Title: How to Buy a Prepaid Phone in Europe: 14 Steps (with Pictures)
Headings: How to Buy a Prepaid Phone in Europe
How to Buy a Prepaid Phone in Europe
Method 1
of 2:
Buying a Phone and SIM Card Combo
Method 2
of 2:
Bringing a Phone and Getting a SIM Card
Community Q&A
Tips
References
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Research your phone-buying strategy before reaching Europe. Although there is some standardization across the nations in the European Union (EU), buying a prepaid phone depends a great deal on which nation or nations you’ll be travelling to. A few days or (better yet) weeks before departing, search “buying a prepaid phone in …” and the names of the countries you’ll be visiting. Keep the following in mind as well: All European mobile phones (EU and non-EU) operate on the GSM system, as opposed to the CDMA system used in North America and some parts of Asia. CDMA-only phones won’t work in Europe. GSM phones always require an installed SIM card that’s affiliated with a mobile carrier in order to operate on a mobile network. You can buy a new SIM card (with or without a phone) in each country you visit, or use the same SIM card throughout the EU without incurring roaming charges—up to a set limit. SIM cards are easy to buy in most European countries, but some, like Germany, have significant security-related restrictions that make the process much less convenient for tourists. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Buy-a-Prepaid-Phone-in-Europe-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Buy-a-Prepaid-Phone-in-Europe-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Buy-a-Prepaid-Phone-in-Europe-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid1579358-v4-728px-Buy-a-Prepaid-Phone-in-Europe-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved.