SIM card registration: where you need ID, country by country
SIM card registration means showing ID before a SIM will work. In 32 of the 42 popular countries we checked, a local SIM needs it. A travel eSIM bought from abroad usually does not, and at SimVala there is no ID to buy. Look up any country:
Country lookup
Do I need ID for a SIM there?
Thailand
ID required for a local SIMOriginal passport plus a live face scan required for every new SIM since August 2025.
With a travel eSIM
No ID, no shop, no registration form to buy. You install it before you fly.
Thailand eSIMWhat is SIM card registration?
Many governments require every prepaid SIM to be registered to a named person. The GSMA, the mobile industry body, counts 157 countries with mandatory SIM registration (2021).
For a traveller, that usually means showing your passport at the counter, having it scanned, and waiting while the SIM is registered to you. In some countries an unregistered SIM is blocked after a short time.
What gets collected
Usually your full name, an ID or passport number, and a copy or scan of the document. Some countries also ask for an address, a photo, or even fingerprints. The mobile operator keeps the record and links it to your number.
How to register a SIM card
- 1Buy the SIM from a mobile operator's shop or an authorised seller.
- 2Show your ID or passport. Some countries let you register online or in the operator's app instead.
- 3Wait for the operator to confirm the registration before the SIM can make calls or use data.
Why it is controversial
Governments say registration helps fight crime. Privacy International, a UK charity, points out that it enables tracking, shuts out people without ID documents, and cites a GSMA review that found no evidence it directly reduces crime. Mexico brought in SIM registration and later repealed it.
The rules at a glance
For a local prepaid SIM, in the destinations we checked:
ID required 32
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, India, Australia
Partly 2
Portugal, Japan
No ID needed 8
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Croatia, New Zealand
Checked 2026-09-28 against regulators, carriers, and the GSMA. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Why a travel eSIM usually needs no ID
Registration laws are aimed at local SIMs sold inside a country. A travel eSIM from an international provider works differently: it connects as a roaming line, the same way your home SIM roams abroad.
Registration laws generally cover SIMs issued by locally licensed operators. Hong Kong's rules, for example, apply only to SIMs from Hong Kong providers. A travel eSIM from a foreign provider roaming on local networks usually falls outside them, though this is not settled law everywhere.
The honest exception
For certain regulated products in a few countries, our upstream provider requires an identity check before delivery. We tell you before anything is sent, and if you decline, the full amount returns to your balance. You never need ID to create an account, top up, or buy.
Local SIM vs travel eSIM
| Travel eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| No passport at a counter | ||
| No registration to your name | ||
| Set up before you fly | ||
| Keep your home SIM in the phone | ||
| A local phone number included |
The one thing a local SIM gives you is a local number. If you need one, a virtual number gives you a number in that country, also with no ID to buy.
How to get connected with no ID
- 1Create a SimVala account number. No email, name, or phone number.
- 2Top up with crypto, from $20.
- 3Buy a plan for your destination, from $0.69.
- 4Install it at home on Wi-Fi, and switch it on when you land.
Sources
- GSMA: Mandatory SIM registration
- Travel eSIMs and local registration rules
- Privacy International: SIM card registration
Each country in the lookup links to the source we checked it against.
Keep reading
eSIM without ID questions
What is SIM card registration?+
A rule that a SIM card must be linked to a named person, usually by showing ID, before it works. The mobile operator keeps the record and links it to your number.
Which countries require SIM card registration?+
Most of them. The GSMA counted 157 countries with mandatory SIM registration in 2021. Our lookup shows the rules for 42 popular countries.
How do I register my SIM card?+
Show your ID or passport where you buy the SIM, or follow your operator's online or in-app registration if your country offers one. The SIM works once the operator confirms it.
Can I buy an eSIM without ID?+
Yes. At SimVala you create an account, top up, and buy with no ID, no email, and no name. Plans start at $0.69. A few regulated products in a few countries need a check before delivery; we tell you first and refund to your balance if you decline.
Why do SIM cards need ID in some countries?+
Many governments require every prepaid SIM to be registered to a named person. The GSMA counts 157 countries with mandatory SIM registration.
Do tourists need a passport to buy a SIM card?+
In many countries, yes. In our list, 32 of 42 popular destinations require ID for a local prepaid SIM, and 2 more require it in some cases.
Do travel eSIMs need registration?+
Usually not. A travel eSIM from an international provider works as a roaming line, and local registration rules are aimed at local SIMs. Some countries and products are exceptions, which is why a few orders need a check.
Which countries let you buy a SIM without ID?+
In our list: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Croatia, New Zealand.
Is it legal to use an eSIM without registering it?+
Using a travel eSIM that did not require registration is legal in most places. Registration rules apply to the sellers of local SIMs, not to you as a traveller using a roaming line.
What happens if an order needs an ID check?+
We tell you before anything is sent. If you decline, the order is cancelled and the full amount returns to your balance.
Skip the passport check
Data in 200+ countries, no ID, no email, no card. Pay in crypto and connect on arrival.