How do I get my wom eSIM?
To get your wom eSIM, you need to confirm that your phone is compatible, access the official carrier channels, and follow the request process enabled in your country. If, on the other hand, you are looking for mobile data for a trip abroad, there is a different alternative: an international eSIM that you install alongside your current line.
This distinction matters because "requesting a wom eSIM" can mean two very different things. One is to switch your current wom line from a physical SIM to an eSIM, something you manage directly with the carrier because it involves your number, your plan, and your account. The other is needing mobile data when you travel outside your country, and there, wom (like any local carrier) is not always the simplest option, especially if your plan does not include roaming in your destination.
This article covers both paths: how the eSIM request process generally works with your carrier, and what alternative exists when the real goal is to have data working as soon as you land in another country, without depending on the international coverage negotiated by your local carrier.
What exactly is an eSIM and how does it differ from a physical SIM card?
An eSIM is a chip integrated into the phone's circuit board that performs the same function as a physical SIM card, but without the plastic piece you insert and remove. Instead, the carrier or provider gives you a QR code or a digital profile that you install from the phone settings, and this installation activates the line.
The most relevant practical difference for travelers is that a phone with dual eSIM, or an eSIM plus a physical SIM, can have two active lines at the same time. This means that your wom number continues to work for calls and text messages while you use a second data line to browse, without having to remove or change any physical card. If you want to delve deeper into the technical operation, there is a more complete explanation in what is an eSIM.
A travel eSIM does not replace your wom line: it coexists with it. You continue to receive calls and messages on your usual number while mobile data for the trip goes through the eSIM you installed for the destination.
How do I request my eSIM step-by-step?
The general process for requesting an eSIM, whether with your local carrier or an independent provider, follows a similar logic in almost all cases:
- Confirm compatibility. Not all phone models support eSIM, so this is always the first step, before requesting anything.
- Choose the provider. This can be your local carrier, like wom, if you want to keep your usual number and plan, or a travel eSIM provider if you need a temporary data line for another country.
- Complete the request. With your local carrier, this is done through wom's official channels (app, website, or store), and each carrier defines its own requirements and internal steps, so it's best to confirm them directly there. With a travel eSIM provider, the purchase is made online and does not depend on paperwork with your carrier.
- Receive the profile. It arrives as a QR code or an installation link, usually by email.
- Install and activate. You scan the code from the phone settings and, when applicable, activate the data line.
The first two steps define everything else: if your phone does not support eSIM, no carrier or provider can bypass that technical limitation.
How to request a virtual eSIM if you need to travel?
When the goal is to have mobile data in another country and not simply to switch your current line to eSIM format, the process changes: instead of managing the request with wom, you do it directly with a travel eSIM provider, choose the destination, pay online, and receive the installation profile by email, without going through your local carrier's procedures.
The installation itself is the simplest part of the process: you scan the QR code from the phone settings, in the mobile lines or eSIM section, and the operating system does the rest. If you've never done it before, it's worth reviewing the complete step-by-step in how to install an eSIM, because the exact order of menus changes slightly between iPhone and Android.
A detail that often causes confusion: installing the travel eSIM does not delete or deactivate your wom line. Both coexist on the same phone if the device supports dual line, so you can continue to receive calls on your usual number while browsing with the data from the eSIM installed for the trip.
Where to buy a wom eSIM or another alternative for traveling?
If you want to keep your wom number but in eSIM format, the purchase or request is made directly with the carrier, through its official channels. This process is specific to wom and your country, so there are no shortcuts: you have to follow the process that the carrier itself has enabled. A more detailed explanation on this point can be found in buy wom eSIM.
If, on the other hand, you need a data line to use in another country during your trip, there is no need to go through wom at all: you can buy an international eSIM directly from a travel provider, choose the destination, and have the profile ready before leaving home. At PuraSIM, this is done online, by directly choosing the country or region where you will be, without going through any procedures with your local carrier.
Both paths are legitimate and respond to different needs: one maintains your identity as a wom customer, the other solves the specific problem of having data working in a destination that is not your own.
Is your phone eSIM compatible?
Before requesting any eSIM, local or travel, two things need to be checked: that the phone model has eSIM technology incorporated, and that it is unlocked (not tied to a specific carrier that blocks the installation of other lines). Most mid-range and high-end phones launched in recent years meet the first requirement, but the second depends on how you bought the device.
The fastest way to confirm this is to check the phone settings, in the mobile lines section: if the option to "add eSIM" or "add data plan" appears, the device is compatible. There is a more extensive list of models and brands in eSIM compatible phones, useful if you are still unsure of your exact model.
If your phone does not support eSIM, the alternative for traveling is still a local physical SIM or a portable Wi-Fi device, but that is a different type of solution, with different logistics and costs that this article does not cover.
