Sydney – known for the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge & many incredible zoos.
While some think Sydney is Australia's capital city (or Melbourne), it is not – that would be Canberra.
But the city is Australia's business hub, and most high-paying jobs can be found here… and the highest house prices 🗿.
Besides that, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport has the most international destinations for any Australian international airport, so it is most likely your initial arrival point before (potentially) transfering.
Writing a list of all the cool things to do in Sydney would require another blog post (or a dedicated Sydney blog), so I will save you from that because you want to know what SIM card and eSIM options are available at the airport.
You can get a Telstra, Optus, Vodafone Australia, Amaysim, Belong Mobile, Boost Mobile Australia, Circles.life, Crown Mobile, Lebara Australia, Lycamobile Australia & Telsim Australia SIM card or eSIM for 1 AUD to 250 AUD at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).
Yeah… a lot of options at this airport 😳. And that is quite a spread (1 AUD – 250 AUD) – what gives?
It is mostly because you can get a starter pack lasting a full year – useful for Working Holiday Makers.
But you can also get a seven-day SIM card for only 10 AUD if that is all you need.
So let's review all your options and see if getting a SIM card at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is even worth it.
Original publication: 3rd of March 2023. Last updated: 6th of September 2023.
Table of Contents
Mobile Operators in Australia
Before I tell you about the SIM card and eSIM options you have at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, you first need to know about all the mobile operators in Australia.
Australia has three mobile operators and 14 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Telstra
- Optus
- Vodafone Australia (TPG Telecom)
- ALDImobile (Telstra MVNO)
- Amaysim (Optus MVNO)
- Australia Post Mobile (Optus MVNO)
- Belong Mobile (Telstra MVNO)
- Boost Mobile Australia (Telstra MVNO)
- Coles Mobile (Optus MVNO)
- (Crown Mobile (Optus MVNO) – available at Sydney Airport only, so it is not “easily accessible” to all travelers)
- Gomo Australia (Optus MVNO)
- Gotalk Australia (Vodafone Australia (TPG Telecom) MVNO)
- JB Hi-Fi Mobile (Telstra MVNO)
- Hello Mobile Australia (Vodafone Australia (TPG Telecom) MVNO)
- Lebara Australia (Vodafone Australia (TPG Telecom) MVNO)
- Lycamobile Australia (Telstra MVNO)
- Telsim Australia (Telstra MVNO)
- Woolworths Mobile (Telstra MVNO)
That is quite a list, huh?
But almost half of them are available anyway 😳.
For more information about Australian SIM cards, check out my Australia SIM card buying guide.
Alright, back to what Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport has to offer to us.
Where to Buy a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?
Multiple stores and booths in the international arrivals hall sell different Australian SIM cards (and eSIMs): Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Amaysim, Belong Mobile, Boost Mobile Australia, Circles.life Australia, Lebara Australia, Lycamobile Australia & Telsim.
Honestly, not that many airports have this many SIM cards for sale.
At least you have plenty of choices… but there is also something like too much choice.
Even Canberra Airport and Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport think four or five options are more than enough 🗿.
When you take an international flight to Sydney, you will arrive at terminal 1 – the international terminal.
Depending on your conveyor belt number, you will arrive in the arrival hall in section A (belts 7 – 15) or B (1 – 6).
Optus and Vodafone Australia have booths close to both arrival halls.
WHSmith, a convenience store present at airports in more than 25 countries, also has stores close to both arrival halls.
Booths from other resellers like Circles.life, Telsim (Sim Planet) & one without a name (which is just another Sim Planet booth) are mostly in the middle between the two arrival halls.
Although you may have to walk a bit depending on your arrival hall (up to two minutes).
All these resellers, including Circles.life and Sim Planet, sell starter packs of numerous mobile operators and MVNOs, not just their own.
For example, Circles.life and Sim Planet have SIM cards from Optus too… somehow.
Not all stores will have all the starter packs or plans listed in the relevant section.
For example, the resellers often have the 2 AUD Optus starter pack, the cost of a SIM card and nothing else, whereas the Optus booths does not sell them.
But I will still list the 2 AUD option in the Optus section… else this guide will get even longer than it already is 🗿 – but I hope you understand.
Be aware that you can get an Australian SIM card for as little as 1 AUD or 2 AUD; it only includes the SIM card and nothing else – not even 2 AUD credit, for example.
Be careful: according to reviews, The Sim Planet reseller will charge you a 2 AUD – 5 AUD SIM card activation fee when registering your SIM card through them (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
And yes, there seems to be an unspecified range.
However, you can easily register your SIM card for free on the sites of the mobile operators.
Moreover, if you buy your SIM cards from the Optus, Vodafone Australia, Circles.life Australia & Lebara Australia booths, they will register your SIM card on you behalf… for free.
