eSIM Wi-Fi Calling: How to Set It Up Abroad

TL;DR

• Wi-Fi calling carries calls and texts to your regular number over Wi-Fi, through your home carrier. A travel eSIM adds cellular data. They do different jobs and work side by side.
• A WayfarerSIM travel eSIM is a data plan. Do not count on it for a phone number, calls or texts, so keep Wi-Fi calling on your home line.
• Turn on Wi-Fi calling for the home line before you leave, set the travel eSIM as your cellular data line, and switch Data Roaming off on the home line.
• Your carrier sets the prices. Verizon (on plans with unlimited talk and text) and AT&T say Wi-Fi calls from abroad to US numbers are free, while calls to other countries are billed. Check your own carrier's terms.
• If you turn the home line off, Wi-Fi calling on that number stops too.
• Test Wi-Fi calling and the data line at home, then check both again when you land.

What Wi-Fi calling does, and where an eSIM fits

Wi-Fi calling, also called Voice over Wi-Fi, lets your phone make calls and texts using a Wi-Fi network instead of your provider's cellular network. It is built into the phone's own calling app, so you dial as usual and the person you call does not need an extra app. You switch it on in your settings, and your carrier has to support it.

A travel eSIM is something else. A WayfarerSIM travel eSIM is a data plan that gives your phone a cellular data connection for maps, messaging apps, ride-hailing and the web. Do not count on it for a phone number, calls or texts. So it does not replace your home number, and it has no Wi-Fi calling of its own.

The two fit together like this:

1. Your home line holds your phone number. Wi-Fi calling runs on it, so calls and texts to that number can keep working over Wi-Fi, where your carrier allows it.
2. Your travel eSIM supplies cellular data when you are away from Wi-Fi: on the street, on a train, at a trailhead.

This way you do not have to give anyone a new number. Our guide on keeping your phone number with a travel eSIM covers that side in more detail, and our preflight checks for receiving SMS abroad cover verification codes.

What you need before you leave

Wi-Fi calling with a travel eSIM depends on a few things. Check each one at home, while you still have your home network.

A supported phone with eSIM

Your phone needs to support eSIM. Apple's Dual SIM guide lists an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later. To use a travel eSIM from another provider, your iPhone cannot be locked to a carrier. If you use an Android phone, ask your carrier whether it is unlocked. Our eSIM compatible phones guide and our phone check help you confirm before you buy.

A carrier that supports Wi-Fi calling

Not every carrier offers Wi-Fi calling. Samsung says the feature may not be available on all carriers or devices. Google says not all carriers support Wi-Fi calling, and that you should check with your carrier for fees and other details before you turn it on.

Ask your home carrier three questions: is Wi-Fi calling active on my line, does it work in the countries I am visiting, and what do calls and texts from there cost? Carriers keep their own country lists. AT&T, for example, lists countries where its Wi-Fi Calling can't be used, including China, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Wi-Fi calling switched on before you fly

Turn Wi-Fi calling on at home. Verizon says iPhones must be connected to the Verizon network in the US and can't turn on Wi-Fi Calling outside of the US. Other carriers may have their own rules, so do this step before you leave.

An active home line

Wi-Fi calling runs on your home line, so that line has to stay on. Samsung says the phone needs active service via a SIM card or eSIM for Wi-Fi Calling to work. If you turn the line off, or cancel or pause the service, Wi-Fi calling on that number stops.

A travel eSIM installed and ready

Buy the eSIM before you go and install it at home, on Wi-Fi. First check what starts the plan's validity: installation or first connection. If installing starts the plan's validity, install on the day you fly. Our 4 checks before you buy a travel eSIM list covers coverage, device support and plan terms. Then read how to switch between eSIMs before you fly, so the right line is ready when you land.

Set up on iPhone

Apple's Dual SIM guide says that while traveling internationally you can use one number for your home line and another for your travel line. Here is the order to follow.

