Expats
Local line or your home-country line when you live abroad: which for what
The answer is both, each for its own job. How to split them, when to move to a local line, and why a travel plan isn't made for living somewhere.
Bea Nogales 6 min Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash Let's start with the part that shouldn't be dressed up: a travel data plan is exactly that, for travelling. To live in a country you need a local line, and saying otherwise would be selling you something that turns out to be the wrong choice within a month.
What each one is for
| What you need | Which line |
|---|---|
| Texts from your bank and government back home | Your home-country line |
| Paperwork, banking and local apps | The local line |
| Day-to-day data | The local line, on price |
| The first few weeks, before you have the local one | A travel data plan |
| Going home for a visit | Your home-country line |
The gap at the start
Weeks can pass between landing and having a local line, because many countries ask for an address or an ID number to open one. That gap is exactly what a travel data plan covers, and that's its role here: a bridge, not a permanent solution.
The order of the paperwork on arrival is in the paperwork when you arrive.
How the phone ends up
On a compatible phone both fit: your home-country line as the second line, switched on for texts only and with data turned off, and the local line as the main line for data and calls.
Give them names in the settings. With two lines from two countries, calling from the wrong one is only a matter of time.
A data plan for travelling. A local line for living. They aren't competitors: they're two different moments.
And trips back home
Once you're back, your home-country line works there as it always did. The local one, on the other hand, will be roaming on its own international rate, so it's best to turn its data off as soon as you land.
Frequently asked questions
Is a travel data plan enough to live in another country?
For the first few weeks yes, as a bridge. To live there you need a local line, which is cheaper and gives you a number in that country.
Can I keep both lines at once?
Yes, on a compatible phone: your home-country line as a second line for texts only, and the local one as the main line.
Why does a local line take so long to get?
Because many countries ask for an address or an ID number to open a line, and that only comes after you've registered.
What do I do when I go home for a visit?
Your home-country line works normally; the local one is better off with its data turned off, because it will be roaming.