According to Google Maps, this is still happening in 2023, and they seem to overcharge you for select plans. I did not have the time to double check these claims because I had a flight to Brisbane to catch 🗿.
Throughout this guide, I will share my experiences with most of the SIM cards sold at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport because I have tried many for my Australian SIM card review series.
I will first go through the Big Three (Telstra, Optus & Vodafone Australia – largest to smallest), then the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in alphabetical order.
So the way I list all the options is not a ranking, but you will read about my experiences and opinions throughout anyway.
Let's go through each mobile operator to see what they have to offer us at the airport.
But because there are so many (11), you can click on the links below to jump to the SIM card you are interested in:
- Telstra
- Optus
- Vodafone Australia
- Amaysim (Optus MVNO)
- Belong Mobile (Telstra MVNO – wholesale access)
- Boost Mobile Australia (Telstra MVNO – retail access)
- Circles.life Australia (Optus MVNO)
- Crown Mobile Australia (Optus MVNO – partakes in shady practices. I suggest avoiding it)
- Lebara Australia (Vodafone Australia MVNO)
- Lycamobile Australia (Telstra MVNO – wholesale access)
- Telsim Australia (Telstra MVNO – wholesale access. I suspect it is owned by the same company/people as Crown Mobile & Sim Planet, which do not have the best reputation. May want to avoid)
What SIM Cards & Plans does Telstra Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Telstra sells regular SIM cards, through a reseller, at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 2 AUD (SIM card only – no plan), 30 AUD & 40 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Telstra is the largest mobile operator in Australia.
It is also the recommended SIM card for those visiting rural areas or The Outback because it is the only mobile operator with coverage in many areas.
Telstra used to be state-owned, so it inherited towers in the most remote of the remotest areas the Australian government installed. For Telstra's competitors, it is not profitable to build towers there as well, which is why Telstra may be the only mobile operator in rural areas.
But if you are in urban areas, like metro Sydney, you will be fine with most (although you will have the best performance with Telstra, as I explain in my Telstra review).
Unlike its main competitors, Optus and Vodafone Australia, Telstra has no dedicated store or booth at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Airport.
In fact, there are no Telstra stores at any Australian international airport, for some reason. 🤨.
I guess it is allergic to airports 🗿.
Anyway, two resellers sell Telstra SIM cards: Circles.life and WHSmith.
The latter probably does not need an introduction because WHSmith is present in more than 25 countries and has more than 1700 stores.
Circles.life, however, is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) from Singapore.
Besides Singapore, it is also active in Australia, Indonesia (as Live.On) & Taiwan.
It is an MVNO on the Optus network in Australia, but it still somehow sells Telstra starter packs.
I am not complaining 🤫.
The cheapest Telstra SIM card available at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is the 2 AUD starter pack.
But remember, you only get a SIM card for that price – not even 2 AUD credit.
Although you also get a SIM card tray ejector for that price…. which is cool.
Anyway, the following two Telstra starter packs with benefits are available from Circles.life and WHSmith:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | International Zone 1 Zone 1 | International Zone 2 Minutes 2 | International Zone 3 Minutes 3 | Local SMS | International SMS 4 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 AUD | 30 GB | Unlimited | 300 minutes | 60 minutes | 5 minutes | Unlimited | 100 SMS | 28 days |
| 40 AUD | 40 GB | Unlimited | 500 minutes | 100 minutes | 10 minutes | Unlimited | 100 SMS | 28 days |
1 to Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States & Vatican City
2 to Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Cambodia, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, the Faroe Islands, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, the Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela & Vietnam
If you wonder whether the Circles.life or WHSmith overcharge you for these already generous allowances – they do not.
All international airports in Australia sell prepaid SIM cards at standard prices – no surcharges or hidden (registration) fees.
And I love that 😍.
From April/May 2022, all Telstra starter packs and plans had 5G NR access during the trial.
Previously, you had to spend 60 AUD on a starter pack or plan to experience Telstra's 5G NR speeds.
And they are fast… crazy fast – especially in Sydney!
I will tell you all about it in my Telstra review (where I used my Telstra SIM card and eSIM in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Shepparton (regional Victoria – same state as Melbourne) & Sydney).
But this will change starting the 3rd of April 2023.
Until then, Telstra allowed for uncapped speeds for all its prepaid plans, even on 5G (which I tested extensively).
From then on, your 4G/LTE speeds will be capped @ 150 Mbps and @ 250 Mbps on 5G NR (except for the 60 AUD plan – you can still get crazy speeds, as shown above with that one).
Now, are 150 Mbps and 250 Mbps fast enough? Yes, it is.
ALDImobile Australia, a Telstra Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), already had to deal with these caps from the start, and I often hit those speeds when doing tests (and go over them routinely).
It is just unfortunate that Telstra decided to introduce caps to its own customers, as that used to be a selling point for Telstra: go with Telstra directly and pay a premium for faster speeds instead of going with a Telstra MVNO (like ALDImobile Australia, for example).