1. Install the travel eSIM from the QR code we send, at home on Wi-Fi, keeping the validity rule above in mind. Give the line a clear label, such as "Travel". Keep the QR code private, because it is usually single-use.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi Calling for your home line. Apple's steps: open Settings, tap Cellular, scroll to your home line, then tap Wi-Fi Calling and turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone. Tap Enable. You might need to enter or confirm your address for emergency services.
3. Make your home line your default number. Apple says the iPhone uses the default number when you call or message someone who is not in your contacts. For a contact, it uses the number you last used with them.
4. Set your cellular data line. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and tap the number you want to use for cellular data: the travel eSIM.
5. Switch Data Roaming off on the home line. This stops roaming data on that line. Calls and texts on the home line can still be billed at roaming rates when they go over a cellular network instead of Wi-Fi. On the travel line, turn Data Roaming on if the plan's setup instructions say so. Our data roaming settings guide shows which toggles to use on each line.
6. Decide on Allow Cellular Data Switching. It sits in the Cellular Data screen. Apple says to turn it on if you want your iPhone to use cellular data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability. Apple also says that when you are on a call on a line that is not your cellular data line, you need this setting to receive calls from your other line. If you want all data to go through the travel eSIM, leave it off. Either way, Apple says to check with your carrier whether additional fees or data usage apply.

With iOS 26 and later, your iPhone may show a Turn On Travel eSIM notification when you arrive. If you choose Travel eSIM and Current eSIM, Apple says your travel eSIM will be used for data, and you might still incur roaming fees from your home eSIM.

For a pre-flight routine that covers the whole phone, see our iPhone travel data settings checklist.

Set up on Android

Menus differ by brand and Android version, but the logic is the same: home line for calls and texts, travel eSIM for data.

Pixel

Google's steps for Wi-Fi calling are Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Wi-Fi calling, then turn on Use Wi-Fi calling. Turn it on for your home SIM. Then go back to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. Under "Your primary SIMs", Google lets you choose which SIM to use for calls, texts and mobile data. Pick the home SIM for Calls and Texts, and the travel eSIM for Mobile data. Only one SIM can be the default for data.

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung's steps are Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Calling, then tap the switch. If a popup asks for your emergency information, enter it and tap Save. Samsung adds that the phone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network, and that on some carriers you may see a Roaming network preference or When Roaming option. Then open Settings > Connections > SIM manager and choose the home line for calls and messages, and the travel eSIM for mobile data.

Other Android phones

The wording varies. Search your settings for "Wi-Fi calling", or look for a SIM or connections menu with options for calls, texts and mobile data. Turn on Wi-Fi calling for the home line and assign data to the travel eSIM. If your phone has no Wi-Fi calling switch at all, your carrier may not support it on that model.

Which line does what

This table sums up a typical setup abroad.

One detail from Apple helps here. If you keep both lines on, the capabilities on your primary line will continue to work. If you use only the travel eSIM, Apple says FaceTime and iMessage continue to work on your home line. So a travel eSIM does not cut you off from Apple's messaging and video calling.

Should you turn off your primary line?

It depends on what you want to keep.

Leave it on if you want calls and texts on your number, including over Wi-Fi calling. Turn Data Roaming off for that line so it does not use roaming data. Calls and texts that go over a local cellular network instead of Wi-Fi can still be billed at roaming rates, so ask your carrier about its international rules. Our guide on avoiding roaming charges with an eSIM covers the rest of that setup.

Turn it off if you do not need calls or texts on your number while you travel. A line that is off cannot make or receive Wi-Fi calls, so calls and texts to your number will not reach the phone, even on Wi-Fi. Messaging apps still work over the travel eSIM's data, and Apple says FaceTime and iMessage continue to work on your home line.

Forward calls only if you have another number you can answer while away, such as a travel companion's phone. A data-only travel eSIM has no number to forward calls to. Apple's Dual SIM guide describes how you can forward all calls from one number to the other, and says to check with your carrier for availability and whether additional fees apply.

Whichever you choose, test it before you leave. AT&T suggests a simple check: set your phone to airplane mode, turn on Wi-Fi calling, and try calling or texting. Turn Wi-Fi back on after you switch on airplane mode, then ask someone to call your number. On iPhone, Apple says you'll see "Wi-Fi" in the status bar while viewing Control Center when Wi-Fi Calling is available.

Is Wi-Fi calling free abroad?

A Wi-Fi call on a Wi-Fi network does not use your travel plan's data, but your home carrier's prices still apply. Two US carriers show how it can work.

Verizon says that, on plans with unlimited talk and text, when you are outside the US calling back to the US is free, and calls to any other country are charged as per your international long distance calling plan, or at pay-as-you-go rates if you do not have one. Verizon also notes that the Wi-Fi network you connect to may charge an access fee.

