Every Australian SIM must be registered with a valid international passport. Optus Flex Plus (45 GB / 39 AUD) offers the best value in cities; Telstra (44 AUD) is essential for the Outback thanks to unmatched coverage.
- Every Australian SIM is registered in your name, and the only document a foreign tourist can use is a valid international passport - foreign ID cards and driving licences are not recognized.
- Optus Flex Plus is the best value in the cities: 45 GB for 39 AUD over 28 days, sold at airport kiosks, branded stores and supermarkets.
- For the Outback, national parks or long interstate drives, Telstra is not optional at 44 AUD for 28 days. Its geographic coverage is unmatched and becomes a safety factor.
- Activation takes 15 minutes to 2 hours after you hand over the details, so buy the SIM on arrival rather than on the way somewhere.
- Sydney T1 arrivals has full Optus and Vodafone stores just past customs near Exit A and Exit B; Melbourne has operator kiosks in T2 arrivals and beside T1 and T3.
SIM and eSIM: what to buy immediately after arrival
Activate an eSIM such as Saily before departure if your phone takes one. Being connected within the first 24 hours matters for navigation and for reaching your accommodation, and a digital profile puts you online the moment you switch off flight mode, with no store to find. If your phone does not support eSIM, buy a physical SIM.
One rule cannot be bypassed: every SIM is registered in your name.
- The only accepted document for a foreign tourist is a valid international passport. Foreign ID cards and driving licences are not recognized.
- Online, the passport is scanned via webcam or the operator's app; in store, staff handle it.
- Activation takes 15 minutes to 2 hours from submitting the details.
Comparison table
Overview of the main Australian mobile operators and their prepaid tourist packages, with prices and parameters checked in August 2026. Prepaid pricing here moves several times a year, so treat the figures as the shape of the market rather than a quote:
| Operator | Tourist package | Price | Data | Validity | Where to buy | Passport registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Pre-Paid Mobile Plan | 44 AUD | 20 GB (Telstra runs rotating bonus-data promotions on this plan; check what is live the week you buy) | 28 days | Branded stores, airports, selected chains, online | Yes, no exceptions (valid international passport only) |
| Optus | Flex Plus Prepaid SIM | 39 AUD | 45 GB (standard 25 GB from the 4th recharge) | 28 days | Airport kiosks, branded stores, supermarkets | Yes, no exceptions (passport scan online/in store) |
| Vodafone | Prepaid Plus Starter Pack | 40 AUD | 30 GB (standard after the 15 Apr 2026 price rise) | 28 days | Airport kiosks, branded stores, online | Yes, no exceptions (ID check via web/app) |
Where exactly to buy
- Sydney Airport (SYD) - large official Optus and Vodafone stores in the arrivals hall of international terminal T1, right after the customs zone near Exit A and Exit B. Staff are trained to register foreign passports and finish activation on the spot.
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) - official operator kiosks in the arrivals areas of international terminal T2 and next to domestic terminals T1 and T3.
- City stores and CBD - dozens of branded stores from all three operators in both centres (George Street in Sydney, Bourke Street in Melbourne), typically open 9:00–17:30.
- Retail chains - a Starter Kit from Coles, Woolworths, 7-Eleven or a petrol station is usually 2 AUD, but you then register the passport and buy the data pack yourself through the operator's web interface.
Brief verdict
- Cities and busy routes such as the East Coast: Optus, on the best price-to-data ratio - 45 GB for 39 AUD.
- The Outback, national parks or long interstate drives: Telstra, and it is not optional. Its geographic coverage is unmatched and becomes a safety factor in emergencies away from civilization.
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