Forum Discussion
T-Mobile starter kit activation
Hello together,
sorry for my bad english but I hope you understand my sentences.
I'm from Germany and I will travel to the USA this year. Unfortunately my german phone provider doesn't support worldwide plans why I search for alternatives. The best solution for me would be to buy a US T-Mobile prepaid starter kit. That's why I watched the following Youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lja2gynnik&t=215s
It looks for me, that you can do activate the SIM card without personal information like address, id card or something else. In germany there are very strict rules for activating of a SIM card.
Therefore my question, is it possible as non-US resident to buy on the airport a T-Mobile starter kit and activate that self?
Thank you very much for your help!
Here, we have what are called prepaid and postpaid. To have a postpaid account, you need to have a SSN as well as provide ID for a credit check. Prepaid is a service where you can add funds and you pay in advance. No ID is needed because it is a pay per use service and not a monthly billing for services used.
Hmm... now I have tired to order a Prepaid eSIM from Germany but I have a mess created.
At first I have tried for the order to create a the T-Mobile ID via browser on my PC. Unfortunately I can't complete the registration as I do not yet have a assigned T-Mobile number (please remember I want buy a eSIM first) . Then I have tried to use the T-Mobile Prepaid app at my smartphone but now my eMail address is blocked through the partly wrong website registration.
I hope you can help me with further instruction or somebody from the T-Mobile team can delete the partly created account.
Thanks for your support.
eSIM for prepaid works the same as a pSIM for prepaid. Nothing is required for ID to purchase. When paying and refilling online, payment information is required for the transaction but that's the extent of it.
Hello syaoran,
I have an additional question to you and maybe you can help me one more time.
As alternative for a SIM card I could use a eSIM. At the T-Mobile website it seems to be possible to buy a Prepaid T-Mobile eSIM also as non-US residents.
Therefore my question, is for Prepaid eSIM a registration and/or activation needed and with personal informations (address, country etc.) outside the US possible? And does this also apply to refill later?Thanks again for your help!
Yes. It's that simple. Just make sure your device is compatible with T-Mobile USA. Bands 2, 4, 12, 25, 41, 66, and 71 are the most commonly used by T-Mobile. Not all of those bands are deployed everywhere and compatible VoLTE is needed to make and receive calls. If you purchased your device from one of your local German carriers, it should work.
Hello syaoran, thank you much for your fast answer.
Only as double check for me and I hope I understand you right. I buy at the arrival in the USA a T-Mobile prepaid starter kit and can self activate the SIM without restrictions? Then I refill the prepaid account and I'm ready? Is this correct?
At the T-Mobile website there is a check for the IMEI? For what is that and could this be a problem for me? My phone is in germany not provider locked.Thanks again !
Here, we have what are called prepaid and postpaid. To have a postpaid account, you need to have a SSN as well as provide ID for a credit check. Prepaid is a service where you can add funds and you pay in advance. No ID is needed because it is a pay per use service and not a monthly billing for services used.
