For most Irish people moving to Australia, the best setup has two steps. Install an Airalo eSIM before you leave Ireland so your data works the moment you land, then switch to a local Australian prepaid plan within your first week or two. The eSIM is data only and costs from EUR 9.50 for 5 GB over 7 days. A local prepaid plan from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone costs AUD 40 to 44 for 28 days, gives you far more data, and gets you the Australian number you’ll need for jobs, your bank and myGov.
Heads up: the Airalo links on this page are affiliate links, so Irish Around Oz earns a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend Airalo for your first few days, and we explain below why a local plan is better after that.
Every price and rule here was checked on the official websites in November 2026. Still planning the move? Start with our complete guide to moving to Australia from Ireland.
Short version
- Before you fly, check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM.
- Don’t rely on Irish roaming. EU roaming rules stop at the EU, and roaming in Australia costs extra.
- Install an Airalo Australia eSIM at home. It’s data only, runs on the Optus network, and its clock starts when it connects in Australia. 5 GB for 7 days was EUR 9.50 as of November 2026.
- Within a week or two, get a local prepaid SIM or eSIM from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone or a cheaper brand on their networks. Bring your passport.
- Heading regional? Coverage matters more than price. Telstra says its network covers 75% more of Australia than Optus or Vodafone.
- Keep your Irish number alive on a cheap plan, because Irish banks text you security codes.
Will your Irish phone work in Australia?
Almost certainly, if two things are true.
- It’s unlocked. A locked phone only works with SIMs from the network that sold it, and Airalo says you can’t use its eSIMs on one. On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, About: Apple says that if “No SIM restrictions” shows next to Carrier Lock, you’re unlocked. On Android, ask your Irish network. Only your network can unlock it, so do it before you fly.
- It supports eSIM, if you want to use one. Airalo’s quick test: if your settings let you “Add eSIM” (under Mobile on an iPhone, or SIM Manager on a Samsung), you’re sorted. If not, a physical Australian SIM works just as well.
Why not just roam on your Irish plan?
Because “roam like at home” only covers the EU. ComReg, the Irish regulator, warns that roaming outside the EU costs considerably more, and that an hour of browsing could potentially cost upwards of EUR 300. Check your network’s roaming rates for Australia before you go, and turn off data roaming on your Irish line before you land.
Option 1: an Airalo eSIM for landing day
An eSIM is a digital SIM you download onto your phone. With an Airalo Australia eSIM, you switch off flight mode at the airport and Google Maps, WhatsApp and Uber just work. No queue at a SIM counter, no hunting for airport wifi while you’re jet lagged.
What you need to know, as of November 2026:
- It’s data only. Airalo lists it as a “5G Data-only eSIM”, so there’s no Australian phone number and no normal calls or texts. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps work fine over data.
- It runs on the Optus network. Grand in the cities. Heading somewhere remote? Read the coverage section below.
- The clock starts in Australia. For the Australia plans when we checked, the validity period starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in Australia, not when you install it. Check the validity policy in the package details before you buy.
- You can top it up in the Airalo app if you run low, instead of buying a new eSIM.
| Airalo Australia plan | Price (November 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 GB, 3 days | EUR 4.00 |
| 3 GB, 7 days | EUR 7.50 |
| 5 GB, 7 days | EUR 9.50 |
| 10 GB, 15 days | EUR 16.50 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | EUR 17.00 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | EUR 28.00 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | EUR 24.50 (slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB in a day) |
For most people, 5 GB for 7 days or 10 GB for 15 days is plenty to get you from the airport to a local SIM.
How to set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM, then buy the Australia eSIM through Airalo or its app.
- Install it at home on good wifi, a few days before you leave. Airalo says to install as early as you can on a stable connection.
- Leave your Irish SIM in the phone, but switch data roaming off on the Irish line.
- When you land, turn off flight mode, switch the Airalo line on and choose it for mobile data. Airalo’s setup has you turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only.
Tip: do the install in Ireland, not in the arrivals hall. Scanning a QR code on dodgy airport wifi after a long-haul flight is nobody’s idea of fun.
Option 2: a local Australian prepaid SIM or eSIM
Once you’ve landed and found your feet, move to a local prepaid plan. You get an Australian number, unlimited standard calls and texts within Australia, and far more data for your money. You’ll want that number on your CV, rental applications and new Australian bank account. myGov, the government login you’ll use for things like your tax return, can send sign in codes by SMS to the number on your account, and its help pages are written around an Australian number.
It’s one of the jobs on our first week in Australia checklist, along with your bank account and tax file number.
The three networks, and the cheaper brands that use them
Australia has three mobile networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Cheaper brands run on them too: Boost uses the Telstra network, amaysim uses Optus, and felix uses Vodafone. Same towers, often lower prices, fewer shops.
