New to Ireland: your first Irish SIM, step by step

Can you get an Irish SIM before you arrive?

Yes, with some networks. Vodafone sells a prepay eSIM you can buy before coming to Ireland and activate before or after you land. Lycamobile emails an eSIM that must be activated in Ireland. An Post Mobile delivers only to Irish addresses, GoMo needs an Eircode, and Clear Mobile and Sky expect you to live in Ireland.

• Three sells a visitor eSIM you can buy and activate online with no store visit, but does not say whether you can order from abroad; it sends physical SIMs only within Ireland.
• Lidl Connect’s plan starts when you pay, not when you install the eSIM, so buying early means paying for days before you arrive.
• Your phone must be unlocked to take an Irish SIM; GoMo says so for its eSIM, and our eSIM guide lists which networks offer one.

Where can you buy a SIM at Dublin Airport?

Three and Vodafone say their prepay SIMs are sold at WHSmith in Terminal 1 and from SIM machines in the terminals, and Lycamobile says airport shops and kiosks sell its SIMs and ask for your passport. Vodafone warns that plan prices may differ at the airport, so compare before you buy.

Away from the airport, Three, Vodafone, eir (71 stores), Tesco Mobile (46 shops) and Virgin Media (5 stores and Harvey Norman) sell SIMs in their shops. Lidl sells its physical SIM in its stores for €0.99, and 48 SIMs are sold in Dealz for a small fee or sent free by post. GoMo sells online only, and Clear Mobile and Sky show only online sign-up.

Do you need ID to get a SIM in Ireland?

For prepay, usually not. ComReg said in 2024 it was not minded to require prepay SIM registration, Lidl Connect says no identity check is needed at present, and 48 asks only for a name, email and password. Lycamobile may ask you to register. Bill pay plans are different: most check your ID, address and credit.

The 2024 ComReg paper is a draft: it also urged networks to stop anonymous prepay sales and to block a SIM until it is registered online, and ComReg says it will publish final guidance. Tesco Mobile asks prepay customers to sign in to its app or link a Clubcard before using their plan in the EU. For bill pay, Vodafone and Tesco Mobile ask for proof you live in Ireland, and Three, eir, Vodafone and Clear Mobile may ask for a deposit or advance payment.

Can you pay an Irish phone bill from a foreign bank account?

From a euro account in the SEPA area, yes: the Central Bank of Ireland says Irish companies may not refuse a SEPA IBAN from another country, and the CCPC handles complaints about telecoms. In practice Vodafone sets up foreign accounts only in its stores and Virgin Media needs a paper form. Prepay plans are paid by card.

• GoMo, Clear Mobile, 48 and Lidl Connect take cards only, so no IBAN is needed. 48 says it accepts Revolut; the others do not say whether foreign or online-bank cards work.
• Three charges €4.57 a month on bill pay without direct debit, and eir €2 a month; eir also needs direct debit for the first three bills and says foreign banks take longer to set up.
• The SEPA rule is about euro accounts in the SEPA area, so it does not cover an account in India, Brazil or Ukraine; ask the network what it accepts.
• If a company refuses your SEPA IBAN, the Central Bank suggests pointing to Article 9 of the SEPA Regulation, then complaining in writing, then contacting the CCPC on 01 402 5555.

Can a mobile phone bill be proof of address in Ireland?

Sometimes. The citizenship guide counts a mobile phone bill as a supporting document, and AIB and Revolut accept one. Bank of Ireland, PTSB and the NDLS, which issues driving licences, do not. The PPS number list asks for a household utility bill and does not mention phone bills. The bill must show your name and address.

• Prepay SIMs have no bill. Three staff say only bill pay customers get a bill that can serve as proof of address, and 48 says its receipts cannot include your home address.
• Tesco Mobile’s and Virgin Media’s sample bills show the account holder’s name and address; Vodafone’s shows the name.
• For citizenship, a phone bill is worth 50 points, and the guide lists using only supporting documents, such as three phone bills, as a common mistake.
• AIB wants a bill sent to your home in the last six months, plus a second proof if it is your first bill. PTSB accepts a Department of Social Protection letter confirming your PPS number instead.

What should you do in your first month?

Start on prepay so you are not tied in, then compare plans once you know your address and coverage. Moving your number to a cheaper network is free and the new network does it for you. Lidl Connect only takes Irish numbers, so you need an Irish number first if you want to move it there.

Our plan finder lists every plan by its first-year cost, the networks guide shows which mast network each brand uses and its coverage map, and the number transfer guide covers what to do if a move fails. To keep your home number working too, see keeping a number active.