Your local carrier's eSIM vs. international travel eSIM
These two options do not compete with each other because they solve different needs. The following table summarizes the most practical differences to help you decide which one suits you best, depending on what you are looking for.
| Aspect | Your local carrier's eSIM (e.g., wom) | International travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To keep your usual number and plan, in digital format | To have mobile data at your destination, without changing your number |
| Coverage outside your country | Depends on your carrier's roaming agreement with the destination | Specifically designed for that country or region |
| Where to request it | Wom's official channels (app, website, or store) | Directly with the travel eSIM provider, online |
| What happens to your other line | It's your main line | Coexists with your wom line if the phone supports dual line |
| Support if something goes wrong | Wom's own customer service channels | Email and WhatsApp, available 24/7 in all languages |
To better understand how a travel eSIM compares to using your local carrier's roaming, it's worth reading eSIM vs. roaming, as it details the differences in coverage and how each one is activated.
A concrete travel example
Camila lives in Santiago, Chile, and has had her wom line for years. She has an eight-day business trip to Mexico City, and as she always does before a trip, she checks if her wom plan includes roaming in Mexico or if she would have to contract something separately. At this point, many travelers realize that "requesting an eSIM" does not always mean the same thing they need.
If Camila only wanted to switch her wom line from physical SIM to eSIM, the process would be with the carrier, without affecting the trip. But what she really needs is mobile data working in Mexico from the moment she lands, without depending on whether wom's roaming covers that destination or under what conditions. For this, the most direct way is to buy a travel eSIM for Mexico before leaving Chile, install it connected to her home Wi-Fi, and have it ready to activate as soon as her phone detects the network at the destination airport.
Her wom number continues to work for calls and messages throughout the trip, because both lines coexist on the same phone. The only thing that changes is where mobile data comes from while she is in Mexico.
How long does it take to order and activate an eSIM?
Times vary depending on what you are requesting, but there is an order that avoids setbacks, especially if you are traveling. The following table summarizes it according to the time of the trip.
| When | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks before the trip | Buy the travel eSIM in advance | You have 180 days from purchase to activate it, so buying it early does not reduce its validity |
| 1 or 2 days before flying | Install the profile connected to Wi-Fi | Installation needs data, and the airport doesn't always offer stable Wi-Fi |
| Upon landing at the destination | Activate the data line | Activation takes approximately 1 minute once the phone detects the local network |
| If something doesn't work | Write via WhatsApp or email | Support is available 24/7 in all languages, without a phone line |
The point that confuses first-time travel eSIM buyers the most is thinking that the plan starts running from the moment of purchase. This is not the case: buying it as soon as you book your ticket does not advance the plan's clock, because what counts is when you install it and connect it for the first time at the destination, not when you paid for it.
Common mistakes when requesting an eSIM
Most problems with an eSIM, whether from your local carrier or for travel, appear before leaving home, not during the trip itself. The most frequent ones are scanning the QR code from the same phone where it will be installed (it should be done from another device or saved as an image), trying to install it without an internet connection, and confusing one eSIM profile with another if you bought more than one for different destinations.
It also happens that someone requests an eSIM thinking it automatically replaces their local line, and then is surprised that their wom number still appears as the main line for calls. This is not a process error: it is exactly how it is designed, so that you do not lose contact on your usual number. There is a more complete review of these cases in common eSIM problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have my wom eSIM and a travel eSIM at the same time?
Yes, as long as your phone supports dual line (eSIM plus eSIM, or eSIM plus physical SIM). Your wom line remains active for calls and messages while the travel eSIM handles mobile data at the destination.
Do I need Wi-Fi to install the travel eSIM?
Yes, profile installation requires an internet connection. That's why it's a good idea to do it before leaving home, connected to Wi-Fi, instead of saving it for the airport or plane.
What if my phone is not eSIM compatible?
You will not be able to install any eSIM, neither from your carrier nor a travel one. In that case, the alternative is a local physical SIM or a portable Wi-Fi device, which are different solutions.
Does the travel eSIM replace my wom number?
No. The travel eSIM is a separate data line that is installed alongside your current line. Your wom number remains active for calls and messages throughout the trip.
How long do I have to activate the eSIM after purchasing it?
180 days from the purchase date. You can buy it weeks in advance and activate it only when you arrive at your destination, without losing validity by having bought it earlier.
Can I use the same eSIM in several countries during the same trip?
It depends on the plan you choose: some travel eSIMs cover only one country and others cover several destinations within the same region. It is advisable to check the coverage of each plan before buying, depending on your itinerary.
What if I have a problem with the eSIM during the trip?
You can write via WhatsApp or email; support is available 24/7 in all languages. There is no telephone support line.
Conclusion
If you need to switch your wom line from physical SIM to eSIM, that process is done directly with the carrier, through its official channels, and there is no way to bypass it. But if what you really need is to have mobile data working as soon as you arrive in another country, without depending on whether your carrier's roaming covers that destination, the international travel eSIM is the most direct solution: you buy it online, install it before leaving, and it activates itself when your phone detects the destination's network.
The first step, in either case, is to confirm that your phone supports eSIM. Then, if your plan is to travel, the simplest thing is to review the definitive guide to traveling with eSIM and then choose your destination directly in the international eSIM collection, with more than 200 destinations available and 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp if you need help along the way.
