In recent years, more and more travelers have switched to using eSIMs when going abroad. The convenience is hard to beat—you don’t need to swap physical SIM cards, purchasing and activation are fast, and the cost is often more affordable than traditional roaming. You can even buy an eSIM just minutes before boarding your flight. However, one common concern remains: “If I use an eSIM for data overseas, can I still receive SMS codes—like bank OTPs—sent to my home number?” This article explains how to set up your phone so you can enjoy eSIM data while still receiving calls and SMS on your home number.
- 1. What Is an eSIM, and Why Is It Becoming So Popular?
- 2. Will Turning On Voice Roaming Cause Extra Charges?
- 3. Why Can’t I Receive SMS or Phone Calls Abroad?
- 4. How to Use an eSIM for Data While Still Receiving Calls and SMS on Your Original Number
- 5. Which Countries Require VoLTE, and What Happens If It’s Not Enabled?
- Conclusion
1. What Is an eSIM, and Why Is It Becoming So Popular?
An eSIM is a digital SIM embedded in your smartphone. It works exactly like a physical SIM card but doesn’t require any swapping or insertion. By scanning a QRCode from your carrier or an eSIM provider, you can add a new mobile plan directly to your device.
For travelers, the biggest advantage is that you can keep your original SIM/eSIM in your phone while adding an overseas data plan via eSIM. This means you can stay connected with fast local data while still allowing your home number to receive calls and SMS authentication codes.
The most common setup abroad is simple: your original number handles SMS and calls, while the eSIM handles your mobile data. This arrangement is not only convenient but also helps ensure you won’t miss important messages or calls.
2. Will Turning On Voice Roaming Cause Extra Charges?
This is an important question, but the answer is straightforward: as long as you don’t make calls, answer calls, send SMS, or use your home SIM for mobile data, you generally won’t be charged.
Receiving SMS is typically free, and enabling voice roaming does not incur fees on its own. Voice roaming merely allows your home SIM to register with foreign carriers’ voice networks. What you pay depends on your home carrier’s policies, so if you want precise details, check with them before traveling.
In other words, simply enabling voice roaming will not lead to unexpected charges—just make sure your mobile data is set to the eSIM plan so you don’t accidentally use roaming data.
3. Why Can’t I Receive SMS or Phone Calls Abroad?
When travelers suddenly can’t receive SMS or calls overseas, the issue usually isn’t the eSIM. Instead, it’s often caused by one of the following:
The most common cause is that voice roaming is turned off for your home SIM. With voice roaming disabled, your SIM cannot connect to any foreign cellular networks. Even though you aren’t using your home SIM for data, you must keep voice roaming enabled in order to receive calls and SMS.
If this is the case, you’ll need to contact your home carrier to confirm that international voice roaming is activated.
Another major reason is related to VoLTE. Many countries have already shut down their 3G networks—Australia, the U.S., Singapore, and more. If your home SIM does not support or enable VoLTE, it will not be able to register on 4G voice networks, which means you won’t be able to receive calls or SMS at all.
If this applies to you, you’ll need to contact your home carrier to confirm that VoLTE is enabled on your plan and make sure that VoLTE is switched on in your phone’s settings.
Other possible causes include an overdue bill, a suspended line, or accidentally assigning your eSIM as the primary line for voice services.
4. How to Use an eSIM for Data While Still Receiving Calls and SMS on Your Original Number
To allow your eSIM to handle mobile data while your home SIM remains responsible for calls and SMS, follow these three steps:
- Switch your "Cellular Data" to the eSIM plan.
- Set your default voice/call/SMS line to your original number.
- Confirm with your home carrier that international voice roaming and VoLTE are enabled.
5. Which Countries Require VoLTE, and What Happens If It’s Not Enabled?
As more carriers around the world retire their 3G networks, many regions now rely entirely on 4G and 5G. In these countries, if VoLTE is not enabled on your home SIM, it will not be able to connect to any voice network at all.
Countries that have fully shut down 3G include the United States, Australia, and Singapore. Others—such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Macau—are in the process of phasing out 3G.
If you plan to travel to these places and want to use your home number for calls or SMS, you’ll need to confirm with your carrier that VoLTE is activated.
Conclusion
Using an eSIM for data while traveling does not prevent you from receiving SMS verification codes or calls on your original number. As long as your home SIM can register on a foreign carrier’s voice network, your phone will continue to receive OTPs, SMS, and incoming calls without issue.
To make this work, you only need three key settings: set your original number as the primary voice line, enable voice roaming, and turn on VoLTE. Your eSIM can then handle all your mobile data needs worry-free.
