How to activate roaming on VTR?
To activate international roaming with VTR, you need to contact the operator—via their app or customer service—before traveling, as coverage and cost depend on your contracted plan. PuraSIM does not manage this process: here we explain how roaming works and what alternative exists to have more control over your spending.
This is a question many Chilean travelers ask right before leaving the country, almost always with little notice. And it makes sense: roaming is the default option, the one that "comes with the phone," so it's the first thing people look for. The problem is that the exact steps, covered countries, and final cost vary by plan and change over time, so the only reliable source for these specific details is the operator itself, not an external article. What we can explain with certainty is how roaming works as a concept, and why more and more people in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico are replacing it—totally or partially—with a travel eSIM.
What is roaming and how does it actually work?
Roaming is the commercial agreement between your home operator (like VTR) and a foreign operator that allows your phone to connect to that network when you cross a border. You continue to use your usual number and line; what changes is the physical network your device connects to. If you want the full details of how this agreement between operators is negotiated and billed, we explain it in what is roaming.
Roaming isn't expensive because you cross a border: it's expensive because your home operator pays a foreign operator to provide you coverage there, and you end up bearing that cost on your bill or in your prepaid plan.
This mechanism—two operators negotiating with each other to make your line work in another country—is why roaming, even when activated correctly, tends to be more unpredictable than buying a defined data plan in advance. It's not that roaming is poorly designed: it's a system designed to keep your usual number working anywhere, not necessarily to give you the most precise control over how much you're going to spend.
How do you activate international roaming, in general?
Beyond VTR, the process for activating international roaming usually follows a similar logic for most Latin American operators:
- Check the operator's app or website to see if your current plan includes international roaming or if an additional package needs to be purchased.
- Confirm that the destination country is within the operator's coverage (not all destinations are covered equally).
- Activate the service before traveling, either from the app, by calling customer service, or, in some cases, automatically upon arrival.
- Verify on your phone that the network appears as "roaming" or the name of the foreign operator, and not as "no service."
- Review the included data, call, and SMS limits, because consumption outside these limits usually incurs an extra cost.
The step most people skip is the second one: assuming that "roaming is already included" without confirming which specific country is covered. A plan might include roaming in some regional destinations but not others, so assuming coverage without checking is the most common cause of surprises—not because the operator hides anything, but because the traveler didn't confirm it before leaving.
How to activate roaming in Chile before a trip?
If you are in Chile and are traveling abroad, the procedure is the same as described above: contact your operator (in this case VTR or another) to confirm if your plan includes roaming for the country you are going to, or if you need to activate an additional package before leaving. The practical recommendation is to do it a few days in advance, not at the airport, because some operators take time to process the activation.
An alternative that more and more Chilean travelers are using in parallel—or directly instead of roaming—is to install an international travel eSIM before leaving. Unlike roaming, which depends on the coverage and conditions of your local operator in each country, a travel eSIM gives you a defined data plan, with the same known cost in advance no matter which country you go to within coverage. Further on, we show you exactly how it works.
Which countries have free roaming?
The short answer is that truly "free" roaming—without any additional charge, on any operator and any plan—is not the norm in the region. Some premium plans include roaming at no extra cost in a limited group of countries, but that depends entirely on the contracted plan and can change from month to month. There is no fixed list of "countries with free roaming" that applies to all operators equally.
That's why the question that really needs to be asked before traveling is not "does this country have free roaming?", but "does my specific plan include this country, and with what limits?". Only your operator has that information, and confirming it is the step that avoids most unexpected charges upon returning from your trip.
The eSIM: the alternative that many travelers still don't know about
An eSIM is a digital SIM card, integrated into the phone, which is installed by scanning a QR code instead of inserting a physical card (you can see the full explanation in what is an eSIM). For travel, there are international travel eSIMs that do not depend on your local operator: you buy a data plan for the country or region you are going to, install it before leaving (or even once you are there, if you have Wi-Fi), and that's it: your phone has data as soon as you land, without going through airport counters or activating roaming with your usual operator.
The key difference with roaming is this: with roaming, you still depend on the agreement between your operator and the foreign operator, and on the plan you have contracted in your country of origin. With a travel eSIM, you contract data directly for the destination, with a price and a defined amount of data beforehand. Your VTR number (or whatever it may be) continues to work for calls and SMS if you keep that line active on your phone along with the new eSIM—most modern devices allow you to use both at the same time—.
Traditional roaming vs. travel eSIM: comparison
This table summarizes the practical differences between continuing to use your local operator's roaming and contracting a separate international travel eSIM (if you want to delve deeper into each point, we elaborate on it in eSIM vs. roaming):
| Aspect | Roaming from your local operator | International travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Depends on the operator: app, call, or automatic upon arrival | By scanning a QR code, in approximately 1 minute |
| Cost | Defined by your plan; may vary by country and consumption | Paid in advance, per data plan, before traveling |
| Coverage per destination | Subject to your operator's agreements in each country | Available in over 200 destinations |
| Your usual number | Maintained for calls and SMS automatically | Maintained if you leave both lines active on the same phone |
| When to install it | Activated according to the operator's process, usually before leaving | Can be installed days in advance; 180 days from purchase to activate |
| Support during the trip | Your local operator's, according to their usual hours and channel | 24/7 by email and WhatsApp, in all languages |
A real trip: from Chile to Peru and Colombia with a single eSIM
To understand the difference in practice, let's consider a concrete example. Someone leaves Santiago for Lima, and a week later continues to Bogotá before returning to Chile. With traditional roaming, that person would have to check if their plan covers Peru, if it also covers Colombia, and if the data limits are the same in both countries—three distinct verifications, with three possible answers.
