Ultimate Guide to Australian Travel Sim Cards for International Students

You’re about to head to Australia as an international student. (Congratulations, by the way!) You know you need a travel SIM card, but you’re not sure which provider to go for or how to set your new SIM up.

Don’t fret – this guide has got you covered. Here we’ll answer all your Australian SIM card questions: why you need one, prepaid vs postpaid, the best providers, activation and recharge, managing data and more.

Travel SIM cards – The basics

For those new to the game, SIM (subscriber identity module) cards are the little chips that give your phone a number, allowing you to take and make calls, send and receive messages, and access the internet.

In terms of interacting with your phone, SIMs work the same in Australia as they do anywhere else in the world. It’s wise to check that your phone isn’t ‘locked’ to a network in your country, as that may mean it won’t work with an Australian SIM card (though it may be able to be unlocked).

SIM cards come in three sizes: standard, micro and nano. All modern phones now use the nano size.

Phone networks in Australia

Australia has just three mobile phone networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. But there are dozens of phone service providers, called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which use the three main networks to carry out their business (sometimes with slightly lower coverage):

*Just one MVNO, Boost, gets access to the full Telstra network

You’ll find a fast-growing 5G network in cities, but the further you move from civilisation, the lower bandwidth your signal will be. Networks are stretched thin by the wide brown expanse that is the Australian landmass. Telstra, the network that boasts the best coverage, says it covers 99.4% of the Australian population, but that equals just a third of the total Australian landmass (2.6 out of 7.6 million square kilometres).

This may not worry you as an international student living in a metro area – you probably won’t find yourself walking across the Simpson Desert – and if you’re planning a long road trip, most networks try to ensure highway signal is decent across the country.

Why SIM cards are crucial for international students

Do I even need an Australian SIM card as an international student? It’s a fair question, as many international students get by without one, and WiFi is solid and plentiful in Australian cities.

At its core this is predominantly a question of convenience. Relying on WiFi is fine when you’re at home, but as soon as you step outside you’ll need to find a publicly accessible signal to reconnect with the world.

A SIM card helps you to maximise your time. While you’re on public transport you can do university work or chat on WhatsApp with friends. You can jump on Student Job Board to search and apply for that casual job in Sydney or Melbourne, or research prospective employers and businesses. You can then make or take calls with those potential employers using an Australian number, which adds to your legitimacy and likelihood of success.

SIM cards are also a valuable item in emergencies, from the slight, like booking a quick Uber at the end of a night out, to the serious, like calling an ambulance due to a health issue.

All in all, the benefits of having an Australian SIM card comfortably outweigh the rather low cost.

Prepaid SIM cards vs. SIM only plans

You’ve brought your phone from home, and for the purposes of this exercise, we’ll assume that it is ‘unlocked’ – i.e. it isn’t tied to a particular carrier (check this before you leave home). So which travel SIM plan should you choose?

The first question is whether to go for a prepaid or postpaid (SIM only) plan:

• Prepaid: These plans see you pay a set amount of money upfront to gain access to a mobile network for a set period of time (usually around a month, sometimes longer or shorter). For your money you get a certain amount of calls, texts and data.

• Postpaid: Also known as ‘SIM only’ plans, to differentiate from handset and SIM card bundles, postpaid plans are paid after the service has been used. This means that if you overuse your service, it doesn’t cut off (as happens with prepaid plans) – you are simply billed extra. Postpaid plans may feature a lock-in period, or they can simply roll month to month.

A prepaid plan is generally the safer option for international students, as there’s no risk of overspending (at least without realising it!) The only downside is that you could run out of credit at an inconvenient time, although this only happens if you choose an ill-fitting plan, and recharging is easy (more on that later).

How to choose the right Australian travel SIM plan

Which is the right SIM plan for you? The answer will depend on two main factors:

1. How much you use your phone
2. Your access to WiFi

The more you use your phone, the more calls, texts and internet you’ll need. But if you have access to fast, stable WiFi at home, at uni and at work, and mostly communicate over WhatsApp, Messenger and email, you may be able to get away with quite a low cost plan.

No matter whether you go prepaid or postpaid, choose a plan that includes a little more than you think you might need, just in case. Even the cheapest Australian SIM plans offer at least a few gigabytes of internet per month, and most now offer unlimited texts and calls within Australia.

A couple of other considerations include:

1. International calls: Some SIM plans offer free international calls to certain countries. Even if you communicate with family and friends exclusively through WhatsApp or similar, it can be handy to have the option to make a call back home, like if you need to get in contact with a business.
2. Longer prepaid periods: While most SIM plans offer one month (28-30 day) terms, there are some six and 12 month options available that can work out cheaper in the long run, though you may leave value on the SIM card if you need to leave Australia early.
3. Data only?: You may think you only need data, but the ability to make calls is super valuable for organising your Australian life, speaking to your uni, finding a job and perhaps getting yourself out of a pickle.

