How to Get a Local eSIM When Travelling Around Indonesia (Including Bali): A Practical Guide

Staying connected in Indonesia is less about “if” you’ll get coverage and more about choosing the right setup for how you travel. Between airport kiosks, convenience stores, eSIM apps, and local providers, it can feel confusing—especially if you’re island-hopping or planning to spend time in Bali, Java, Lombok, or beyond.

This guide explains how to get a local eSIM in Indonesia, what to check before you buy, how activation typically works, and which option makes the most sense depending on your trip style. You’ll also find troubleshooting tips (because settings can be half the battle) and a short checklist to make sure you land ready to navigate, message, and book rides.

Why choose a local eSIM in Indonesia?

For many travellers, a local eSIM is the “sweet spot” between convenience and cost.

• Better value than roaming: International roaming can be expensive and sometimes slower.
  
  
• Instant setup: You can often buy and install an eSIM before you even land.
  
  
• No physical SIM swapping: Helpful if you want to keep your home SIM active for banking codes, WhatsApp, or iMessage.
  
  
• Flexible for short trips: Many tourist plans are made for 7–30 days.
  
  

That said, local eSIMs aren’t automatically the best choice for everyone. If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, or you want a long stay plan with top-up access at every corner shop, a physical SIM might be easier.

Step 1: Check if your phone supports eSIM (and is unlocked)

Before shopping for anything, confirm two things:

1. Your phone is eSIM-compatible. Most newer iPhones and many recent Android models support eSIM, but not all regional variants do.
   
   
2. Your phone is carrier-unlocked. If it’s locked to a provider at home, Indonesian eSIMs (and SIMs) won’t activate properly.
   
   

Quick checks:

• iPhone: Settings → Cellular/Mobile Data → “Add eSIM” or “Add Cellular Plan.”
  
  
• Android (varies by brand): Settings → Network & Internet / Connections → SIM Manager → “Add eSIM.”
  
  

If you don’t see the option, you may still be able to use a physical SIM, a portable Wi-Fi, or (in some cases) a dual-SIM adapter—but those alternatives have tradeoffs.

Step 2: Decide between a “tourist eSIM” and a “local operator eSIM”

In Indonesia, you’ll generally find two pathways:

Option A: Tourist/travel eSIM providers (easy setup)

These are travel-focused sellers that offer Indonesia plans (sometimes “Indonesia only,” sometimes “Asia regional”). They’re designed for travellers who want quick purchase, QR activation, and predictable short-term packages.

Pros

• Usually fast to buy online
  
  
• Clear durations (7/15/30 days)
  
  
• Easy to install with QR codes
  
  

Cons

• Plans may be data-only (no local number)
  
  
• Customer support quality varies by brand
  
  
• Some plans prioritize convenience over absolute lowest price
  
  

Option B: Direct local operators (potentially best long-term value)

Indonesia has major telecom networks that sell local plans across the country. Buying directly can work well if you’re staying longer, want consistent top-up options, or need a local number.

Pros

• Strong local coverage and retail presence
  
  
• Top-up options everywhere
  
  
• Often includes local calling/texting bundles
  
  

Cons

• Setup can be more manual
  
  
• Registration requirements can be confusing for first-time visitors
  
  
• eSIM availability/activation can vary by location and staff knowledge
  
  

If your priority is simplicity, a tourist eSIM is often easiest. If you’re staying several weeks or months and want to top up frequently, consider a local operator or a reputable local seller who can help you register properly.

Step 3: Understand Indonesia’s SIM registration requirements

Indonesia requires SIM registration (including many tourist SIM/eSIM setups). In practice, what this means for travellers is:

• You may need to provide passport details during purchase/activation.
  
  
• Some setups require registration at a shop or through a supported registration flow.
  
  
• If registration isn’t completed correctly, you may experience activation failures or sudden loss of service.
  
  

Most traveller-oriented sellers handle the registration process for you (or guide you through it clearly). If you buy at an airport kiosk or local store, they may photograph your passport and complete registration on the spot.

Step 4: Choose your data plan based on how you actually travel

Indonesia can be deceptively data-hungry. A few hours of map navigation, ride-hailing, beach club browsing, and video calls can add up quickly.

Use these rough guidelines:

• Light use (maps + messaging): 3–5 GB per week
  
  
• Moderate use (social + daily navigation + some streaming): 8–15 GB per week
  
  
• Heavy use (remote work + video calls + uploads): 20+ GB per week
  
  

Also consider:

• Trip duration: 7, 14, 30 days
  
  
• Island hopping: Coverage differences can appear outside major towns
  
  
• Hotspot needs: If you’ll share internet with a laptop or travel partner, confirm hotspot is allowed
  
  

When in doubt, choose a plan with comfortable buffer. It’s easier to top up (or add another eSIM) than to scramble for connectivity when you need to confirm a driver or find your villa.