For now, Optus and Vodafone Australia have not mentioned anything about capping the 4G/LTE and 5G NR prepaid speeds… and I hope it stays that way.
Telstra has other starter packs (seven in total), ranging from 10 AUD to 300 AUD.
Worry not – the 300 AUD starter pack is valid for a full year – Telstra is not that expensive (imagine spending 300 AUD/month for data 🗿).
But you need to go to Sydney proper for those SIM cards, like Telstra stores and resellers like convenience stores, gas stations & grocery stores.
The main con of buying a Telstra SIM card from a reseller is that you have to register your SIM card yourself, whereas Telstra will do it on your behalf.
Luckily, registration is quick, but Australian SIM cards are not plug-and-play like some Oceanian countries, like New Zealand.
Moreover, if you want a Telstra eSIM, you do have to visit a Telstra store for it.
Or you can do it online.
Note: you cannot activate a Telstra, or any other Australian, eSIM before arriving in Australia because your status needs to be set to onshore for the Australian Document Verification Service (DVS)).
It will still be on offshore if you are abroad or did not pass passport/customs check yet, meaning the eSIM cannot be activated.
If you do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
Why does it matter? Optus had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
Anyway, I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Optus Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Optus only sells its tourist SIM cards and eSIMs at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 30 AUD and 60 AUD. But you can get regular starter packs from resellers for 2 AUD (SIM card only – no plan) and 30 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Optus is the second-largest mobile operator in Australia – launched and owned by Singtel from Singapore (the largest there).
At Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, you can get your Optus SIM card from the Optus booths in the arrivals halls or resellers.
The best Optus deals are from the Optus booths, where 60 GB of data is available for as little as 25 AUD.
I wanted to mention this before going through all the other options.
Anyway, you can actually only get one SIM card from the Optus booths: Optus Flex 4G Traveler Plan.
It costs 30 AUD and gives you 60 GB of data, unlimited local minutes and to 15 select international destinations 1, 300 minutes to 35 international destinations 2 & unlimited local SMS and to 15 other international destinations 1 for 30 days.
1 to Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom & the United States
2 to Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela & Vietnam
It is not uncommon to only pay 25 AUD for this SIM card.
If you have a phone that supports eSIM, you can get the Optus Flex 5G Traveler Plan.
For 60 AUD, you also get 60 GB of data (with 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes and to 15 select international destinations 1, 300 minutes to 35 international destinations 2 & unlimited local SMS to 15 other international destinations 1 for 30 days.
So why would you pay double for the Optus Flex 5G Traveler Plan? Only because of 5G NR access?
If you stay in Australia for over a month, you will continue getting 60 GB every 30 days, whereas you will only get 30 GB with the Optus Flex 4G Traveler Plan.
Moreover, you normally get 30 GB for the Optus Flex 4G Traveler Plan from the get-go, but Optus seems to have a permanent promotion for 60 GB instead.
Now, the airport staff (at any Australian airport) will tell you that you cannot get the 30 AUD SIM card as an eSIM and need to get the 60 AUD eSIM instead.
You can get the 30 AUD SIM card as an eSIM on the Optus website (but you need to be in Australia before registering your eSIM because your status needs to be set to onshore for the Australian Document Verification Service (DVS)).
So you could sit in the arrivals hall, go to the Optus website, and get the 30 AUD plan as an eSIM.
Besides these two tourist SIM cards, the Optus booths sells no regular SIM cards.
You would have to go to resellers like Circles.life, Sim Planet, or WHSmith.
WHSmith only sells the standard Optus starter pack, where you pay 2 AUD for the SIM card itself.
The staff cannot assist you with registration because they do not have the tools for it… and because the store is often too busy for that.
Circles.life only sells the 30 AUD starter pack with 30 GB of data (without 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes and to 15 select international destinations 1, 300 minutes to 35 international destinations 2 & unlimited local SMS and to 15 other international destinations 1 for 30 days.
1 to Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom & the United States
2 to Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela & Vietnam
Sim Planet, which you may confuse as a Telsim booth if you go to the one in arrivals hall A, also sells Optus SIM cards.
But it seems like the prices and allowances change per day, as per Google map reviews (I did not ask because I had a flight to Brisbane to catch, and there was a long queue).
Be careful: according to reviews, Sim Planet will charge you a 2 AUD – 5 AUD SIM card activation fee when registering your SIM card through them (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
Honestly, after reading all of this, I would avoid Sim Planet at all costs.
Ignoring Sim Planet, I would still encourage you to purchase your SIM card from the Optus booths instead of any reseller.
Because if you do not care about 5G NR access (or do not want the Flex 5G Traveler Plan), you will get 60 GB of data instead of 30 GB from any reseller.
Plus, your allowances are valid for 30 days (Traveler Plan) instead of 28 days (resellers).