The best SIM card options for international students in Australia

Which is the best SIM option for you while you’re studying in Australia? Here is a rundown of prepaid offers from some of the leading networks and MVNOs, as of August 2023.

Telstra

• 35GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, international calls & texts included*, valid for 28 days: AU$35
• 100GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, international calls & texts included*, valid for six months: AU$160
• 220GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, international calls & texts included*, valid for 12 months: AU$320

*Amount of calls and texts depends on the plan and the country.

Optus

• 40GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, some international calls & texts included**, valid for 28 days: AU$35
• 120GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, valid for 186 days: AU$160
• 220GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, valid for 365 days: AU$320

*Unused data rolls over to next recharge.

**20 countries. Amount of calls and texts depends on the plan and the country.

Vodafone

• 20GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, some international calls & texts included**, valid for 28 days: AU$30
• 80GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, 50 international texts included, valid for 185 days: AU$150
• 150GB*, unlimited Australian calls & texts, 50 international texts included, valid for 365 days: AU$200

*Unused data rolls over to next recharge.

**20 countries. Amount of calls and texts depends on the country.

MVNOs

• TPG (Vodafone network): 25GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, valid for one month: AU$25
• Amaysim (Optus network): 80GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, unlimited international calls & texts to 40 countries, valid for 28 days: AU$40
• Boost Mobile (Telstra network): 170GB, unlimited Australian calls & texts, unlimited international calls to 20 countries, 1200 mins standard calls to 30 selected countries, 1200 standard texts to any country, valid for 12 months: AU$230

Purchasing and activating an Australian SIM card

You can buy an Australian SIM card any number of ways: online, in a phone shop, at a supermarket or convenience store, or at the airport when you arrive. You can even get one shipped to you before you leave home!

The best option is to wait until you get to Australia, then buy one at a phone network store, as this will mean the staff can set up your SIM and make sure it’s working as it should. While the rules aren’t particularly strict, you’ll usually have to give the provider some basic details like your name, passport number and local address (even if it’s a hotel or hostel).

Once that information is logged, your new SIM will be up and running in a matter of minutes!

If you choose to buy a SIM card at the airport, convenience store, supermarket or online, simply follow the steps that are supplied with the SIM. If you run into any trouble, head to the provider’s nearest store for help.

How to recharge/ top-up your Australian SIM card

There are four main ways to recharge your Australian prepaid SIM card.

1. Online

The most common method, if your credit is low or about to expire, you’ll be directed to the provider’s portal where you can purchase more. These portals should continue to work even if you have run out of internet. Simply follow the prompts to recharge, and pay by credit card

2. In-store

You can buy credit for all providers at most supermarkets and convenience stores. Buy a voucher over the counter, then complete the steps on the packet to recharge. You can also buy direct from a network provider and get them to complete the recharge in-store.

3. USSD code

While less common, some Australian providers still allow you to recharge via USSD code. On Telstra, for example, you can dial #100#, press ‘1’ for recharge, then follow the prompts.

4. Auto-recharge

Most providers offer an auto-recharge setting that you can activate through their online portals. This automatically recharges an expired or empty SIM using the credit card details you place on file. You’ll need to remember to stop this auto-recharge before you head back home.

Tips for using less data

Data: the less you use, the less you spend, and for international students living what might politely be termed the thrifty life, every dollar and gigabyte counts.

Here are a few handy tips that might help you better manage your mobile internet use, without cutting you off from the fun of the internet:

1. Use WiFi wherever possible: at home, uni and work, and in any public space where it’s available for free, like malls, libraries, parks, cafes and bars.
2. Download video while connected to WiFi that you can watch when you’re on public transport or eating lunch at uni.
3. Set apps to lower the quality of videos when using mobile data. This setting is available on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and more.
4. Pack a book. If you’re in between classes or on the bus, pick up a book rather than your phone.
5. Track your mobile data usage on your phone and set alerts for when you’re nearing your limit.

Enjoy a richer experience with an Aussie SIM

An Australian SIM card is a low cost yet super high value item for an international student. For just a couple of dozen dollars a month, you can ensure that you’re always able to contact your loved ones back home, that you can make calls to your uni or take calls from potential employers, and that you’re able to get emergency assistance if you ever need it.

Now that you have a good sense of the Australian telecom landscape and your SIM options, you’re ready to choose the plan that best suits your needs. Once that’s done, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying the experience of being an international student in Australia!