Planning
Bali SIM card and eSIM: choosing, buying and registering your phone
A local prepaid card or an eSIM bought before departure: both work very well. The point almost nobody mentions is registering your phone’s IMEI, which conditions your access to the network.
- Updated on
- 8 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
Key points
- Telkomsel tourist prepaid card: IDR 150,000 for 25 GB of data and 25 minutes of calls, as of 20 October 2026.
- eSIM: install it before departure, from USD 4.50 at Airalo for a small plan, as of 20 October 2026.
- IMEI: a phone brought from abroad keeps network access for 90 days at most without registration, and the declaration is made within 60 days.
- For maps, ride-hailing and social media, 1 to 3 GB per week is enough; plan more if you browse a lot.
In Bali, staying connected is useful for everything: maps, ride-hailing, translation, messages, booking a driver. You have two options: a local prepaid SIM card, or an eSIM bought online before departure. This guide gives the prices recorded on 20 October 2026, the data volumes to plan for and the IMEI registration procedure.
For the rest of the formalities, see Bali visa and arrival. For your trips on the island, see getting around Bali, and if you travel alone, solo travel in Bali.
SIM card or eSIM in Bali: which one to choose?
An eSIM suits you if your phone supports it: it is installed before departure and works as soon as you land. A local prepaid card suits you if you want calls to Indonesian numbers and a large data volume for a fixed price. Both are good options; the choice depends mostly on your phone and the length of your stay.
| Tourist prepaid card | eSIM bought before departure | |
|---|---|---|
| Where to get it | From the operator, with your passport | Online, before departure |
| Recorded price | IDR 150,000 (Telkomsel, tourist offer) | From USD 4.50 (Airalo, small plan) |
| Data and calls | 25 GB and 25 minutes of calls, all networks | Data plans, some unlimited from USD 11 (3 days) to USD 69 (30 days) |
| Phone | A SIM card slot | An eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone |
| Advantage | Local calls included, a single purchase on site | Connected on landing, nothing to buy at the airport |
If you do not know whether your phone accepts an eSIM, look in its settings, under mobile network. A phone locked to an operator in your home country usually cannot use another card: ask your operator to unlock it before leaving, as the procedure can take time.
The tourist prepaid card: the Telkomsel offer
Telkomsel offers a prepaid card dedicated to tourists: IDR 150,000 for 25 GB of data and 25 minutes of calls, to all networks (recorded on 20 October 2026). It is the offer to know before comparing the rest, as it is enough for most stays of a few weeks.
The operator’s product page, called “Tourist SIMPATI”, shows the same offer: 25 GB and 25 minutes for IDR 150,000. The 25 minutes of calls are mostly useful for reaching a restaurant, a driver or an accommodation, since most exchanges go through messaging apps.
- Bring your passport: buying and activating a card involves an identity check.
- Have the card installed and activated in front of the seller, then test a call and a data connection before leaving.
- Note the number you are given, you will need it for drivers and some bookings.
- Check your data balance in the operator’s app rather than guessing it.
We do not publish prices for cards sold at the airport, nor prices for local cards outside the tourist offer: we have no reliable record to quote. Always compare with the offer above before paying extra for a “welcome” card sold in an arrivals hall.
The eSIM before departure: price and how it works
An eSIM is bought online and installed by scanning a code. At Airalo, the Indonesia eSIM starts at USD 4.50 for a small plan of a few days, and unlimited plans range from USD 11 for 3 days to USD 69 for 30 days (recorded on 20 October 2026). It lets you be connected on arrival.
- Check that your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked.
- Buy a plan for Indonesia from an eSIM provider, choosing the data volume and duration.
- Install the eSIM by scanning the code you receive, preferably on Wi-Fi, before departure.
- On landing, turn on the eSIM’s data line in the settings and allow data roaming for that line.
The advantage is peace of mind: you can order a ride as soon as you leave the plane, without looking for a counter. The drawback is that a travel eSIM plan often has no local number for voice calls. If you need to phone an accommodation, use a messaging app or an internet call.
How much data to plan for a stay in Bali?
