Travel eSIM on an iPad or Apple Watch: what works

Most people install a travel eSIM on their phone, but an iPad or a cellular Apple Watch raises the same question: can it have its own data overseas? The answer is different for each, and it decides how many eSIMs you need to buy.

Short answer

• iPad: yes, if it is a Wi-Fi + Cellular model that supports eSIM. A Wi-Fi-only iPad cannot take an eSIM; connect it to your phone's hotspot instead.
• Apple Watch: no. Apple says the watch and its paired iPhone must use the same service provider, so a travel eSIM cannot be added to the watch. It can still use your iPhone's connection when the phone is nearby.
• One QR code, one device. Each Telroo order is delivered with its QR code by email. Decide which device it goes on before you scan it.

iPad: which models support eSIM

Apple's list of iPads that support eSIM is made up of Wi-Fi + Cellular models, across iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad and iPad mini. Apple also notes that iPad (A16), iPad Pro (M4), iPad Air (M2) and iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular models and later are activated with an eSIM and do not have a physical SIM card at all. To check yours, compare your model with Apple's list (linked below), which also links to Apple's guide to finding out which iPad model you have. The iPad must also not be locked to an Australian carrier: see unlocking a device from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.

Setting up a travel eSIM on an iPad

Telroo plans are data-only, which suits an iPad. Apple lists scanning a QR code as one way to add an eSIM plan on iPad: with iPadOS 17.4 or later you can scan the QR code with the Camera and tap Add eSIM when prompted. The plan then appears under Settings › Mobile Data, where you choose it for data when you arrive. As on a phone, install on reliable Wi-Fi and follow the plan's activation instructions. The installation guide and troubleshooting checklist apply to iPad too.

Apple Watch: what happens overseas

Apple says a cellular Apple Watch must use the same service provider as the iPhone it is paired with, so international roaming on the watch comes from your Australian provider, not from a travel eSIM. Apple says international roaming is available on cellular Apple Watch Series 5 and later, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra with watchOS 9.1 or later, that your provider must support it, and that coverage in other countries is set by your provider. Apple also notes that cellular watches come in regional models, with no single worldwide model.

Your watch can still be useful without roaming. Apple says the watch connects through the most power-efficient option available: your nearby iPhone, a known Wi-Fi network or cellular. With your iPhone nearby and its data on the travel eSIM, notifications and messages can reach the watch through the phone. Leave your Australian line's data roaming off if you want to avoid your carrier's roaming charges.

Phone, iPad or both?

• One device online is enough: put the eSIM on your phone and turn on its hotspot when the iPad needs data. Both devices then share one allowance.
• iPad used on its own a lot, for example by another family member: a second plan installed on the iPad keeps the two allowances separate.
• To size the allowance, see how much travel data you need. Tablets stream video at larger sizes, so they use more.

iPad and Apple Watch questions

Can I install the same travel eSIM on my phone and my iPad?

No. Install it on one device. Telroo's refund guide notes that a profile may be single-use and may not transfer between devices, so choose before you scan.

Does a Wi-Fi-only iPad work with a travel eSIM?

No. Only Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads have mobile data hardware. Use your phone's hotspot or Wi-Fi instead.

Will my Apple Watch work overseas without roaming?

It can use your iPhone's connection while the phone is nearby, or a Wi-Fi network it knows. Standalone cellular use away from the phone needs roaming from your Australian provider.

What about other smartwatches?

This page covers what Apple documents. For other cellular smartwatches, check the watch maker's and your carrier's help pages before you travel.

Sources and last checked

Checked 16 October 2026: Apple, set up eSIM on iPad, use eSIM while travelling internationally with your iPad and set up mobile service on Apple Watch. Telroo delivery details from our product pages and refund guide.