What is an eSIM QR code and what is it used for?
An eSIM QR code is how an operator delivers a digital line profile to you: by scanning it with your phone's camera, the phone downloads that profile and activates it, without inserting any physical card. Within the QR code travels a unique server address and activation code for that device.
It is not a decorative image or a generic code: that is why it behaves differently from any other QR code you may have used before, such as a restaurant menu or an airline ticket. Normally it can only be read once and is linked to a single phone. If you are searching for "Movistar eSIM QR code", you are most likely in one of two situations: requesting your first eSIM in your country or trying to recover the code because you did not save it properly the first time. If you want to understand what an eSIM is before getting into the QR code, we have a guide dedicated to what an eSIM is.
How to request a Movistar eSIM QR code step by step?
The general process for requesting an eSIM from an operator like Movistar follows a similar logic in most countries where it operates, although the exact names of the menus and available channels vary from one subsidiary to another (Movistar Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, etc. manage their own systems). These are the steps that are almost always repeated:
- Confirm that your phone is eSIM compatible. Not all models are, and some that are come locked by the original operator if purchased on installment.
- Request the eSIM from the official operator app, their website, or in a physical store, indicating whether it is a new line, a portability, or the replacement of a physical SIM with an eSIM.
- Verify your identity, generally with your ID and, in portabilities, with your current line data.
- Receive the QR code, which usually arrives by email, within the app itself, or printed on a receipt if you completed the process in a physical store.
The waiting time between the request and the arrival of the QR code varies by country and channel: some operators deliver it immediately and others ask you to wait for the process to be confirmed. If your QR code does not arrive within the period indicated by the operator, the most direct channel is to claim it through their app or their customer service, as each Movistar subsidiary handles its own times and there is no single valid data for all countries.
Where can I find my Movistar eSIM QR code once I have it?
If you have already completed the process, the QR code is usually stored in one of these three places, and it is advisable to check them in this order because it is where most people find it without having to request it again:
- Your email: look for the operator's confirmation message, almost always with a subject related to "activation" or "eSIM". The QR code usually comes as an attached image or within a link.
- The official operator app: many apps save a copy of the QR code in your line or profile section, useful if you accidentally deleted the email.
- The printed receipt: if you completed the process in a physical store, it is common for them to give you the QR code on paper along with the rest of the documentation.
If you cannot find it in any of the three, the correct thing to do is ask the operator to resend the same profile or generate a new one, do not try to scan a blurry screenshot or a QR code forwarded by someone else: since it is linked to a specific device, it is likely that it will no longer work on yours.
How to get an eSIM QR code from any operator, not just Movistar?
Beyond Movistar, the mechanism for obtaining an eSIM QR code — from your local operator or an international travel provider — adheres to the same technical standard (defined by the GSMA, the association that brings together mobile operators worldwide). The application process varies by company, but the result is always a profile delivered via QR code, manual code, or direct installation from an app.
For a travel eSIM, for example, the process is usually shorter than for a local operator because there is no portability or identity verification involved: you buy the plan, receive the QR code by email almost immediately, and scan it before or during your trip. We explain the complete step-by-step process, with screenshots and cases by mobile brand, in the guide on how to install an eSIM.
An eSIM is not a file that you "send" from one phone to another by copying or sharing it: it is a profile that a server delivers, once, to a specific device. That is why the same QR code does not work for two phones, even if both are yours.
How to get a Movistar eSIM without scanning the QR code?
If your phone's camera is not available at that moment, if the QR code arrived damaged, or you simply prefer not to rely on an image, the eSIM standard provides an alternative: manual installation. Instead of scanning, you manually enter the same information contained in the QR code, divided into two data points:
- The activation server address (the SM-DP+), which usually appears as a domain or web address.
- The activation code, a unique string of letters and numbers for your line.
Both pieces of data come with the QR code in the same email or receipt provided by the operator; you just have to look for them in the same message instead of the image. In your phone's mobile data settings, the "add eSIM manually" option will ask for exactly those two fields. This is the same emergency route that many international travel eSIMs use when scanning fails due to poor camera signal or a broken screen.
Common errors when scanning an eSIM QR code (and how to avoid them)
Most problems when activating an eSIM are not with the operator, but with how the QR code is scanned or reused. These are the most frequent:
- Scanning the QR code with the wrong app. On an iPhone, if you open the Camera app and point it at the eSIM QR code, the system automatically recognizes it as a line profile and offers to install it. On most Android phones, however, the same gesture does nothing or just opens a link: you have to go to Settings first, then to the connections or SIM cards section, and choose the "add eSIM" option before scanning. If you searched for "scan eSIM QR" and nothing happened on your Android, that's usually the reason.
- Reusing an already installed QR code. If you changed phones and saved the old QR code thinking of using it again, it won't work: each QR code is activated only once and is associated with the first device where it was installed. For a new phone, you need to request a new profile from the operator.
- Trying to install without an internet connection. Scanning opens the camera without a problem, but downloading the profile requires mobile data or Wi-Fi at that moment; without a connection, the process stops halfway.
- Confusing the QR code with a low-quality photo. A QR code forwarded multiple times via WhatsApp loses definition and the camera cannot read it; it is always best to use the original file from the email.
If, after checking these points, the QR code still does not work, the problem is probably not with the scan but with the device's compatibility or the profile itself, two distinct causes that should be differentiated before requesting a new one. We review both cases in more detail in the guide to common eSIM problems.
