PAYG eSIM Transfer from iPhone to iPhone

[Peadan]

Hi. When I tried to use the iPhone 16 quick transfer to transfer my PAYG eSIM from my old iPhone, I get the error "Your SIM is Not Supported. This phone number can't be transferred because your account is ineligible."

I am currently stationed overseas as well so would prefer not to have to call the hotline. Please advise. 

[chistery]

EE does not support eSIM on PAYG.

[bristolian]

And even if it did, trying to SIM-swap while abroad runs the risk of you being totally offline until your return to the UK.

A physical SIM swap in these circumstances is straightforward and done in <5 minutes!

[Peadan]

I have been on it for about a year and I signed it up at the airport. I don't have a physical SIM either and it is still working on my old iPhone. Says on my subscription plan page that it is a PAYG, as shown below. Maybe it was discontinued for purchase?

[bristolian]

"SIM only" generally refers to a pay-monthly contract-based plan without a phone

"Pay as you go" is the opposite, it's a pre-payment top-up based system.

"View topup history" suggests PAYG.

[Chris_B]

@Peadan  If you got it at an airport then you got an international travellers PAYG esim for the UK. These are not meant to be used long term as they are for visitors to the UK. 

[Peadan]

Yes, I signed it up at the airport at that time because I had to be in the UK for at least a year and did not want to be bogged down with a contract, while also needing a UK line urgently. Worked fine for the year, then moved away and got a new iPhone. I was planning to hold on to it a little longer until I sorted out some of the OTPs that I had tied to this account. Did not expect this to be such a hassle with an eSIM.

[Schockwave]

@Peadan , Esims are only for customers on contract, you need a physical SIM card if on pay as you go, as has already been mentioned.

[Peadan]

But I am already on eSIM and it is still working on my old iPhone. I just want it transferred over to my new iPhone.
Unless as @Chris_B mentioned, the international travellers PAYG eSIM has some account restrictions which I may be unaware of.

[Michael_D · Accepted solution]

Hi @Peadan.

The information you have been given above is spot on. The eSIM was an option on the international travellers card but it is not something that EE support on pay as you go in general, so the eSIM transfer to a new phone will not work.

If you do need to move the number to a new phone, it would need to be a physical SIM, and would need to be done when in the UK for all services to work.

Michael