Besides these differences, all other perks are the same.
But is Optus' 5G NR network fast? Yes… blazing-fast. Especially in Sydney.
The fastest 5G NR speed I got with Optus was 1.1 Gbps (1100 Mbps!)… so yeah… it IS fast!
I tell you all about it in my Optus review (where I used my Optus SIM card and eSIM in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Shepparton (regional Victoria – same state as Melbourne) & Sydney).
Remember that SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia (that is why I mentioned the onshore status for DVS earlier).
If you do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
Why does it matter? Optus had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
Anyway, I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Vodafone Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Vodafone Australia sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing between 10 AUD and 250 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Vodafone Australia is the third and smallest mobile operator in Australia.
If you are from Europe or other Pacific nations, you have probably heard of or used Vodafone before.
And if you are from Africa, you may know Vodafone as Vodacom instead.
Perhaps you used Vodafone back home.
In Australia, Vodafone is not the best option.
In fact, it is the worst, as I mention in my Vodafone Australia review.
However, it does offer cheap plans – and if you stay in urban areas, like metro Sydney, you will be fine with Vodafone Australia.
Moving on, you can get your Vodafone Australia SIM card from Vodafone booths in the arrivals halls and resellers.
The best Vodafone Australia deals are from the Vodafone booths, where its plans are often discounted.
I wanted to mention this before going through all the other options.
Here, you can get any of Vodafone Australia's regular starter packs without surcharges.
At many airports, the stores or booths may charge you service fees or inflate the prices, but that is not the case with Vodafone Australia.
And I can respect that!
Anyway, Vodafone Australia has seven starter packs you can choose from:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | International Zone 1 Minutes 1 | International Zone 2 Minutes 2 | Local SMS | International SMS 3 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 AUD | 4 GB | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | Unlimited | N/A | 7 days |
| 20 AUD | 8 GB | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | Unlimited | N/A | 14 days |
| 30 AUD | 15 GB | Unlimited | 500 minutes | N/A | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 28 days |
| 40 AUD | 30 GB | Unlimited | 1000 minutes | 100 minutes | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 28 days |
| 50 AUD | 45 GB | Unlimited | 1500 minutes | 200 minutes | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 28 days |
| 60 AUD | 70 GB | Unlimited | 2000 minutes | 250 minutes | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 28 days |
| 150 AUD | 80 GB | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 185 days |
| 250 AUD | 150 GB | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | Unlimited | 50 SMS | 365 days |
1 to Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States & Vatican City
2 to Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Cambodia, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, the Faroe Islands, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, the Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela & Vietnam
It is not uncommon to pay slightly less for the 30 AUD, 40 AUD, 50 AUD, 150 AUD & 250 AUD starter packs.
I have seen the 250 AUD starter back being discounted to 188 AUD instead (aka 62 AUD/24.8% less).
Previously, only the 50 AUD starter pack gave you 5G NR access.
Nowadays, all Vodafone Australia plans allow for free 5G NR access, including the 10 AUD starter pack.
This makes Vodafone Australia more generous than its competitors that still restrict 5G NR access to their higher-tier plans.
Plus, Vodafone Australia's 5G NR speeds are not worth any surcharge, as they are not blazing-fast (most of the time) – even in Sydney.
But I discuss more about that in my Vodafone Australia review (I also used the SIM card in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Shepparton (regional Victoria – same state as Melbourne) & Sydney).
Circles.life, Sim Planet & WHSmith also sell Vodafone Australia SIM cards.
But there is no reason to get SIM cards from them because the Vodafone booths often have exclusive deals.
Pay attention to Sim Planet because its prices and allowances change daily, as per Google map reviews (I did not ask because I had a flight to Brisbane to catch, and there was a long queue).
Moreover, according to reviews, Sim Planet will charge you a 2 AUD – 5 AUD SIM card activation fee when registering your SIM card through them (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
Honestly, after reading all of this, I would avoid Sim Planet at all costs.
Anyway, you can get any Vodafone Australia plan as an eSIM, but you have to ask for it.
Because you first have to still buy an actual SIM card before it can be exchanged for an eSIM.
According to the Vodafone booth staff, it sounds like too much hassle for many international arrivers (understandably), so they simply get a SIM card instead – but it is an option if you have time.
Note that SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia.
Registration will not take much time, luckily, but it may be something you do not want to deal with.
Optus had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
If you do not want to deal with potential identity theft but still want to be connected in Australia, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Amaysim Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Amaysim sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 20 AUD, 30 AUD, or 40 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Amaysim is the largest Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in Australia, although it was purchased by Optus in 2017 (the sale was finalized in 2021).
Optus has stated that Amaysim will continue to operate as an independent entity.
As an MVNO, Amaysim has no dedicated stores, so their starter packs are only available from resellers.
At Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, only Circles.life sells Amaysim SIM cards.
