Forum Discussion
Moving abroad outside the EU- would like to keep my sim
Hi, I'm moving to new Zealand for 1.5 years and would like to keep my UK Smarty sim for 2FA and also just to have my UK number when I move back. Is there a way to keep my sim and number and potentially jsut top up every few months or send a text? So I will not be back in the UK for 1.5 years to send a text or use data. Can I do this all whilst being in NZ?
Thanks in advance for the help!!
5 Replies
GeorgeP_1626885 Good tips from MSF and StevenP. I had a thought in regards to roaming with that SIM - I would be careful about the terms and conditions which mention permanent roaming restrictions - if they deem you to have spent 60 or more consecutive days abroad, Smarty may suspend all services on your account. This is the same in the EU and outside it. This is their fair usage policy for roaming, so likely they will monitor your traffic/location whilst you have an active plan, and if you are using those minutes/texts from somewhere other than the UK etc
Ofc if you're not planning to use the SIM actively, then you'll probably be alright.
Yeah I guess if its being actively used then it might trigger something in their system. Incase the SIM is only 'online' here and there then I guess its not warranting anything suspicious on their end 👀
The easiest way to do what you want is to pause your plan so it doesn't update.
You'll then need to add a new plan before 180 day have passed; you should get an email and/or text/SMS before the 180 days.
So three, perhaps four plans (choose the cheapest one), one towards the end of each 180 days, should probably keep you covered, maintaining your Smarty number.
GeorgeP_1626885 If a sim is not used for 180 days, it is deactivated and the number is lost.
If you ensure that you buy at least the minimum plan every six months, then you should be able to keep the sim active and retain the number.
Once you buy a plan, you won't be able to make any calls as you will be in NZ.
For 2FA, you will need a plan as far as I can see, so I'm not sure that you can always have it ready unless you buy a plan EVERY month - the minimum will do. Another point to consider is that 2FA does not always work in another country - we have herd this from members before.
In summary, I think you may be best just buying the Smarty plan every 6 months to retain the number (as I said above), but would be better off getting a local sim for use in NZ so that you can definitely receive 2FA text messages (assuming the accounts needing 2FA are in NZ anyway?)
Not sure if anyone else will have a better solution.
