Does an Erasmus student need an eSIM?
The short answer is yes, and the main reason is the duration of the stay. A weekend trip can be covered by your Spanish operator's roaming. But an Erasmus stay lasts between 3 and 12 months, and during that time you need internet for online classes, finding accommodation, getting around the city, staying in touch with family and friends, and working on academic documents in the cloud.
Roaming within the EU has been free since 2017 under the "Roam Like at Home" policy. In theory, you can use your Spanish plan in any EU country. In practice, most operators apply a fair use limit that reduces the speed or data volume after a certain number of days outside Spain. With a long stay like Erasmus, this limit is inevitably activated.
Furthermore, many prepaid contracts or low-cost plans do not include unlimited EU roaming. Check the fine print of your contract before assuming you have free coverage all year round.
A specific eSIM for Europe gives you a dedicated data line, with coverage in most Erasmus+ program countries, no surprises on the bill, and no reliance on your Spanish operator's fair use limits.
How much data do you need for Erasmus?
This is one of the most frequent questions among students going on Erasmus. The answer depends on your digital lifestyle, but we can give you a realistic estimate:
- Online classes and video conferences (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet): 600 MB – 1.5 GB per hour of class.
- Social media (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube): 1-3 GB per day if you regularly consume video.
- Maps and navigation (Google Maps, Citymapper): 200-400 MB per month if you don't use them offline.
- Messaging (WhatsApp, Telegram): less than 200 MB per month unless you send videos continuously.
- Cloud work (Drive, OneDrive, Notion): 300-800 MB per month.
With moderate use, an Erasmus student consumes between 10 and 25 GB per month. If you watch a lot of streaming video or make many video calls from your mobile (not from WiFi), you might exceed 30 GB.
Our recommendation: choose a plan of at least 15 GB per month if you use campus WiFi a lot, or 25-30 GB if you mainly rely on mobile data. Many eSIMs allow you to top up data at any time, which provides flexibility if you use more than usual in a given month.
For a more detailed guide on data consumption, consult our article how much data do I need for travel.
eSIM vs. local SIM card in the Erasmus country
Many students consider buying a local SIM in the destination country as an alternative. It's a valid option, but it comes with more friction than it might seem at first glance.
Local SIM: pros and cons
- It's usually cheaper in countries like Germany (Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect) or France (Free Mobile, SFR).
- You get a local number, which can facilitate procedures like opening a bank account or renting an apartment.
- But you temporarily lose your Spanish number (unless you use dual SIM).
- If you travel to other countries during Erasmus—and all Erasmus students travel—the roaming of that local SIM can be expensive outside the EU.
- It requires comparing plans in a language you may not yet master.
Europe eSIM: pros and cons
- It activates before leaving Spain, with no procedures needed in the destination country.
- Coverage in most European countries with a single plan.
- You can keep your Spanish number active on a second line (dual SIM).
- The price is usually competitive for stays of 1-3 months; for longer stays, a local SIM might be more economical.
The ideal solution for a long Erasmus stay (6-12 months) is to use both options in parallel thanks to dual SIM: a data eSIM to maintain coverage in any European country, and a physical local SIM to have a number from the destination country. Learn how dual SIM works in our guide eSIM dual SIM: how it works.
The best eSIM options for long stays
Not all eSIMs are designed for multi-month stays. Tourist eSIMs usually have a validity of 7 to 30 days. For Erasmus, you need plans with longer validity or the possibility to renew month by month.
Features an Erasmus eSIM should have:
- Validity of 30 days or more, renewable without interruptions.
- Coverage throughout Europe, especially in the main destination country.
- Sufficient data: minimum 15 GB/month, ideally 25-30 GB.
- No contract lock-in: flexibility to cancel when you return to Spain.
- Spanish support in case of technical problems.
At PuraSim, we offer Europe eSIM plans specifically selected for long stays, with coverage in over 30 European countries. Check out all the options in our eSIMs for Europe collection.
To compare plans, pay special attention to the cost per GB and the guaranteed maximum speed. Some economical plans limit the speed to 3G or reduced speed, which may be insufficient for high-quality video calls.
Keeping your Spanish number abroad
This is one of the points that most concerns Erasmus students. Your Spanish phone number is linked to your bank's authentication, WhatsApp, many Spanish university apps, and your contact network. Losing it or leaving it inactive for months can create problems.
Options to keep your Spanish number active during Erasmus:
- Keep the Spanish SIM card in your mobile: if your smartphone is dual SIM, you can have the Spanish SIM in one slot and the data eSIM on the virtual line. You will receive calls and SMS on your Spanish number without consuming Spanish data.
- Portability to a low-cost plan: some operators like Lebara, Lowi, or Simyo offer very cheap line-only plans (no data), perfect for keeping the number active while using the eSIM for data.
- Call forwarding: set up call forwarding from your Spanish number to a VoIP number like Google Voice or a WhatsApp Business number, so you don't miss important calls.
Most modern smartphones (iPhone XS onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 onwards, and many mid-range Androids from 2021) support dual SIM with eSIM. This means you can have your Spanish line and your data eSIM active simultaneously without needing to change physical cards.
For more information on how to manage connectivity abroad, visit our page eSIM for travel.
Conclusion
An eSIM is the most practical solution for the modern Erasmus student. It allows you to activate connectivity before leaving Spain, cover all European countries without local procedures, and keep your Spanish number active in parallel.
The monthly cost of a Europe eSIM is significantly lower than what you would pay for free roaming with a standard Spanish operator after exceeding the fair use limit. And it's much more convenient than looking for local SIMs in every country you visit during your Erasmus.
Our plans are specifically designed for long stays in Europe. Check out the available options and start your Erasmus connected from day one.
Frequently asked questions about eSIM for Erasmus
Can I use my Spanish plan for Erasmus without additional cost?
Within the EU, you have free roaming under the Roam Like at Home policy, but with a fair use limit. For long stays like Erasmus, many operators apply restrictions after a certain number of days or GB consumed outside Spain.
How many GB per month do I need as an Erasmus student?
Moderate use (online classes, social media, browsing) consumes between 10 and 25 GB per month. If you watch a lot of streaming or make many video calls using mobile data, you might exceed 30 GB.
Can I keep my Spanish number during Erasmus?
Yes. With a dual SIM mobile, you can have your physical Spanish SIM in one slot and the data eSIM on the virtual line. This way, you receive calls and SMS on your Spanish number while using the eSIM for browsing.
Does the eSIM work in all Erasmus+ program countries?
Europe-wide coverage eSIMs generally cover more than 30 countries, including all EU countries and several other Erasmus+ program countries like Norway, Iceland, or Turkey. Verify the list of covered countries before purchasing.
Is it better to buy a local SIM or an eSIM for Erasmus?
It depends on the duration and your needs. For short stays or if you travel to several countries, the European eSIM is more practical. For very long stays in a single country, a local SIM might be more economical. The ideal combination is a data eSIM + a local SIM to have a number from the destination country.