Step 5: Where to buy a local eSIM in Indonesia

Here are the most common places travellers get connected:

1) Buy online before you fly

Best for: travellers who want to land connected.

How it works:

• Purchase on a website
  
  
• Receive a QR code or in-app installation
  
  
• Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi at home or at the airport
  
  

Pro tip: Install the eSIM before travel but set it to activate upon arrival, if the plan duration begins at first network connection.

2) Airport kiosks (Bali, Jakarta, major hubs)

Best for: travellers who prefer face-to-face setup.

Pros: Staff can help you install and register. Cons: prices are often higher than online, and queues can be long during peak arrival hours.

If you go this route, confirm:

• Data amount and validity
  
  
• Whether tethering/hotspot is allowed
  
  
• Whether the plan includes a local number
  
  

3) Convenience stores and phone shops

Best for: longer stays or travellers already in town.

Once you’re in a city area, it’s easy to find phone shops that can help with SIM setup. This can be cheaper than the airport, and you’ll have more time to ask questions.

Step 6: How to install and activate an eSIM (typical process)

Most eSIM installations follow a similar flow.

1. Connect to Wi-Fi (hotel, airport, or café).
   
   
2. Scan the QR code or add the eSIM through an app.
   
   
3. Label your lines (e.g., “Home” and “Indonesia”).
   
   
4. Turn on the new line and set it as your data line.
   
   
5. Adjust APN settings if required (some plans auto-configure).
   
   
6. Restart your phone if data doesn’t connect within a few minutes.
   
   

Recommended settings for travellers:

• Keep your home SIM active for calls/SMS if you need OTP codes.
  
  
• Set “Indonesia eSIM” as cellular data.
  
  
• Turn off “data roaming” for your home SIM to avoid surprise charges.
  
  
• If you’re using iMessage/FaceTime, keep your main number active but ensure data runs through the Indonesia eSIM.
  
  

Coverage considerations: Bali vs the rest of Indonesia

Bali is one of the easiest places in Indonesia to stay connected. Popular areas (like Denpasar, Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, Sanur, and Uluwatu) generally have strong service, though you may notice dips inside thick-walled villas or in more rural stretches.

If you’re travelling beyond Bali, coverage can vary more:

• Java (Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya): typically strong and consistent
  
  
• Lombok and the Gilis: good in main areas, patchier in remote spots
  
  
• Flores and Komodo routes: often fine in Labuan Bajo, less reliable outside town
  
  
• Smaller islands: connectivity may depend heavily on specific towns and topography
  
  

If your itinerary includes remote areas, prioritize plans/networks known for broader national coverage, and consider downloading offline maps as backup.

Troubleshooting: what to do if your eSIM doesn’t work

If you’ve installed the eSIM but you have no data, try this checklist:

1. Confirm the eSIM is turned on (and selected as the data line).
   
   
2. Toggle airplane mode on/off.
   
   
3. Restart your phone.
   
   
4. Check APN settings (your provider should supply the exact APN if needed).
   
   
5. Disable your home SIM data to make sure the phone isn’t trying to use it.
   
   
6. Manually select a network (sometimes automatic selection fails initially).
   
   
7. Confirm plan activation window: some plans only start working after first network registration in Indonesia.
   
   

If nothing works, contact the seller’s support with:

• Your phone model
  
  
• Screenshot of eSIM line details
  
  
• Current location and time
  
  
• Whether the phone shows signal bars / LTE / 4G / 5G
  
  

eSIM vs physical SIM: which is better for most travellers?

For most short trips (under a month), eSIM wins on convenience—especially if you want to keep your primary number active.

However, a physical SIM can be better if:

• Your phone doesn’t support eSIM
  
  
• You want the simplest top-up options in small towns
  
  
• You prefer a plan that’s bundled with local voice/SMS by default
  
  

Many travellers also use a hybrid approach: eSIM for data and home SIM for calls/texts.

Quick pre-trip checklist

• Confirm your phone is unlocked
  
  
• Confirm eSIM compatibility
  
  
• Decide your data needs based on travel style
  
  
• Install your eSIM on Wi-Fi before departure (if your plan allows)
  
  
• Save customer support contact details
  
  
• Download offline maps for key areas
  
  

Best value option in Bali: BaliSIM

If you want a straightforward, good-value option while travelling in Bali and across Indonesia, balisim.com is worth considering. They’re known for offering Bali and Indonesia wide tourist eSIMs and physical SIM cards with clear packages aimed at travellers—making it easy to get connected quickly without overpaying at the airport or dealing with confusing setup steps.