QR, manual code or physical eSIM: a comparison of the three activation methods
Not all eSIMs arrive the same, nor are all lines activated in the same way. This table summarizes the practical differences between the three most common ways to get a phone ready for use:
| Method | How it's delivered | Requires internet to install | Can be reused on another phone | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM QR code | Image via email, app, or printed receipt | Yes, at the time of scanning | No, only once | Most cases, as it's the fastest |
| Manual code (SM-DP+ and activation) | Text alongside the QR code, in the same email | Yes, when entered | No, same profile as the QR code | When the camera fails or the image arrived damaged |
| Physical SIM | Plastic card delivered in-store or by mail | No, only to activate the number in the operator's system | Yes, can be swapped between physical SIM-compatible phones | Phones that don't support eSIM |
The most relevant difference for travelers is not which one installs faster, but which one can be ready before leaving home. We review that complete comparison, with more criteria, in eSIM versus physical SIM.
Does your local Movistar QR code work when you travel to another country?
This is where many people searching for "Movistar eSIM QR code" actually have a different question: not how to install the eSIM, but whether that same line will work in their travel destination. The short answer is yes, it works, because your local eSIM remains active, but outside your country it goes into roaming mode, with the same roaming conditions and costs that a physical SIM from the same operator would have.
This means that the phone still shows coverage and can receive calls or messages, but using mobile data with that profile abroad depends entirely on the roaming plan that your Movistar line has contracted, which varies depending on the country of origin, the destination country, and the specific package you have activated. No eSIM, whether physical or digital, changes these rules: roaming is still a separate service that needs to be contracted or activated. If you want to understand how roaming works compared to other alternatives for using data abroad, we explain it in detail in eSIM versus roaming.
Local eSIM vs. international travel eSIM: what changes?
For short trips, many people end up comparing two paths: continuing to use their local Movistar QR code with roaming activated, or installing a second eSIM specifically designed for the destination country. Neither is incorrect, but they address different needs.
| Aspect | Your local Movistar eSIM in roaming | An international travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | The same one is kept, useful for receiving calls and SMS codes | Normally only provides data, without its own number |
| Depends on | The current roaming plan on your original line | The data plan you buy for that specific destination |
| Process management | It is resolved with your country's operator before leaving home | It is purchased online and the QR code arrives by email, without in-person procedures |
| Changing countries on the same trip | Depends on whether roaming covers each country you pass through | A new plan can be purchased for each destination without depending on the original operator |
You don't have to choose just one: it's common to keep the local eSIM active for the phone number and add an international travel eSIM just for data, which is what is most consumed away from home. If that's your case, it's a good idea to first confirm that your phone supports more than one eSIM profile installed at a time, which not all models allow; we detail this by brand in the guide to eSIM compatible phones.
An international travel eSIM, like the one offered by PuraSIM, covers more than 200 destinations, activates in approximately 1 minute once the profile is installed, and provides up to 180 days from purchase to activate it when the trip actually begins. If at any point in the process you have questions, support is available 24/7 in all languages by email and WhatsApp, without relying on in-person service hours.
Frequently asked questions
Does an eSIM QR code expire?
Yes, most have a validity period set by the issuing operator before they expire if unused. If too much time has passed between receiving it and trying to scan it, you will most likely need to request a new one instead of trying to force the same code.
Can I use the same Movistar eSIM QR code on two phones?
No. An eSIM QR code is activated only once and is linked to the first device where it is installed. If you change phones, you need the operator to generate a new profile for you; simply rescanning the saved image is not enough.
What happens if I lose my eSIM QR code?
If you haven't installed it yet, you should ask the operator to resend it to you through the same channel (email or app). If it was already installed and you lost the phone, the process is different: you need to report it and request a new profile, just as you would with a stolen or lost physical SIM.
Do I need Wi-Fi to scan the eSIM QR code?
You need an internet connection, either Wi-Fi or mobile data, at the moment of installing the profile, because the phone downloads the information from the operator's server. The camera can read the QR code without a connection, but the installation stops if there is no internet available.
Can all phones use eSIM with QR codes?
No, it depends on the model and whether the device is unlocked. Before ordering any eSIM, it is advisable to confirm the compatibility of your specific phone, as some similar models from the same brand have versions with and without eSIM depending on the region where they were sold.
Can I activate my Movistar eSIM before traveling?
The QR code can usually be installed as soon as you receive it, but that installs the profile, it doesn't necessarily make it work with data. It's advisable to check with the operator whether the plan you contracted starts counting from installation or from first use.
Does my Movistar eSIM QR code work if I change countries during the same trip?
The line remains active, but coverage and usage costs depend on your operator's roaming plan for each specific country, which is not always the same between destinations. That's why many travelers visiting more than one country prefer to add a separate international data eSIM, while still keeping their local line for the phone number.
In summary
The Movistar eSIM QR code is just the gateway: the important thing is to understand that it is installed only once, that it requires an internet connection at the time of scanning, and that, if you are traveling, your local line will continue to work abroad only within the roaming conditions you have contracted. If your question was not how to scan the QR code but how to have reliable data on your next trip, that is a different problem that does not depend on your country's operator.
In that case, an international travel eSIM is purchased online, covers more than 200 destinations, and installs in minutes, without in-person procedures or relying on a local operator's app. You can start with the definitive guide to traveling with eSIM if it's your first time, or directly check the available plans by destination in the PuraSIM international eSIM collection.
