Staying connected in Brazil: the UK traveller's guide

Short answer: a travel eSIM is usually the easiest and cheapest way to stay online in Brazil. Local prepaid SIMs ask for a Brazilian tax number to activate, and UK roaming costs £7 to £8 a day, while a 3GB for 7 days eSIM was £7.25 in our latest check.

Your three options

1. Roam on your UK plan. Simple but pricey here: Brazil isn't in O2's Travel Inclusive Zone or Vodafone's Global Roam, so most people pay a daily fee, and EE's day pass gives only 500MB. 2. A travel eSIM. Buy before you go, install at home, switch on when you land in São Paulo or Rio. 3. A local SIM. Vivo, Claro and TIM are the big networks, but activation is built for Brazilian residents (more below).

What UK networks charge in Brazil

Brazil eSIM plans today

eSIM prices from Sim Local's official partner API, checked 3 Nov 2026, 06:18 GMT. Prices are before the 10% SIMSIFT code, which Sim Local applies at checkout through our links. The price on Sim Local's site is the one you pay. Ad links: SimSift may earn commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.

Before you fly: the five-minute checklist

• Check your phone is unlocked. UK networks have been banned from selling locked phones since December 2021 (Ofcom: mobile companies banned from selling locked handsets), but an older or second-hand phone might still be locked. A travel eSIM won't work on a locked phone, so ask your network to unlock it before you go.
• Check it supports eSIM. Most recent iPhones, Pixels and Galaxy phones do. Our eSIM compatibility guide shows the two-second check.
• Don't count on a local SIM. To activate a prepaid SIM in Brazil you're asked for a CPF (a Brazilian tax number), date of birth, Brazilian postcode, a selfie and photo ID. If that doesn't work online, Anatel says you can finish in the network's shop with your ID (Anatel: Cadastro Pré-Pago (prepaid SIM activation, in Portuguese)). An eSIM bought before you fly skips all of that.
• Install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi. Scan the QR code or use the provider's app the night before you fly, then leave the eSIM switched off until you land.
• Keep your UK number for texts. Bank and app security codes still arrive by text. Keep your UK SIM switched on for calls and texts, and turn data roaming off on it so it can't run up a daily charge. Apple: using Dual SIM with an eSIM and Google: use dual SIMs on your Pixel phone show how to pick which line uses data.

When you land in Brazil

1. Turn off flight mode and switch the travel eSIM line on.
2. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, and turn data roaming on for that line only: travel eSIMs usually connect as a roaming service, so follow your provider's set-up steps (Apple: use eSIM while travelling internationally).
3. Keep data roaming off on your UK line. If your UK network sends a "welcome" text with its daily charge, that's your reminder to check.
4. Open a map or send a message to check you're online. If it doesn't connect, restart the phone and check the eSIM line has data switched on.

Keep your phone (and your trip) safe

The UK Foreign Office says robberies are common in many Brazilian cities and that thieves target mobile phones, particularly between 4pm and 9pm (FCDO travel advice: Brazil safety and security). It advises against using your phone in the street, on trains or while waiting for a ride. A few easy habits help:

• Plan your route before you head out, and check maps inside a café or shop.
• Use the ride-hailing app's trip sharing, and wait somewhere safe until your car arrives.
• Turn on Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) and write down your UK network's number for blocking a lost SIM. Police in Brazil are on 190.
• If someone threatens you, hand it over. The FCDO's advice is not to resist.

Coverage and speed

Brazil's mobile market is big and modern. Anatel's Q3 2026 report counts 280.5 million mobile lines, with 69.8 million on 5G (Anatel: competition monitoring report, Q3 2026 (in Portuguese)). Expect fast data in cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, and patchier signal in the Amazon, the Pantanal and on remote stretches of coast. Download offline maps before you head out of town.

Sharing data with a laptop or a travel buddy

Personal hotspot works on many travel eSIM plans, which is handy for a laptop or a partner's phone, but every gigabyte you share comes out of your plan. If you'll be sharing, go for a bigger plan or an unlimited one, and check the plan details on the provider's site first, as some limit hotspot use.

Our honest bit

We're a comparison site and we earn commission when you buy through some links, including Sim Local's. That never changes the prices we show, which come straight from Sim Local's partner data. Roaming with your own network can be the better deal, especially if your plan already includes the destination, and we say so above.

Sources

• EE pay monthly price guide, 11 October 2026
• O2 Travel; O2 Travel Inclusive Zone
• Three: Go Roam
• Vodafone: out-of-bundle price changes from April 2026; Vodafone: global roaming zones
• Anatel: Cadastro Pré-Pago (prepaid SIM activation, in Portuguese)
• Anatel: competition monitoring report, Q3 2026 (in Portuguese)
• FCDO travel advice: Brazil safety and security
• Ofcom: mobile companies banned from selling locked handsets
• Apple: using Dual SIM with an eSIM; Apple: use eSIM while travelling internationally; Google: use dual SIMs on your Pixel phone
• eSIM prices: Sim Local partner API, checked 3 Nov 2026, 06:18 GMT.

Questions

Do I need an eSIM for Brazil?

If you're paying a daily roaming fee, an eSIM usually costs much less. UK networks charge £7 to £8 a day in Brazil, and EE's £8 day pass gives only 500MB of data, while a 3GB for 7 days eSIM was £7.25 in our latest check.

Can tourists buy a SIM card in Brazil?

Yes, but it takes effort. Activating a prepaid SIM normally asks for a CPF, a Brazilian postcode, a selfie and ID. Without a CPF you'll usually need to complete it in the network's shop with your passport. Many visitors find an eSIM installed at home simpler.

Which mobile networks are there in Brazil?

The big three are Vivo, Claro and TIM. Anatel counted 280.5 million mobile lines in Brazil in its Q3 2026 report, 69.8 million of them on 5G.

Is it safe to use my phone in Brazil?

The UK government warns that thieves target mobile phones in many Brazilian cities, particularly between 4pm and 9pm, and advises against using your phone in the street. Check maps before you set off and step into a shop or café to use your phone.

What happens to my eSIM if my phone is stolen?

The eSIM lives in the phone, so it goes with it. Contact your UK network straight away to block your UK SIM, note your eSIM provider's support details before you travel, and turn on Find My or Find My Device so you can lock or erase the phone.

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