Can a first time traveler buy a mobile sim card at a German airport?

36POSTS

7 years ago

Hi Everyone, I will reach Germany on the 14th of May. I wanted to know if a foreigner can buy a local(German) sim card at the airport as soon as he/she lands?

If Yes,
(a) What all documents will be required.
(b) Will it activated instantly

I would like to call my family back home in India and inform them that I have landed in Germany. Apart from that, I will be calling my employer in Germany.

Looking forward to your replies. Thanks in advance.

PS: I researched international roaming from my provider i.e Vodafone and its really expensive (Plan Fee - €35, Data: 4GB).

So people suggested buying a sim card when I land in Germany. But I am not sure if sim cards will be issued to foreigners and activated instantly.

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SimCityAT Expert

14138POSTS

7 years ago

Just make sure your phone is unlocked because you will not be able to use the new SIM and you will be forced to by a new phone.

AstralinBielefeld Active member

36POSTS

7 years ago

should I purchase pay as you go sim card from my country? i.e before landing in Germany? Any specific company?

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15666POSTS

7 years ago

You can get a prepaid ("pay as you go" in the posts above) SIM card in any phone shop - there are certainly some in or around the airport.
It needs to be registered in your name and you have to show an identification and give a residential address (preferably in Germany).
This can be done instantly in the shop (ask if they do it before you buy) or online.
A prepaid card usually costs €10 and has €10 stored value in it. Local calls are usually €0.09/min, but calling abroad is rather expensive with such a card!

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AstralinBielefeld Active member

36POSTS

7 years ago

Thank you so much. I reached Germany today. Currently using an Uniconnect Sim card that I purchased from India. it's a travel sim card worth 30 Euros and it gives me 12Gb Data, 500 mins local calls. This should be sufficient for 2-3 days. Once I get comfortable, I will get a new sim card from the city in a few days.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15666POSTS

7 years ago

If you need 500min and 12GB in 2-3 days, you must be some kind of superhuman user!
I have far less per month ...

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AstralinBielefeld Active member

36POSTS

7 years ago

beppi wrote:
If you need 500min and 12GB in 2-3 days, you must be some kind of superhuman user!
I have far less per month ...

I won't be needing 500 mins but yes data is a must. 12Gb will last atleast 10 days. I guess

I am online all the time and I am not sure how secure the open wifi networks here are. I don't want to get hacked using a wifi network. Then I will have to buy a VPN to protect myself. Isn't that right?

I watch youtube videos, whatsapp videos, surf, chat on my phone so 1 need atleast 1GB per day but when I checked prepaid plans here. None of the providers offer unlimited data or at least 30-40GB data a month. It's hardly 6GB a month. In India, I had the option to use30GB data a month for just 5Euros.

Any advice using the wifi networks here?

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15666POSTS

7 years ago

Yes, mobile data usage is restricted here - no unlimited plan or >10GB/month!
I never even need my 1.5GB/month and also don't use public WLAN, so cannot help further. Some plans have the option to renew the monthly data amopunt (for a fee) when it is used up - that, or changing your excessive usage, will be the only options.
(Did you ever notice that there is a world beyond that small screen?)

2 members reacted to this post

AstralinBielefeld Active member

36POSTS

7 years ago

#10

beppi wrote:
Yes, mobile data usage is restricted here - no unlimited plan or >10GB/month!
I never even need my 1.5GB/month and also don't use public WLAN, so cannot help further. Some plans have the option to renew the monthly data amopunt (for a fee) when it is used up - that, or changing your excessive usage, will be the only options.
(Did you ever notice that there is a world beyond that small screen?)

True