AT&T says Wi-Fi calls from other countries to U.S. numbers are at no additional charge. For AT&T Wireless customers, Wi-Fi calls to international numbers are billed according to the international roaming add-on they have, or at a per-minute rate based on the country they are in. AT&T adds that texts sent or received with Wi-Fi Calling count the same as regular text messages.

So, on those plans, calling home from hotel Wi-Fi may cost nothing, while calling a local restaurant in Lisbon from the same network may not. Other carriers set their own terms, so check your carrier's terms before you go.

Three habits keep the bill predictable:

1. Read your carrier's Wi-Fi calling page for international rules before you leave.
2. For local calls abroad, use an internet calling app over Wi-Fi or travel data instead of dialing from your home number.
3. Check your first bill after the trip against what you expected.

If your phone carries a call over the travel eSIM's cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, that data comes out of the travel plan.

Limits to know about

Wi-Fi calling is useful, but a few conditions are worth knowing so they do not surprise you.

• Carrier and phone support. Apple says you can answer a call on your other number while on a call if the carrier for your other phone number supports Wi-Fi Calling, and in some cases only with Allow Cellular Data Switching on. Ask your carrier about fees and data usage.
• Wi-Fi quality. AT&T says unstable or weak Wi-Fi can cause poor-quality calls, speech lag, and dropped calls, and that call quality drops as more devices share a network. Move closer to the router or try another network. Apple notes that not all Wi-Fi networks work with Wi-Fi Calling.
• Public networks. AT&T advises using Wi-Fi calling only on secure, password-protected Wi-Fi networks. Avoid sensitive calls on open networks, and keep your phone updated.
• Automatic switching. AT&T says built-in Wi-Fi calling may switch continually between Wi-Fi and cellular if the network's strength changes. Abroad, a call that moves to a cellular network on your home line can be billed at roaming rates. Verizon says you can change the preferred network to Wi-Fi when traveling internationally.
• Country rules. Some countries restrict Wi-Fi calling, and each carrier keeps its own list. Confirm with your carrier for every country on your route.
• Voicemail and picture messages. Apple says that if Data Roaming is on for the number that uses cellular data, your voice-only number will disable Visual Voicemail and MMS. If your travel eSIM uses Data Roaming, your home line may lose those while you are away.

Emergency calls over Wi-Fi

Do not rely on Wi-Fi calling alone in an emergency. Apple says that when cellular service is available, your iPhone uses it for emergency calls, and that emergency calls might use Wi-Fi Calling only when cellular service isn't available. AT&T says the same about 911: it goes over the cellular network whenever possible.

The emergency address you give for Wi-Fi calling is a US address. Verizon warns that if a caller isn't at the registered address, the call may not be routed to the closest emergency service provider. Abroad, you will not be at that address. Learn the local emergency number for each country you visit, and keep a cellular connection where you can.

Our take on pairing Wi-Fi calling with a travel eSIM

Wi-Fi calling and a travel eSIM work well together because each does one job. Your number stays reachable wherever there is Wi-Fi and your carrier allows it. The travel eSIM covers data with a plan you chose and priced in advance.

The problems this guide helps you avoid are about order, not technology: installing the eSIM in the arrivals hall, leaving Data Roaming on for the home line, trying to turn on Wi-Fi calling after you have left, and finding out about carrier fees on the bill. Doing it at home, on Wi-Fi, with time to read the settings, avoids that.

That is why WayfarerSIM shows each plan's data, days, coverage and hotspot terms with the full price before you pay. After purchase, we send a QR code and a private trip page. On plans that support top-ups, a top-up goes onto the same eSIM without a new QR code. Your home line handles your number. Your travel eSIM handles your data.

Pick a travel plan that pairs with Wi-Fi calling

If your home line handles calls and texts over Wi-Fi, you only need a data plan for the rest of your trip. WayfarerSIM sells prepaid travel eSIM data plans, both fixed-data and unlimited. Our plans are sold as data plans, so do not count on them for a phone number, calls or texts.

Visiting several countries? Look at the regional options, such as Europe, Asia or Latin America, or a Global plan for a mixed route. You can also browse all travel eSIM plans and check your phone before you buy. For route rules and start conditions, read our guide to international eSIM plans.

A pre-flight checklist

Run through this at home, a day or two before departure.

1. Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
2. Ask your carrier whether Wi-Fi calling works in the countries you are visiting and what calls and texts from there cost.
3. Turn on Wi-Fi calling for your home line and confirm the emergency address if prompted. Do it before you leave.
4. Check what starts the travel plan's validity. If installing starts it, install on the day you fly. Read our note on when to activate a travel eSIM so you do not lose paid days.
5. Install the travel eSIM on Wi-Fi, and keep the QR code private.
6. Set calls and texts to the home line, and cellular data to the travel eSIM.
7. Turn Data Roaming off on the home line.
8. Test: turn on airplane mode, turn Wi-Fi back on, and call your number from another phone.
9. On landing, turn the travel eSIM on if it is not active yet and select it for cellular data. Turn on Data Roaming for it if the plan's setup instructions say so, then open a web page to check the connection.

Troubleshooting

Wi-Fi calling will not turn on. Apple says to verify that your carrier offers Wi-Fi Calling and that your devices have the latest software. Check that your home line is on. Restart the phone, try a different Wi-Fi network, then turn Wi-Fi calling off and on again. If you are already abroad, your carrier may not let you turn it on from there, so contact your carrier.

The phone uses the wrong line for data. Open the cellular or SIM settings and confirm the travel eSIM is selected for data. On iPhone, if Allow Cellular Data Switching is on, the phone can use data from both plans depending on coverage and availability.

Calls drop on Wi-Fi. Test the network with a speed test. If the signal is weak, move closer to the router or switch to a different network.

You cannot receive texts for verification codes. Make sure the home line is on and Wi-Fi calling is working. Some services send codes only by text, so set up an authenticator app or another sign-in method before you go. Our preflight checks for receiving SMS abroad go through this step by step.

The travel eSIM does not connect. Work through our guide on what to do if your travel eSIM isn't working. Do not delete the eSIM to fix it. Contact the seller before you delete anything.

If you also manage more than one travel eSIM on a long trip, our guide on multiple eSIMs on iPhone explains how many you can hold and use. More help is in our travel and eSIM guides.

FAQ

How can I use my eSIM to call?

A WayfarerSIM travel eSIM is a data plan. Do not count on it for a phone number, calls or texts. Calls to your regular number run through your home line with Wi-Fi calling. Over the travel eSIM's data, you can also call with internet apps such as FaceTime or WhatsApp.

Does a travel eSIM have its own Wi-Fi calling?

Not a data-only one. Wi-Fi calling is a carrier feature that runs on a phone line with a number, and a data-only travel eSIM has no number. Use Wi-Fi calling on your home line instead.

Is Wi-Fi calling free?

It depends on your carrier and where you call. Verizon, on plans with unlimited talk and text, and AT&T both say Wi-Fi calls from abroad to US numbers are free, while calls to other countries are billed. Check your carrier's terms before you travel.

Do I turn off my primary line when using a travel eSIM?

Not if you want calls, texts and Wi-Fi calling on your number. Keep it on and switch Data Roaming off for that line. If you turn it off, Wi-Fi calling on that number stops too, so do that only if you do not need calls or texts on your number.

Can Wi-Fi calling use my travel eSIM's data?

Sometimes, on iPhone. Apple's Dual SIM guide shows a line using the other line's cellular data for Wi-Fi Calling when Allow Cellular Data Switching is on. Whether that works abroad depends on your carrier, and Apple says to check whether additional fees or data usage apply. Any data used comes from the travel plan. If you leave the setting off, plan to make Wi-Fi calls on Wi-Fi networks.

Can I call emergency services with Wi-Fi calling abroad?

Do not count on it. Phones use cellular service for emergency calls when it is available, and the emergency address you register for Wi-Fi calling is a US address. Learn the local emergency number before you go.

Sources

• What is Wi-Fi Calling and How Does it Work?, AT&T
• Stay connected with Wi-Fi Calling, AT&T Support
• Wi-Fi Calling at Verizon FAQs, Verizon Support
• Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling, Apple Support
• Using Dual SIM with an eSIM, Apple Support
• Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone, Apple Support
• Turn on Wi-Fi Calling on Galaxy phones, Samsung Support
• Fix mobile connectivity issues, Pixel Phone Help
• How to use dual SIMs on your Google Pixel phone, Pixel Phone Help

Recommended

• Can I keep my phone number with a travel eSIM?
• Receive SMS Abroad: 5 Preflight Checks for Verification Codes
• How to Avoid Roaming Charges With an eSIM
• eSIM Data Roaming Settings: What to Turn On and Off