Orange France network and comes with a French +33 phone number, handy for restaurant bookings and guesthouse hosts who prefer to ring a local number. The 20GB 30 Days plan costs A$34.90 and includes unlimited local calls and SMS, 30 minutes of calls from Europe to the rest of the world and 200 international texts. The 50GB plan is A$59.90 and the 100GB plan is A$84.90; both raise the international allowance to 120 minutes and 1,000 texts.
Data only for a city break: the Europe & UK data eSIM
For maps, messaging, translation and train tickets, the Europe & UK data eSIM has the lowest entry price on this page. The 5GB (7 Days) plan is A$9.90, which suits a long weekend in Paris; 10GB (15 Days) is A$14.90 and 20GB (30 Days) is A$29.90. There is no phone number and no ID check, and when the high-speed allowance runs out the connection continues at 128Kbps.
Calls on a smaller budget: the Orange Spain eSIMs
Two plans are issued by Orange Spain and roam in France at no extra charge. The Orange Spain Europe eSIM starts at A$19.90 for 15GB of European roaming data over 28 days with unlimited calls within Spain and the EU. The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is A$29.90 for 30GB over 15 days with 100 minutes of EU calls. Both give you a Spanish +34 number rather than a French one, need a passport, include no SMS, and do not cover the UK or Switzerland.
Your phone has no eSIM: the Orange France Holiday SIM
The France Orange Holiday Europe Travel SIM Card is a plug-and-play physical card on the Orange France network: 20GB (14 Days) for A$39.90, with a French number, unlimited calls and texts within Europe, 120 minutes of calls from Europe to worldwide destinations and 1,000 international texts. It is posted by Australia Post to Australian addresses, so order it well before you leave.
France Network Coverage: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free
France has four national mobile operators: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile. The Orange France eSIM and the Orange France Holiday SIM connect to Orange France as a home network. The Europe & UK data eSIM is a Three roaming plan whose coverage list names SFR in France. The two Orange Spain eSIMs and the Vodafone eSIM are Spanish plans that roam in France on local partner networks. None of the plans on this page is a Bouygues Telecom or Free Mobile plan.
In Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nice you can expect 4G and 5G on a 5G-capable phone. Mobile signal is widely available in Paris Métro and RER stations and tunnels. On TGV lines the signal is usually good near towns and drops in tunnels and deep cuttings. In the Alps, resort villages such as Chamonix and Val d'Isère are well served, while high passes and backcountry routes have patchy signal.
Travelling Beyond France?
All six plans cover the European Union countries on their lists, so Paris to Barcelona, Nice to Milan or Strasbourg to Germany needs no second eSIM. The differences are at the edges. The UK and Switzerland are included on the Orange France eSIM, the Europe & UK data eSIM, the Vodafone eSIM and the Orange France Holiday SIM, but not on the two Orange Spain plans, which matters for a Eurostar day in London or a ski trip near Geneva. Andorra is listed on the two Orange France products. Monaco, a separate country in the middle of the Riviera, is listed only on the Vodafone eSIM, whose 26GB Data (28 Days) plan is A$47.90 and which also includes Turkey.
For more multi-country options see our Europe eSIM plans, and read Europe by Train: Staying Online with eSIM Across Borders if you are travelling by rail.
How It Works
- Buy online. Pick a plan and check out. The QR code for the Orange France eSIM and the Europe & UK data eSIM is sent by email; orders placed after 1 AM AEST are sent from 9 AM AEST. For the Orange Spain and Vodafone eSIMs, allow up to 24 hours for the email, and have your passport ready for registration. The Vodafone eSIM also asks you to submit your arrival date.
- Install on Wi-Fi. The rules differ by plan. The Europe & UK data eSIM can be installed any time before you travel; its service starts on the first network connection in a covered country, and it must be installed and used within 90 days of purchase. The Orange France eSIM is different: its service starts when the QR code is first scanned, even outside Europe, so scan it only when you are ready to use it. An unused Orange France QR code is valid for 186 days after purchase. The product pages for the Orange Spain and Vodafone eSIMs also say to install on arrival.
- Land and connect. Select the travel eSIM for mobile data and switch on data roaming for that line. The Orange France eSIM user guide walks through each screen.
If something does not connect, our Melbourne-based support team is available 16 hours a day by live chat and email.
France eSIM vs Roaming on Your Home Plan
Roaming on your home plan is the easiest option to switch on and often the hardest to budget. Many carriers charge a fee for each day you use the phone abroad, so the cost grows with the length of the trip. A prepaid travel eSIM is a single upfront price for a fixed amount of data and a fixed number of days, with no contract.