With a travel eSIM that covers both destinations, the process is simpler: it is installed only once, before leaving Chile, and is ready for use in both Peru and Colombia without managing anything additional when crossing the second border. The phone automatically detects the available network in each country, within the same contracted data plan. This is especially useful for multi-country itineraries, where activating and confirming roaming at each border consumes time that, on a short trip, is not abundant.
Is my phone compatible with eSIM?
Not all phones have eSIM technology, so it's a good idea to confirm this before deciding. As a general reference, these are some of the model ranges that are usually compatible:
| Brand | General reference of compatible models |
|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone XS and later models (some XR versions too) |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20 onwards, and the Z Flip / Z Fold lines |
| Pixel 3 and later models | |
| Motorola | Recent Edge models, depending on the region of purchase |
| Huawei | Some P40 models onwards, with restrictions depending on the region |
This table is a general reference: exact compatibility may vary depending on the region where the phone was purchased and whether it is unlocked. The most reliable way to confirm is to check the device settings (look for the "Add eSIM" option in the mobile network settings) before purchasing any plan, or check the detailed list in eSIM compatible phones.
How to install and activate your eSIM before traveling
The process, generally speaking, has three moments: purchase, install, and activate, and they don't necessarily happen on the same day. The detailed step-by-step, with screenshots for iOS and Android, is in how to install an eSIM.
- Purchase the data plan for your destination, choosing the amount of data and days you need.
- Install the eSIM by scanning the QR code received after purchase. This requires a Wi-Fi connection, so it's advisable to do it before leaving home.
- Activate the plan when you are actually going to start using it, usually upon landing at the destination.
A detail that often goes unnoticed: installing the eSIM is not the same as activating it. Most phones allow multiple eSIMs to be installed at the same time, although only one (or two, depending on the model) is active at any given moment. This means you can purchase and install your travel eSIM several days before you leave—even weeks, as you have 180 days from purchase to activate it—without it consuming data or interfering with your usual line, and only activate it when you land at your destination. This way, you avoid leaving everything until the last minute at the airport, without spending a single megabyte of the plan before you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the travel eSIM completely replace roaming?
Not necessarily. You can use a travel eSIM for mobile data and keep your usual line (with or without roaming activated) for calls and SMS, as most modern phones allow both to be active at the same time.
Do I need Wi-Fi to activate my travel eSIM?
You need Wi-Fi to install it (scan the QR code and download the profile). Once installed, activation itself takes approximately 1 minute and, depending on the provider, can even be done without Wi-Fi if you already have the profile downloaded.
Can I still receive calls to my usual number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes, as long as your phone is compatible with dual active lines (physical SIM or your operator's eSIM, plus the travel eSIM) and you keep that line turned on. Mobile data uses the travel eSIM; calls and SMS still come through your usual line.
What if my phone is not compatible with eSIM?
If your device does not support eSIM, this alternative is not available to you, and traditional roaming (or a local physical SIM purchased at the destination) remains the option to consider. You can confirm the compatibility of your specific model before purchasing any plan.
What should I do if I have problems installing or activating the eSIM?
Before writing to support, it's a good idea to review the most common errors (like installing it without Wi-Fi or trying to activate it twice) in common eSIM problems. If the problem persists, support is available 24/7 by email and WhatsApp.
How long do I have to activate the eSIM after purchasing it?
You have 180 days from the date of purchase to activate it, so you can buy it well in advance without losing the plan for not using it immediately.
Is the travel eSIM suitable for making calls?
International travel eSIMs are primarily designed for mobile data. For calls and messages, most travelers use apps like WhatsApp with that data, or keep their usual line active in parallel for traditional calls.
What happens if I need help while traveling?
With a travel eSIM like PuraSIM's, support is available 24/7 in all languages by email and WhatsApp, so you can write at any time and from any of the more than 200 covered destinations.
In summary: roaming or eSIM?
If your priority is not to change anything and keep exactly the same number and operator working abroad, VTR roaming (or whichever applies) is still valid, provided you confirm with the operator in advance which countries your plan covers and at what cost. But if what you're looking for is to know in advance how much you're going to pay for data, without depending on the specific conditions of your local operator in each country on your itinerary, an international travel eSIM solves exactly that problem: you buy it, install it before leaving, and it's ready to be activated in more than 200 destinations, with 24/7 support available by email and WhatsApp throughout your trip.
To take the first step, you can review the definitive guide to traveling with eSIM, which explains the complete process from scratch, or go directly to the international eSIM collection to see the available plans according to your next destination.