The main 28 day prepaid plans as of November 2026:
- Telstra: AUD 44 for 28 days, with 20 GB of data (more on your first recharges while a bonus offer runs), unlimited standard national calls and texts, and 300 international minutes to Telstra’s Zone 1, which includes Ireland.
- Optus: AUD 40 for 28 days, with 30 GB of data ongoing (100 GB on activation and your next two recharges).
- Vodafone: AUD 40 for 28 days, with 30 GB of data, unlimited standard national calls and texts, and 500 international minutes to its Zone 1 countries.
When we checked in early November 2026, all three were selling those plans to new customers for AUD 13 for the first 28 days. Deals like this come and go, so compare before you buy, and see our cost of living in Australia guide for the rest of your budget.
Coverage: the bit that matters outside the cities
Living in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth? Any of the three will do you. Out bush, it’s a different story. Telstra says it runs Australia’s largest mobile network, covering 75% more of Australia than either Optus or Vodafone. If you’re off to do your 88 days of regional work or taking a van around the country, a plan on the Telstra network is worth the few extra dollars. Check the coverage map for the exact town first.
What ID you need
Australian law requires telcos to check your identity before they switch on a prepaid mobile service, so have your passport with you. Vodafone says that if you’re not an Australian resident, an international passport is the only ID it accepts, and it also needs your Australian residential address. It won’t take expired ID. Telstra’s online prepaid checkout accepts an international passport too.
Where to buy
The quickest way is online as an eSIM, which Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all offer on prepaid. Want a physical SIM? Vodafone sells prepaid starter packs in over 20,000 outlets, including supermarkets, service stations, newsagents and convenience stores. Telstra posts its physical SIMs, which normally take about 5 days to reach metro areas, so go eSIM or pick one up in a shop.
Which option is best for you?
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Airalo eSIM | Landing day and your first week or two. Data works when you land, no queue. No Australian number. |
| Telstra prepaid | Farm work, regional jobs and road trips, where coverage beats price. |
| Optus or Vodafone prepaid | City living, with more data for less money. |
| Cheaper brands (Boost, amaysim, felix) | Cutting your monthly bill once you’re settled, on the same networks. |
| Roaming on your Irish plan | Emergencies only. Outside the EU it costs extra. |
| Irish SIM on a cheap plan | Bank codes, and keeping your number for when you go home. |
Keeping your Irish number
Don’t let your Irish number lapse without thinking about it. Irish banks send security codes by text: Bank of Ireland, for example, texts a one-time passcode to your registered number when you add your card to a digital wallet. Lose the number and getting into your accounts from Australia gets messy.
- Move it to a cheap Irish SIM-only or prepay plan before you leave, rather than paying for a bill pay plan you won’t use.
- Keep the SIM in your phone. If your phone takes a physical SIM and an eSIM, keep the Irish SIM in for texts and run your Australian plan as an eSIM. Keep data roaming off on the Irish line, and ask your network what, if anything, it charges to receive texts abroad.
- If it’s prepay, check your network’s terms on how long a number stays live without a top-up.
Our money checklist for moving to Australia covers bank accounts and transfers, our working holiday visa guide covers the visa, and our guides to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth cover the rest.
Not sure which network works best where you’re headed? Ask in your local Irish Around group. Someone will know whether there’s signal on that farm or in that suburb.
FAQ
What is the best SIM card for Australia for backpackers?
An eSIM like Airalo for the first few days, then a local prepaid plan. Pick Telstra or a brand on its network, like Boost, for farm or regional work, and Optus, Vodafone or a cheaper brand if you’re staying in a city.
Does an Airalo eSIM give me an Australian phone number?
No. The Australia eSIM is data only. WhatsApp and other apps work, but for an Australian number you need a local plan.
Do I need an Australian phone number on a working holiday?
In practice, yes. Employers, landlords and your Australian bank will usually want a local number, and myGov’s SMS codes go to the number on your account.
What ID do I need to get a SIM card in Australia?
Your passport, in date. By law, telcos must verify your ID before activating a prepaid service. Vodafone also asks for your Australian residential address.
Which network has the best coverage in Australia?
Telstra says it has Australia’s largest mobile network, covering 75% more of Australia than Optus or Vodafone. In the big cities, all three work well.
How much does a prepaid SIM cost in Australia?
As of November 2026, the main 28 day plans were AUD 40 at Optus and Vodafone and AUD 44 at Telstra, often with a cheaper first month for new customers.
When should I install my Airalo eSIM?
Before you leave Ireland, on good wifi. For the Australia plans, the validity period starts when the eSIM connects to a network in Australia.
Can I keep my Irish number while living in Australia?
Yes. Move it to a cheap Irish SIM-only or prepay plan and keep the SIM in your phone for bank texts, with data roaming off on that line.
General information, checked on the Airalo, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, ComReg and myGov websites in November 2026. Plans change often. Some links are affiliate links, which means Irish Around Oz may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
