Can I use Movistar in the UK?
Yes, your Movistar phone can work in the UK as long as your plan includes international roaming outside your country of origin. That it works does not mean it's automatic or free: data, call, and message coverage depends on the contract you have in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, or Colombia, and it's wise to review it before traveling.
The starting point is simple: Movistar is a mobile network operator, and as such, your line only "travels" with you if your plan has international roaming activated and if Movistar has an agreement with a local network in the UK so that your phone can connect to it upon landing. This happens by default in most current postpaid plans, but it varies depending on the country where you contracted the line and the type of plan you have.
What is important to clarify from the start is that "being able to use it" and "it being convenient to use it" are two different questions. The first is almost always yes. The second depends on how much you will use your phone during the trip and how clear you are about your operator's billing scheme for that particular destination, something that only your own Movistar account can confirm accurately.
What about roaming in the UK?
The UK is a special case within Europe. Since it ceased to be part of the European Union, it is no longer automatically included in the roaming agreements that many operators apply to the rest of the continent. This means that a roaming plan designed for "Europe" does not always cover the UK under the same conditions, and it is advisable to check it as a separate destination, not to take for granted that it falls within the same package.
In practice, this means that the UK usually appears as an independent billing zone within Movistar's international rates, with its own data, call, and message conditions. It's not that roaming "doesn't work": it's that it can be classified in a different category than you expected, and that's precisely what causes bill surprises if not checked before the trip.
If you want to understand in more detail how roaming works in this specific destination, in this guide on roaming in the UK we explain it calmly, without assuming that you already know how each coverage zone is classified.
Which countries have roaming with Movistar?
Movistar operates as a brand in several Latin American countries —including Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia— and each of these national operations negotiates its own international roaming agreements with networks in other countries. This means that the roaming coverage you have contracted in Mexico is not necessarily the same as that of a Movistar user in Argentina or Chile, even if the brand is the same.
That's why the question "which countries does Movistar cover?" does not have a single valid answer for everyone: it depends on which country you activated your line, what type of plan you have (prepaid or postpaid), and whether international roaming is included or needs to be activated as an additional service. The UK, the United States, and a good part of Europe usually appear in the lists of destinations with coverage, but the conditions —speed, data limit, daily or consumption-based billing— change from one country to another.
Your operator's roaming and a data eSIM are not mutually exclusive: they solve different things. Roaming keeps your Movistar number active for calls and messages; a data eSIM gives you a separate, local internet connection while you are away.
How much does roaming cost in the UK?
There is no single figure that applies to all Movistar users, because the cost depends on the country where you contracted your line, the specific plan you have, and whether the UK is classified as an included coverage zone or a destination with an additional charge. The only way to know the exact amount that would apply to you is to consult directly with Movistar in your country, by checking the international roaming section of your account or app.
What is useful to know is the general logic these schemes usually follow: some operators charge by consumption bands (a fixed rate that covers a certain amount of data or days), others charge by actual use (megabytes consumed, minutes spoken, messages sent), and others require activating an additional package before leaving the country to avoid being on the most expensive default billing scheme. Identifying which of these schemes your plan falls into is what really determines whether roaming is worthwhile for a specific trip.
This is where many travelers begin to compare traditional roaming with other ways of having data abroad, such as a separately contracted data eSIM, precisely because the price of the latter can be known in advance, without depending on how your original plan is configured.
What is an eSIM and how does it differ from roaming?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card integrated into your phone: it is not physically inserted, it is installed by scanning a QR code or with a link, and it gives your phone a local data connection in the country you are in, independent of your Movistar line. Instead of relying on your original operator's roaming for internet access, your phone uses this second data line while keeping your usual number for calls and messages.
The fundamental difference is this: roaming makes your own line "travel" with you and connect to a foreign network under the conditions (and prices) that your operator negotiated. A data eSIM, on the other hand, is a new line, contracted directly for that country or region, with a price and amount of data that you know before traveling, without surprises when you return home. If you have never used one, in this explanation of what an eSIM is we develop it step by step.
For someone who didn't know this option existed today, the key idea is simple: it's not about replacing your Movistar, but about giving your phone a second data connection, specifically designed for the country you're going to visit.
A real-life example: ten days in London
Imagine you are traveling from Mexico City to London for ten days, combining tourism with some work meetings. Before leaving, you check your Movistar plan and discover that roaming in the UK charges you by consumption bands, with a data limit considerably lower than what you normally use in a day with social media, maps, and video calls.
In this scenario, many travelers opt for a combined approach: they leave Movistar roaming active only as a backup to receive important calls or messages, and use a data eSIM installed before leaving for everything else —Google Maps for navigating the city, WhatsApp, work email, uploading travel photos. The eSIM activates upon landing at Heathrow or Gatwick, and for the ten days, data consumption runs on that line, not on Movistar roaming.
The practical result is that you know before you get on the plane how much you're going to spend on data, without depending on how the roaming plan you contracted a while ago and perhaps never thoroughly reviewed is configured. To check the specific eSIM coverage for this destination, you can view the eSIM for the UK before planning your itinerary.