You also keep your home SIM in the phone. Leave it switched on for incoming calls and bank verification texts, with its data roaming turned off, and let the travel eSIM carry the data. The trade-off is that a data-only eSIM has no phone number of its own. We compare the two approaches in eSIM vs International Roaming.
Tips for Using an eSIM in France
- Keep train tickets on your phone. The SNCF Connect app holds TGV and regional e-tickets. Open your ticket before boarding so it is ready when the signal dips in a tunnel.
- Use transit apps in Paris. The Bonjour RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités apps cover route planning and tickets for the Métro, RER, buses and trams.
- Download offline maps for the mountains and countryside. Save the Alps, Provence or the Dordogne in your maps app before you set out on hiking trails or back roads.
- Watch the borders. Near Geneva, Basel and Monaco your phone can pick up a foreign network. That is fine if your plan lists that country; if it does not, select a French network manually.
- Do not delete an Orange eSIM. The Orange QR code can be downloaded only once and a new one cannot be issued, so leave the profile on your phone until the trip is over.
France eSIM FAQs
What is the best eSIM for France?
It depends on the trip. For data only, the Europe & UK data eSIM starts at A$9.90 for 5GB over 7 days and needs no ID. If you want a French phone number with calls and texts, the Orange France eSIM starts at A$34.90 for 20GB over 30 days. For a combined France and Spain trip with calls, the Orange Spain Europe eSIM starts at A$19.90.
Do you sell an Orange France eSIM?
Yes. The Europe & UK Prepaid Travel eSIM Card - Orange runs on the Orange France network and includes a French +33 number, with 20GB, 50GB or 100GB of data for 30 days. The France Orange Holiday Europe Travel SIM Card is the physical-card version on the same network. Our two other Orange eSIMs are Orange Spain plans that roam in France and come with a Spanish number.
Does a France eSIM include calls and a French phone number?
The Orange France eSIM and the Orange France Holiday SIM include a French number with calls and texts. The Orange Spain and Vodafone eSIMs include call minutes with a Spanish +34 number and no SMS. The Europe & UK data eSIM is data only, so you would use apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Can I use my France eSIM in other European countries?
Yes. Every plan on this page covers the European Union countries on its list at no extra charge. The UK and Switzerland are included on the Orange France eSIM, the Europe & UK data eSIM, the Vodafone eSIM and the Orange France Holiday SIM, but not on the two Orange Spain plans. Monaco is listed only on the Vodafone eSIM.
Do I need a passport or ID for a France eSIM?
The Europe & UK data eSIM needs no ID. The Orange France eSIM and Holiday SIM need no ID to buy or to use for the first 30 days, which covers the full plan validity; ID registration with Orange is only required if you want to recharge and keep using the line after 30 days. The Orange Spain and Vodafone eSIMs require a passport.
When should I install my France eSIM?
It depends on the plan. The Europe & UK data eSIM can be installed at home any time before you travel. The Orange France eSIM starts its 30 days when the QR code is first scanned, even outside Europe, so scan it only when you are ready to use it. The Orange Spain and Vodafone product pages say to install on arrival. You need Wi-Fi to download any eSIM.
When does the validity period start?
On the Europe & UK data eSIM, validity starts on the first network connection in a covered country. On the Orange France eSIM, service starts when the QR code is first scanned. The Orange France Holiday SIM is plug and play, with 14 days from activation. The Vodafone eSIM runs for 28 days from the activation date you submit.
Can I use my France eSIM as a hotspot?
Yes. Hotspot and tethering are supported on every plan on this page, and shared data comes out of your allowance.
Which phones work with a France eSIM?
You need an unlocked phone that supports eSIM, which includes most recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. To check, dial *#06#: if a 32-digit EID number appears, the phone supports eSIM. If it does not, the Orange France Holiday SIM is a physical card.
What happens if I run out of data in France?
On the Europe & UK data eSIM, the connection continues at 128Kbps after the high-speed allowance is used, and the plan cannot be recharged, so you would buy a new one. The Orange and Vodafone plans can be recharged; Orange top-ups are made through the Orange Travel website or app.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for France?
Not with unlimited high-speed data. The Europe & UK data eSIM keeps you connected at 128Kbps after its allowance, and the largest allowance on this page is the 100GB Orange France eSIM at A$84.90. The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM has unlimited data in Spain only.
Do France eSIMs support 5G?
All six plans are listed as 5G/4G. Whether you see 5G depends on your phone, the network the plan uses and where you are; in rural areas expect 4G.
How quickly will I receive my France eSIM?
The QR code is delivered by email. For the Orange France eSIM and the Europe & UK data eSIM, orders placed after 1 AM AEST are sent from 9 AM AEST. For the Orange Spain and Vodafone eSIMs, allow up to 24 hours. The physical Orange France Holiday SIM is sent by Australia Post to Australian addresses.
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