Yeah, an MVNO selling SIM cards from a competing MVNO (on the same network, mind you)… interesting 🗿.
Anyway, Circles.life has three Amaysim starter packs you can choose from:
| Price | Data | Local/International Minutes | Local/International SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 AUD | 8 GB | Unlimited 3 | Unlimited 3 | 28 days |
| 30 AUD | 32 GB | Unlimited 1 | Unlimited 1 | 28 days |
| 40 AUD | 80 GB | Unlimited 2 | Unlimited 2 | 28 days |
1 for local use and to 28 countries (calls) and 42 countries (SMS – marked with (S)): Austria (S), Bangladesh (S), Brazil, Cambodia (S), Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia (S), France, Germany, Greece (S), Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary (S), Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy (S), Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands (S), New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan (S), the Philippines (S), Poland (S), Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Africa (S), South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey (S), the United Kingdom, the United States & Vietnam
2 for local use and to 42 countries: Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States & Vietnam
3 for local use only
While 5G NR access is available with Amaysim, it is restricted to the 55 AUD plan, which is not sold at the airport.
So you will not have 5G NR access with Amaysim if you get your SIM card from the airport.
Moreover, I am unsure if Circles.life will/can register your Amaysim SIM card on your behalf (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
I wanted to ask, but the queue was crazy, and I had a flight to Brisbane to catch at the domestic terminal.
If not, you can easily do so on the Amaysim site or app.
While it is possible to get an Amaysim eSIM, Circles.life cannot assist you with this.
You can order an Amaysim eSIM while chilling in the arrivals hall (and skip the queues at the Circles.life booth).
Note that you cannot activate and register your Amaysim eSIM before passing immigration because your status needs to be set to onshore for the Australian Document Verification Service (DVS).
This will only happen when you have cleared passport check.
Once cleared, download the Amaysim app or go to its website, follow the steps, and you will have your Amaysim eSIM!
Note: you can exchange any Amaysim SIM card bought from Circles.life for an eSIM afterward.
And you can buy any Amaysim plan instead of only the 20 AUD, 30 AUD & 40 AUD plans.
If you do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
Why does it matter? Optus had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Yes, the Optus that owns Amaysim now.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
Anyway, I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Belong Mobile Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Belong Mobile sells regular SIM cards through Circles.life at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 40 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Belong Mobile, officially just Belong, is a low-cost sub-brand by Telstra.
It offers cheaper mobile and broadband services than Telstra itself.
However, customer service with Belong (Mobile) is not as “great” (depending on who you ask) as Telstra.
Be aware that Belong Mobile speeds are restricted to 100 Mbps (except for one plan with speeds up to 250 Mbps).
At Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, only Circles.life sells Belong Mobile SIM cards.
Yeah, an MVNO selling SIM cards from a competing MVNO (on a different network, mind you)… interesting 🗿.
Here, you can get only one Belong Mobile SIM card costing 35 AUD, giving you 40 GB of data (with 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 1 month.
Since there is only one starter Belong Mobile starter pack at the airport, there is not much more for me to say 🗿.
I am unsure if Circles.life will/can register your Belong Mobile SIM card on your behalf (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
I wanted to ask, but the queue was crazy, and I had a flight to Brisbane to catch at the domestic terminal.
If not, you can easily do so on the Belong Mobile site or app.
Note that Belong Mobile has no eSIMs (yet).
If you want an eSIM or do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Boost Mobile Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Boost Mobile Australia sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 30 AUD, 40 AUD, or 200 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Boost Mobile Australia, not to be confused with Boost Mobile USA, is a Telstra Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), meaning it uses the Telstra network.
Now, there is a blogger (or perhaps multiple ones) claiming that going with Boost Mobile is a bad idea because its coverage is bad or not as good as Telstra's.
And if you did not know better, you would be correct because most Telstra MVNOs use the Telstra Wholesale network, which is not as good as the Telstra Retail network (the one Telstra uses for its customers).
However, Boost Mobile Australia is the only Telstra MVNO with full Telstra 4G/LTE network access.
Which they proudly advertise on its website (and it is true).
This means that when you go to the remotest of remote place in Australia with a Telstra tower, your Boost Mobile Australia SIM card will work here too.
I met the lovely guys from Boost Mobile Australia when I visited Sydney earlier, where they explained how they unintentionally managed to get this deal.
Moreover, Boost Mobile Australia plans are often significantly cheaper than Telstra while having the same 4G/LTE performance.
Mostly because it does not have to maintain a physical presence as an MVNO, which Telstra does.
At Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, only Circles.life sells Boost Mobile Australia SIM cards.
Yeah, an MVNO selling SIM cards from a competing MVNO (on a different network, mind you)… interesting 🗿.