Movistar Roaming vs. Data eSIM: Comparison
Neither option is "better" in the abstract: they depend on what you need during your trip. This table summarizes the most important differences when deciding.
| Aspect | Movistar Roaming | Data eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number | Your usual number is maintained | Does not include its own number; it's data only |
| Calls and SMS | Yes, according to your plan | No (apps like WhatsApp are used with data) |
| Cost known before traveling | Depends on the plan; advisable to confirm with Movistar | Yes, paid before departure |
| Installation | Automatic if included in the plan | Installed with a QR code before or during the trip |
| Activation | Automatic upon arrival | Approximately 1 minute once at the destination |
| Geographical Coverage | Depends on the plan's country of origin | Available in over 200 destinations |
If you want to delve deeper into this comparison with more use cases, the guide eSIM vs. roaming develops each point in more detail.
How to prepare before you travel
Whatever option you choose, there's an order that avoids mishaps at the airport or, worse, already in the UK without a signal.
- Check your Movistar plan in advance. Go to your operator's app or website and look for the international roaming section to confirm if the UK is covered and under what conditions.
- Decide what you're going to use for data. If roaming seems clear and reasonable for your trip type, it might be enough. If you prefer to know the exact cost beforehand, a data eSIM is the alternative.
- Install the eSIM before leaving, connected to Wi-Fi. No need to wait until you're in the UK: you can install the profile from home and have it ready to activate upon arrival.
- Activate it upon landing. Activation takes approximately 1 minute once you have local network coverage.
- Save the support contact. If something doesn't connect properly, support is available 24/7 in all languages via email and WhatsApp, without needing to call.
For a complete step-by-step installation, with screenshots of each step, check how to install an eSIM.
Is my phone compatible?
Not all phones support eSIM, and some models have it deactivated by region or by the factory operator. Before deciding what you're going to use in the UK, it's worth confirming that your specific device supports it.
| Brand | Examples of compatible models |
|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone XS onwards (check variant by country) |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20 range onwards, Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip |
| Pixel 3 onwards | |
| Other Android | Varies by manufacturer and sales market |
As some models sold in certain countries come with the eSIM factory-locked, it's advisable to check the detailed list before buying any eSIM for your trip. We cover more cases in eSIM compatible phones.
A detail few people consider: while your data eSIM is active, your physical Movistar SIM can continue to work simultaneously on most modern dual-SIM phones. You don't need to choose one or the other or remove your physical chip: you can leave Movistar active only to receive calls and messages, while the eSIM handles the internet, thus retaining the possibility for someone to reach you at your usual number without paying data roaming for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to deactivate Movistar roaming if I'm going to use an eSIM?
It's not mandatory, but it's advisable to check your phone's data settings to ensure that internet consumption goes through the eSIM and not through Movistar roaming. You can leave voice and SMS roaming active if you want to remain reachable on your usual number.
Can I use WhatsApp and Google Maps with an eSIM in the UK?
Yes, any app that uses mobile data works the same with an eSIM as with your usual line. The difference is not in which apps you can use, but in which data line is connecting them to the internet.
Does the eSIM also work in Northern Ireland?
It depends on the specific coverage of the plan you contract for the UK; it's advisable to check the destination's coverage details before purchasing if your itinerary includes that area.
What happens if I run out of data during my trip?
You can contact support, available 24/7 in all languages via email and WhatsApp, to review options before your plan runs out or while you are at your destination.
Can I keep my Movistar number while using the eSIM?
Yes. The data eSIM does not replace your physical line; both can coexist on the same phone if it is dual-SIM compatible, so you remain reachable on your usual number.
Does a data eSIM also work for making calls?
No, a data eSIM is designed for browsing and internet use. For traditional calls, you still use your Movistar line (via roaming) or internet calling apps like WhatsApp, which work with data.
Do I need Wi-Fi to activate the eSIM when I arrive at the airport?
To install the eSIM profile, it's advisable to have Wi-Fi (for example, at home before traveling or at the departure airport). To activate it already in the UK, simply have local network coverage; you don't need Wi-Fi at that moment.
In summary
Movistar roaming in the UK can work well for a short trip where you only need to be reachable, but it's advisable to confirm with your operator before leaving, because conditions change depending on the country where you contracted your line and are not always clear until the bill arrives. If what you're looking for is to know in advance how much you're going to spend on data and avoid relying on roaming, an eSIM is the most direct alternative: it's purchased in advance, installed before traveling, and activated as soon as you arrive.
You have up to 180 days from purchase to activate the eSIM, so you can get it as soon as you book your flight, without last-minute rush. If it's your first time using one, the definitive eSIM guide for travel takes you step by step, and if you prefer to compare how an eSIM is installed versus a traditional physical SIM, you can check eSIM vs. physical SIM. When you want to see the coverage and available data for your trip, the eSIM for the UK is ready to install before you leave.
