# How to buy & set up an eSIM for Italy (step by step)

> Buying an eSIM for Italy takes 2 minutes and is done online. Here are the exact steps.

Buying an eSIM for Italy takes 2 minutes and is done online. Here are the exact steps.

## Steps

- Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked
- Buy the Italy plan at MerrSIM
- Receive the QR code by email
- Scan: Settings → Mobile → Add eSIM
- Turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM on arrival

## Get online at the airport

Install a MerrSIM eSIM for Italy (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) before departure and you’re online the moment you land at Rome Fiumicino Airport — no WiFi hunt, no roaming.

[MerrSIM — eSIM Italy](https://merrsim.com/destinations/esim-plans-for-italy)

## How an eSIM works

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone: there is no physical card to insert. You buy it online, get a QR code by email and scan it in your settings. Once installed, the profile lives on your phone and activates when you reach Italy, connecting automatically to a local partner network. You can keep your main SIM at the same time, so your number still gets calls and texts while the eSIM handles data.

## Why travellers choose MerrSIM

MerrSIM builds local plans for dozens of destinations, at a fixed price in euros — no dollar exchange rate and no surprises. Every plan includes hotspot, instant QR activation and no document registration. The app and support are in Albanian, which makes it easy for the diaspora and travellers from the region. For Italy, that means a simple experience: buy it, scan it, and you are ready before you board the plane.

## Activation in a few minutes

Do the install before departure, while on WiFi. Open your phone settings, choose to add an eSIM and scan the QR code you received by email. Label the profile “Italy” so it is easy to spot. When you land, set the eSIM as your data line and switch on data roaming for it — that is normal for travel eSIMs and adds no fees, because the plan is prepaid. Within seconds you are online, with no need to hunt for public WiFi.

## Common mistakes to avoid

Three mistakes often spoil the start of a trip. First: buying the eSIM at the last minute at the airport, when you have no WiFi to install it — do it at home. Second: forgetting to switch on data roaming for the eSIM line, which makes it look like it is not working. Third: leaving mobile data on your home SIM, which racks up roaming charges. Check these three and your connection in Italy will be trouble-free.

## Does your phone support eSIM?

Before you buy, check two things. First, the phone must be eSIM-compatible: iPhone XR/XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and many recent Motorola, Huawei and Oppo models. Second, it must be carrier-unlocked. You can verify by dialling *#06# — if an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM. This saves you any surprises when you arrive in Italy.

## FAQ

### How do I get online as soon as I arrive in Italy?
Activate a MerrSIM eSIM for Italy (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) by QR before departure; you connect automatically at the airport.


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Author: Etnik Beqiri  
Published: 2026-05-28  
Source: https://merrsim.com/en/blog/si-te-blesh-esim-italy-en