Anyway, Circles.life has three Boost Mobile Australia starter packs you can choose from:
| Price | Data | Local/International Zone 1 Minutes 1 | International Zone 2 Minutes 2 | International SMS 3 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 AUD | 20 GB | Unlimited | 300 minutes | 300 SMS | 28 days |
| 40 AUD | 30 GB | Unlimited | 300 minutes | 300 SMS | 28 days |
| 200 AUD | 140 GB | Unlimited | 1200 minutes | 1200 SMS | 12 months |
1 for local use and to 20 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States & Vietnam
2 to 30 countries: Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden & the United Arab Emirates
3 international SMS to any country – not only zone 1 or 2 destinations
As part of my Australian SIM card review series, I tried out the Big Three, Telstra, Optus & Vodafone Australia, and an MVNO per mobile operator.
In Telstra's case, I tried ALDImobile Australia (speed-restricted and on the wholesale network) and Boost Mobile Australia (no restrictions and on the retail network).
And I can tell you that the speeds I got with Boost Mobile Australia were similar to Telstra (including error margins, of course).
In fact, the fastest download speed I managed to get on the Telstra network was with Boost Mobile Australia: 1131.69 Mbps (or 1.13 Gbps) at Indooroopilly Station in Brisbane – incredible!
Telstra itself had a download speed of only 934.44 Mbps at the same location – so those who say that Boost Mobile Australia is not good or not as good as Telstra do not know what they are on about 🗿.
I have more results in my Boost Mobile Australia review (where I used my Boost Moble SIM card and eSIM in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Shepparton (regional Victoria – same state as Melbourne) & Sydney).
But… there is a possibility you will not experience these speeds yourself.
From April/May 2022, all Boost Mobile Australia starter packs and plans had 5G NR access during the trial.
Previously, you had to spend 70 AUD on a starter pack or plan to experience Telstra's/Boost Mobile Australia's 5G NR speeds.
But this will change starting the 4th of April 2023.
Until then, Telstra/Boost Mobile Australia allowed for uncapped speeds for all its prepaid plans, even on 5G NR (which I tested extensively).
From then on, your 4G/LTE speeds will be capped @ 150 Mbps and @ 250 Mbps on 5G NR (except for the 70 AUD plan – you can still get crazy speeds, as shown above with that one).
Now, are 150 Mbps and 250 Mbps fast enough? Yes, it is.
ALDImobile Australia already had to deal with these caps from the start, and I often hit those speeds when doing tests (and go over them routinely).
Previously, Boost Mobile Australia was the only Telstra MVNO without speed caps which made it unique.
Get Telstra-level reception and speeds for way less than Telstra itself.
Now, Boost Mobile Australia's main selling points are that it still has full access to Telstra's 4G/LTE network and is cheaper.
I can tell you that it was not Boost Mobile Australia who decided to introduce speed caps – the guys over there know better (I met them in person, lol).
But it was Telstra who imposed these changes because it will introduce the same caps for its own prepaid customers and some postpaid ones too (for one plan only, currently).
Yeah… sad 😔.
For now, Optus and Vodafone Australia have not mentioned anything about capping the 4G/LTE and 5G NR prepaid speeds… and I hope it stays that way.
I am unsure if Circles.life will/can register your Boost Mobile Australia SIM card on your behalf (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
I wanted to ask, but the queue was crazy, and I had a flight to Brisbane to catch at the domestic terminal.
If not, you can easily do so on the Boost Mobile Australia site or app.
Do note that Boost Mobile Australia does not have eSIMs (yet).
Its FAQ has mentioned that it will be added soon… for close to a year now, but I have been promised it will come – they are just waiting for approval from the Big Guys.
If you want to use an eSIM in Australia (and not deal with the country's SIM card registration laws), you can consider getting a travel eSIM.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Circles.life Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Circles.life Australia sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 10 AUD, 25 AUD, 35 AUD, or 45 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Circles.life Australia is an Optus Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
It is a company from Singapore.
Besides Singapore, it is also active in Australia, Indonesia (as Live.On) & Taiwan.
The Circles.life booth at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport sells all of Circles.life Australia's plans, ranging from 10 AUD to 55 AUD.
But it also sells SIM from other mobile operators and MVNOs in case you are interested.
You have the following four Circles.life Australia starter packs:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 USD | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 25 USD | 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 35 USD | 50 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 45 USD | 100 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
The plans you see on the lower right corner on the photo above are promotional prices that ended in August 2022… yeah 🗿.
But these are the promotions going on at the time of writing so you can have an idea of what to expect.
The Circles.life booth can register your SIM card on your behalf (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
Note that Circles.life Australia has no eSIMs (yet).
If you want an eSIM or do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Crown Mobile Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
I am actually not sure which Crown Mobile Australia starter packs are available at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
In fact, I did not know this Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) existed until I zoomed in 10x on my Sim Planet photo because I saw a starter pack I did not recognize 🗿.