To use maps, ride-hailing and social media, 1 to 3 GB per week is enough. If you browse a lot, count 5 to 10 GB per week. For a whole month, the range given by Airalo is 20 to 50 GB. A 25 GB prepaid card therefore covers most stays of two to three weeks.
| Use | Recommended volume |
|---|---|
| Maps, ride-hailing, social media | 1 to 3 GB per week |
| Heavy browsing (videos, tethering) | 5 to 10 GB per week |
| One-month stay | 20 to 50 GB |
- Download maps offline and your playlists over Wi-Fi, at your accommodation.
- Turn off automatic photo backup on the mobile connection.
- If you work from your computer through tethering, aim for the high end of the range.
- Video calls use far more than messaging apps: include them in your calculation.
Registering the IMEI: the step people forget
A phone brought from abroad and used with an Indonesian SIM card keeps network access for 90 days at most without registering its IMEI. The declaration is made within 60 days. It goes through Indonesian customs: the beacukai.go.id website, the Mobile Beacukai app, the counter in the arrivals terminal or a customs office.
The IMEI is your phone’s identification number. To display it, dial *#06# on the call keypad. Note it before departure, with the make and model, because the declaration asks for it.
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| Network access without registration | 90 days at most with an Indonesian SIM card |
| Declaration deadline | Within 60 days |
| Channels | beacukai.go.id, Mobile Beacukai app, arrivals terminal counter, nearest customs office |
| Check the status | “Cek IMEI” tool |
| Help | Customs service: 1 500 225 (Bravo Bea Cukai) |
Any duties on a declared device depend on its value. An exemption exists for a device carried in a passenger’s luggage, but we quote no threshold for lack of an up-to-date source: check with customs before travelling with a new phone or a second device.
In practice, a tourist stay of a few weeks stays within the deadlines. The question arises mostly for long stays, remote work, or several entries into the country with the same local SIM card.
Where to buy and how to activate your connection
You can buy an eSIM online before departure, or a prepaid card from the operator once on site, with your passport. Whichever you choose, activate and test it before leaving the point of sale or the airport, with a data connection and a call.
- Before departure: decide between eSIM and local card, note the IMEI and unlock the phone if needed.
- On arrival: if you have an eSIM, activate it; otherwise choose an operator’s point of sale and keep your passport at hand.
- Before leaving the counter: check the data connection, the balance and the number assigned.
- Within the week: install the operator’s app to track your usage.
For the rest of your airport arrival, including the transfer to your accommodation, the Bali visa and arrival guide details the steps in order. An active connection lets you order a ride or tell your driver as soon as you exit.
4G, 5G and dead zones: what to expect
Tourist areas are well covered, but quality varies from place to place, and the network weakens in valleys, on some mountain roads and near a few remote sites. We do not publish operator rankings or speeds: to our knowledge, no reliable record exists.
- A 5G-capable phone may drop to 4G depending on the place: this is normal, and harmless for maps or messaging apps.
- In mountainous or wooded areas, expect occasional drops, especially on scooter or car trips.
- Download maps offline before heading out on a hike or to a remote site, as in the solo travel in Bali guide.
- Reliable Wi-Fi at your accommodation remains the best solution for video calls.
If your priority is remote work, do not rely on a mobile connection alone: look for coworking spaces or accommodation with Wi-Fi and keep mobile data as a backup. To plan your trips between regions, see getting around Bali.
Frequently asked questions
Which SIM card should I buy for a tourist stay in Bali?
Telkomsel’s tourist prepaid offer costs IDR 150,000 for 25 GB of data and 25 minutes of calls to all networks, as of 20 October 2026. An eSIM is the alternative if your phone supports it.
How much does an eSIM for Bali cost?
At Airalo, the Indonesia eSIM starts at USD 4.50 for a small plan, and unlimited plans range from USD 11 for 3 days to USD 69 for 30 days, as of 20 October 2026.
How many GB do I need in Bali?
For maps, ride-hailing and social media, 1 to 3 GB per week is enough. For heavier browsing, 5 to 10 GB per week, and 20 to 50 GB for a month.
Do I have to register my phone’s IMEI in Indonesia?
A phone brought from abroad keeps network access for 90 days at most with an Indonesian SIM card without registration, and the declaration is made within 60 days, via beacukai.go.id, the Mobile Beacukai app, the arrivals counter or a customs office.
How do I check the IMEI status?
With customs’ “Cek IMEI” tool. For a question, the customs service answers on 1 500 225.
Can I use an eSIM and keep my usual SIM?
Yes, if the phone accepts a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time. You keep your usual line and add a data line for Bali.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 20, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
