Buy and deliver a travel eSIM
Use this guide to buy travel data for yourself or another person in your workspace. You need eSIM purchase permission, wallet funds, and the traveler's destinations and dates. Check the device and coverage requirements before buying.
If the traveler already has a Bird eSIM, start with compatible top-ups. A new purchase from the catalog creates a new profile.
1. Choose the destination and package
Open eSIM plans, select Purchase plan, and choose a destination. Select a data package and review its allowance, validity, speed terms, and published price.
For a trip with several destinations, check the package's covered countries against the whole itinerary, including stopovers where data is needed. A regional name does not establish that each stop is covered.
Select Continue to reach Set up your eSIM.
2. Set up the purchase
Choose One-time for a package without automatic renewal. Where Auto-renew is offered, review the recurring-package guide before choosing it.
Optionally enter a person or trip name in Name so you can find the eSIM later. If you have Contacts access, select the traveler in Person using this eSIM, or choose Assign later for a one-time purchase. Assigning a person does not send installation instructions or grant workspace access, and the assignment cannot be transferred later.
Select Review purchase. Check the covered countries, validity, included service, payment amount, and selected person. Open Identification requirements to review the details required for the covered countries. Collect required identification through your own process; Bird does not collect, verify, or store those values.
3. Confirm and follow the order
Select Purchase eSIM. Keep the resulting order ID and follow its status in Orders. A completed order identifies the eSIM and purchased package. Open that eSIM to continue setup.
If an order needs wallet funds, follow the payment instructions on its detail page. If the purchase response is interrupted or the outcome is uncertain, check the existing order before buying again. Use the purchase recovery steps for API requests.
4. Install or send setup
Open the purchased profile from eSIMs. Select Install to set up your own phone, or Send install link to deliver instructions to the traveler by email or SMS. Follow the installation guide for device setup and delivery checks.
Check when the package starts its validity before installing. Give the traveler access to the setup instructions while they still have Wi-Fi, and explain which line to select for mobile data.
5. Check data during the trip
In a covered destination, select the eSIM as the phone's data line and apply its installation instructions. Turn off Wi-Fi briefly and open a webpage to verify mobile data.
Open the eSIM's Data packages to check reported usage and expiry. Check the report time before treating a balance as current. If the traveler needs more data, use Top up on that eSIM and review the compatible package's coverage and validity before purchasing.
Troubleshooting
If the order completes but the phone has no data, check installation, the selected data line, coverage, and package validity before buying another package. Follow the service recovery guide with the existing order and eSIM IDs.
If setup instructions did not arrive, check Install link deliveries on the eSIM and confirm the intended recipient before resending. A new install link uses the existing profile; another eSIM purchase is not required to resend instructions.
Next steps
Related resources
Continue with the documentation, guides and examples for this topic.