Moreover, Crown Mobile Australia SIM cards are not sold at the normal locations starter packs are sold, like convenience stores, electronic shops & grocery stores.
It seems its only offline store is at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (at the time of writing).
Apparently, this MVNO started in January 2022, so I guess it is still establishing its presence.
I did some further investigation and found out that Crown Mobile Australia and Sim Planet have the same Address for service of documents and Principal place of business, so I suspect they are owned by the same people/company.
If you go to their website, you learn it uses the Optus 4G/LTE network – nothing wrong with that.
Moreover, the plans and data allowances are not bad either (if you are not used to Australian allowances):
| Price | Data 1 | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 USD | 4 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 30 USD | 15 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 50 USD | 25 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 without 5G NR access
But not so fast… it seems Crown Mobile Australia AND Sim Planet are partaking in shady practices (and add Telsim to that mix too).
Not only is Sim Planet overcharging Crown Mobile Australia's plans (someone was charged 25 AUD for a plan that is normally 20 AUD) but you also have to pay for registration.
Remember, I suspect that Crown Mobile Australia, Sim Planet & Telsim Australia are owned by the same company/people, so they are under-advertising their plans while overcharging you.
While SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia, you never have pay for it (at least, if you are dealing with reputable retailers…).
The fee just goes into the pocket of Crown Mobile Australia/Sim Planet.
And yes, you can indeed get 60 GB of data for 25 AUD or 30 AUD, depending on whether there is a promotion or not, if you go to one of the Optus booths.
Moreover, travelers keep getting overcharged because they supposedly ran out of data.
Martijn is not the only reviewer complaining about this – and canceling/disabling auto-renewal seems to be a challenge.
Because Sim Planet uses random email addresses when creating user accounts for its customers, as another reviewer explained.
Not only that, but Crown Mobile Australia does not automatically disconnect you from its network when you hit your (under-advertised) data allowance.
Instead, it will charge you 10 AUD for a 2 GB data top-up, which is uncommon for Australian mobile operators.
You either get shut off or can browse at reduced (snail) speeds.
While this is mentioned in Crown Mobile Australia's Critical Information Summary (CIS)… I do not expect travelers to have read each mobile operator's CIS before purchasing a SIM card 🗿.
Remember Martijn's review? The part where he said he received random international phone calls and got charged 10 AUD for it?
Apparently, Crown Mobile will automatically charge you 10 AUD for its International Credit Pack if you receive international calls or SMS or send them yourself- even if you do not expect to receive an overseas call.
Almost all mobile operators (worldwide) do not charge you for receiving an international call you do not pick up.
It looks like Crown Mobile Australia sees this as an easy way to pocket 10 AUD from whoever, especially unsuspecting tourists.
Honestly, you should stay away from Crown Mobile Australia AND Sim Planet because both entities are straight-up shady.
+ Telsim Australia, but I will talk about it in its own section.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Lebara Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Lebara Australia sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing between 14.90 AUD and 69.90 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Lebara Australia is a Vodafone Australia Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
It was purchased by Vodafone in 2016, but Lebara still operates as an independent entity.
Lebara, as a brand, is known for offering low rates for international calls abroad, and it is active in various European countries and Saudi Arabia.
Do note that Vodafone Australia has the worst network in the country, as I mention in my Vodafone Australia review (but I also have a Lebara Australia review).
Do not get a SIM card from Vodafone Australia or any of its MVNOs if you plan to visit rural areas or the Outback because you will have a terrible experience.
There is a reason why Vodafone Australia was known as VodaFail.
Anyway, Circles.life and WHSmith sell Lebara Australia SIM cards.
I recommend going to the WHSmith in arrivals hall A because it has a Lebara booth and more exclusive deals than Circles.life (although the latter often has them too… but not all).
Anyway, Lebara Australia has six starter packs you can choose from at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | International Call Wallet | Local SMS | International SMS | International Credit | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.90 AUD | Extra Small 30 Day | 4 GB | Unlimited | 300 minutes 1 | N/A | Unlimited | N/A | 3 AUD | 30 days |
| 24.90 AUD | Small 30 Day | 25 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited 2 | 100 minutes 7/30 minutes 7 | Unlimited | Unlimited 2, 12 | N/A | 30 days |
| 29.90 AUD | Medium 30 Day | 35 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited 3 | 300 minutes 8/30 minutes 8 | Unlimited | Unlimited 3, 12 | N/A | 30 days |
| 39.90 AUD | Large 30 Day | 50 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited 4 | 300 minutes 9/50 minutes 9 | Unlimited | Unlimited 4, 12 | N/A | 30 days |
| 49.90 AUD | Extra Large 30 Day | 80 GB 13 | Unlimited | Unlimited 5 | 500 minutes 10/50 minutes 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited 5, 12 | N/A | 30 days |
| 69.90 AD | XXL 30 Day | 100 GB 13 | Unlimited | Unlimited 6 | 500 minutes 11/50 minutes 11 | Unlimited | Unlimited 6, 12 | N/A | 30 days |
1-12 the number of countries you can call and text to is extensive and differs significantly per plan. It is so much that the country list would look like the image below, which is ridiculous and would probably confuse you. Unlike the other mobile operators, where I do list all the countries, you will have to check the country list yourself on the Lebara site
13 with 5G NR access until at least the 31st of January 2023 (as part of a trial) – permanently included
All Lebara Australia plans are subject to promotional prices or data allowances.
