How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Tunisia?

Preparing for a trip to Tunisia? Besides planning the exciting part of your holiday, like your itinerary and activities, there are some practical things you should consider as well. One of the most important ones is how you’ll be communicating while you’re there.

To make the most out of your trip, consider swapping your UK SIM for a Tunisia SIM card. This will help you avoid additional expenses and allow you to use translation apps and maps without having to rely on Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It can help you get ready for your stay in Tunisia and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Table of contents

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Tunisia from the UK? How much does a SIM card cost in Tunisia? How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Tunisia?¹ Where can you buy a SIM card for Tunisia in the UK? Can you buy a Tunisia SIM card at the airport?² Best prepaid SIM cards for Tunisia Tunisie Telecom³ Ooredoo Tunisia Orange Telecom⁶ Best e-SIM cards for Tunisia Airalo⁷ Holafly⁸ Maya Mobile⁹ Spend like a local in Tunisia with Wise

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Tunisia from the UK?

If you buy a Tunisia SIM card during your vacation, you’ll probably be saving money. As you may know, international calls, texts and data usage usually aren’t included in UK monthly plans. But, when you have a local SIM card, you can avoid getting charged extra by your provider for using your phone abroad.

Also, having a Tunisia SIM will allow you to stay in touch with your friends and family. Since you’ll have better network coverage, you’ll be able to be connected all day long and you won’t have to rely on Wi-Fi. Along with that, a Tunisia SIM card will make using translation apps and maps easy, which is essential when travelling.

If you’re still not convinced, you could rely on international roaming instead. Various networks, such as Virgin Mobile, have global roaming packages that include Tunisia. Others, like Tesco Mobile, Sky or Three, will have you pay roaming charges as you go.

How much does a SIM card cost in Tunisia?

The price of Tunisia SIM cards depends on many factors, but you can get a 2 GB package for as little as £2.5 with Ooredoo.

When it comes to eSIMs, they even have unlimited offers, which can turn out to be a good deal for heavy data users. For example, you can get a 30-day eSIM at Maya Mobile for £48.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Tunisia?¹

Getting a Tunisia SIM card will be rather simple. You can buy it at multiple selling points, such as official operator stores, convenience stores and airports. Some of the biggest mobile operators in the country are Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo Tunisia and Orange Tunisia.

In order to register your Tunisia SIM card, you’ll need to show your passport to a mobile provider employee. Your phone needs to be unlocked, so that it’s compatible with foreign SIM cards. To avoid uncomfortable situations, ask in advance if you can pay with your credit card or debit card or if it’s a cash-only store.

Where can you buy a SIM card for Tunisia in the UK?

If you’d like to buy a Tunisia SIM before leaving the UK, an eSIM would be your best option. Many providers only sell country-specific eSIM cards, but some have regional or even global packages. Either way, there’s plenty of options, so you’ll most likely be able to find an offer that fits your needs.

Can you buy a Tunisia SIM card at the airport?²

Yes, you can buy a Tunisia SIM right when you land. One of the airports that has SIM card selling points is the Tunis-Carthage Airport.

SIM cards can be bought at official operator stores and at vending machines. The stores are located at the arrivals area, close to baggage claim. If you find yourself at this airport, you’ll be able to choose between Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo Tunisia, and Orange Tunisia stores.

Best prepaid SIM cards for Tunisia

Here are some of the best SIM card options for a vacation in Tunisia.

Tunisie Telecom³

Tunisie Telecom offers multiple packages which include both data and calls to all operators in the country. Depending on your needs and the length of your trip, you can choose one of the smaller Hadra NET plans or their 30-day deal.

Their 7-day plan includes 1 GB of data and 7 hours of local calls for £2. For around £4, you can get 2.5 GB of data and 15 hours of calls with a 15-day validity period. The biggest package and perhaps the best option for tourists is their 30-day package which has 25 GB of data and 2.5 hours of calls. The price of this deal is around £7.5.

Ooredoo Tunisia

Ooredoo has a few options for tourists, including a SIM card made specifically for those on holiday in Tunisia. There are four types of their Smart Pack Holiday SIM, depending on the validity period, amount of data, minutes and messages.

The cheapest one can be used for 15 days at just £2.5 and it includes 2 GB of data, 30 minutes of local calls and 5 minutes of international calls, in case you need to phone someone back home. The £12.5 package has 25 GB of data and 30 minutes of international calls and you can use it for a whole month.⁴

If you only need data, their Flexi 55Go and Xtra Flexi packages have more than enough of it. At approximately £14 and £11 you can get 55 GB or 42 GB of data and use it for up to 30 days.⁵

Orange Telecom⁶

Orange (ORAN) has a variety of prepaid offers, including many with high data allowances. For example, the £18 3alami package has 100 GB of data which you can use for up to 60 days. There’s also a 55 GB, 30-day deal for around £14, in case you want a shorter validity period.

They can even deliver your SIM to a Tunisian address, so you can order it before your arrival.

Best e-SIM cards for Tunisia

The most convenient way to avoid roaming fees while in Tunisia is to buy an eSIM. You can purchase one prior to leaving the UK and activate it upon arrival.

Before getting an eSIM, make sure your phone is compatible with them. If it is, here are some of the best eSIMs you can use in Tunisia.

Airalo⁷

At Airalo, you can get a Tunisia plan, but also a regional package with multiple countries included. This can be a good deal if you plan on visiting some neighbouring countries as well.

Their 7-day Tunisia eSIM costs $4.50 and it has 1 GB of data, while the 15-day plan costs $7.50 with 2 GB of data. There are four monthly plans which cost from $10 to $36. They have from 3 GB to 20 GB of data allowance, so you can choose one according to your screen time.

Holafly⁸

If you don’t want to think about how much data you have left, Holafly’s unlimited data eSIMs might be what you need. They have six plans, starting at 5 days and going up to a month. The more days you get, the cheaper they will be.

For example, Holafly’s 5-day Tunisia eSIM costs £24, the 15-day plan is £39, while the 30-day unlimited data eSIM will set you back £67.

Maya Mobile⁹

Maya Mobile offers 24 eSIM data packages for Tunisia, including unlimited passes. The most affordable one is the 5-day £5 pass, which will get you 3 GB of data. The 30-day unlimited package costs £48.

A good option in the middle is their 10-day £18 eSIM. With this pass, you get to use 10 GB of data during your stay.

Spend like a local in Tunisia with Wise

While you’re picking a Tunisia SIM card for your trip, you’ll also want to check out options for holiday spending.

The Wise card, from the money services provider Wise, is a convenient choice. Order a card for a one-time fee of £7, and you can spend and withdraw like a local in Tunisia and 150+ more countries.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account*.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used:

1. eSIM.net - How to buy a SIM card in Tunisia in 2024
2. Tunisia eSIM - Buying a SIM card at Tunis-Carthage Airport
3. Tunisie Telecom - Hadra NET packages
4. Ooredoo - Holiday SIM
5. Ooredoo - Sim Data
6. Orange - Prepaid SIM options
7. Airalo - Tunisia eSIM
8. Holafly - Tunisia eSIM
9. Maya Mobile - eSIM Tunisia

Sources last checked on date: 15-July-2024