How to Get a SIM Card in China: The 2026 Guide

Choose local SIM or travel eSIM first

A mainland SIM gives you the +86 number needed by many deliveries, appointments and local accounts. A travel eSIM can provide data immediately and may route traffic through an overseas roaming partner, but many products are data-only and cannot receive ordinary Chinese calls or SMS. Long-term residents usually need a real local number even if they keep an eSIM for arrival.

What official guidance confirms

National and city government guidance says foreigners can take a passport or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to service outlets of major operators to apply. The mainland now has four major providers—China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and China Broadnet—although foreign-passport handling and useful retail plans can differ by outlet.

Check the phone before the plan

Confirm that the device is carrier-unlocked, supports the physical SIM size or relevant eSIM mode and has frequency bands compatible with the chosen network. Some phones made for overseas markets work well but may lack specific bands; some mainland-market phones do not support eSIM. Ask the official outlet to test service rather than trusting a model-family name alone.

• Exact phone model and sales region
• Carrier lock status
• Physical SIM slots and active eSIM support
• 4G/5G frequency compatibility
• Ability to run two lines simultaneously

Choose by real coverage

Ask people who use the same building, office and commute. Citywide reputation matters less than indoor signal where you spend time. If rural travel or frequent intercity work matters, verify those routes before selecting only on a cheap urban plan.

Go to a directly operated service hall

Use an official carrier hall or designated airport counter that can process passports. Beijing’s official guide lists China Mobile 10086, China Unicom 10010 and China Telecom 10000 for locating and confirming an outlet.

• Bring the original valid passport—not only a screenshot
• Call ahead if the outlet is small or suburban
• Use a translation app or prepared Chinese questions
• Bring the phone and a payment backup
• Allow time for identity verification and testing

Ask the six plan questions

Do not compare only the headline monthly fee.

Activate and test before leaving

Insert the SIM, restart the phone and test mobile data, an outgoing call, an incoming ordinary SMS and the carrier balance or account route. If you need bank or platform verification, a normal SMS test does not guarantee every short code will work, but it confirms basic service. Save the number, plan name, billing date, service password or PIN, receipt and packaging.

Set up dual-SIM intentionally

Label the lines, select which SIM handles data, calls and SMS, and disable expensive data roaming on the home line. Keep the home number active when banks or overseas accounts still send codes there.

Know what a local number unlocks

A +86 mobile number is commonly used for courier calls, hospital appointments, restaurant queues, government and transport mini programs, bank contact and account recovery. A data-only travel eSIM cannot replace those functions. When an app rejects a foreign number, obtain a legitimate local line rather than borrowing someone else’s identity-linked number.

Short-term options vary by city

Shanghai has previously published 7-, 15- and 30-day China Telecom products for foreign visitors, while Beijing has promoted airport counters and short-term China Unicom options. Treat published examples as local availability, not nationwide fixed pricing.

English-friendly alternative

Shanghai’s official portal documents Nihao Mobile, an English-friendly service with app ordering, delivery and passport-based activation. Availability and plan value should still be compared with the three main operators.

Understand billing and top-up

Ask whether the first bill is prorated, when the monthly allowance resets, whether unused data rolls over and what happens when balance is low. Set a reliable top-up route in the official carrier app, Alipay or WeChat, but keep the account number and carrier hotline available if app login fails. Avoid adding unexplained value-added services or “free trials” that become recurring charges.

Cancel deliberately before leaving

A prepaid balance reaching zero does not always equal formal cancellation. Ask whether the plan has a minimum term, whether cancellation must be done at a specific home-region outlet, what original document is required and how remaining balance or contract penalties are handled. Update banks, payments and two-factor authentication before closing the number.

Protect the number long term

Your +86 number becomes an identity key for payments, deliveries and accounts. Keep it topped up, secure the carrier account and never let anyone register or borrow a number under your passport. If a phone or SIM is lost, contact the carrier promptly and bring your passport to an official outlet for replacement or account protection.

Troubleshooting checklist

If service fails, confirm the phone is unlocked, restart it, verify the active data SIM and network selection, and check the plan balance. For account or registration problems, return to an official hall with the passport rather than paying an unofficial fixer.