It is common to pay half for the 14.90 AUD or 39.90 AUD plans or get double the data allowance for the 14.90 AUD, 29.90 AUD & 39.90 AUD plans.
Half price applies to the first 30 days, while the increased data allowances will apply for the first three recharges.
So if you stay in Australia for less than a month, you can get some sweet deals from Lebara Australia.
While it is possible to get a Lebara Australia eSIM, the Lebara booths cannot assist you with this.
You can order a Lebara Australia eSIM while chilling in the arrivals hall, but you cannot get any of the plans mentioned above as an eSIM.
Instead, only the 5 AUD Extra Small 5 Day Plan is eSIM compatible, giving you 3 GB of data (without 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes, 300 international minutes 1, 3 AUD in your International Call Wallet 2, and unlimited local SMS for 5 days.
1 to Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand & the United States
2 calls and texts to any country, not just the eight mentioned above
Note that you cannot activate and register your Lebara eSIM before passing immigration because your status needs to be set to onshore for the Australian Document Verification Service (DVS).
This will only happen when you have cleared passport check.
After setting up your eSIM, you should be able to switch to any other Lebara plan you want, but you will not get any discounts or bonus data (as those apply to new customers on their first recharge).
According to Lebara Australia, you can switch to an eSIM after buying a SIM card, but this is not something I can confirm.
If this sounds like too much hassle, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Lycamobile Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Lycamobile Australia sells regular SIM cards at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, costing 30 AUD, 40 AUD, 50 AUD.
I will list all the prices in AUD (Australian Dollar).
To convert AUD to your currency (let's say NZD – New Zealand Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Lycamobile Australia is a Telstra Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
Lycamobile, as a brand, is known for offering low rates for international calls abroad, and it is active in various European countries and in South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda & the United States.
As an MVNO, Lycamobile Australia has no dedicated stores, so their starter packs are only available from resellers.
At Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, only Circles.life sells Lycamobile Australia SIM cards.
Yeah, an MVNO selling SIM cards from a competing MVNO (on different networks, mind you)… interesting 🗿.
Anyway, Circles.life has three Lycamobile Australia starter packs you can choose from:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local/International Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 AUD | Unlimited Plan S | 35 GB | Unlimited 1 | Unlimited | 28 days |
| 40 AUD | Unlimited Plan M | 50 GB | Unlimited 1 | Unlimited | 28 days |
| 50 AUD | Unlimited Plan XL | 80 GB | Unlimited 2 | Unlimited | 28 days |
1 for local use and to 30 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France (fixed), Germany (fixed), Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary (fixed), India, Indonesia (fixed), Japan, Malaysia, Malta (fixed), Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden (fixed), Thailand, Taiwan (fixed), the United Kingdom, the United States & Venezuela (fixed)
2 for local use and to 53 countries: Argentina, Belgium (fixed), Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia (fixed), Finland (fixed), France (fixed), French Guiana, Germany (fixed), Greece (fixed), Guadeloupe (fixed), Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary (fixed), Iceland, India, Indonesia (fixed), Israel (fixed), Italy (fixed), Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta (fixed), Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama (fixed), Peru, Poland (fixed), Portugal (fixed), Puerto Rico, Réunion, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden (fixed), Thailand, Taiwan (fixed), the United Kingdom, the United States & Venezuela (fixed)
All Lycamobile Australia plans are subject to promotional prices or data allowances.
It is common to pay half for some plans or get double the data allowance.
Half price applies to the first 30 days, while the increased data allowances will apply for the first three recharges.
During some promotions, plans costing between 20 AUD and 50 AUD are priced at 1 AUD and 3 AUD.
Unfortunately, those are for online orders from Lycamobile Australia directly but not from Circles.life at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport 🥲.
At least the double data promotions can be purchased at the airport!
I am unsure if Circles.life will/can register your Lycamobile Australia SIM card on your behalf (SIM card registration is mandatory in Australia).
I wanted to ask, but the queue was crazy, and I had a flight to Brisbane to catch at the domestic terminal.
If not, you can easily do so on the Lycamobile Australia site.
Note that Lycamobile Australia has no eSIMs (yet).
If you want an eSIM or do not want to deal with Australia's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Australia in my Best Australia eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Australian eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans does Telsim Australia Sell at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (+Prices)?
Being added.