eSIM for Bali from Australia: AUD prices, Telstra and Optus roaming, and the IMEI rules (2026)
What a Bali travel eSIM costs in AUD, what Telstra, Optus and Vodafone charge in Indonesia, Gojek and Grab without a local number, and who the IMEI rules affect.
· 9 min read
For most Australians heading to Bali, a travel eSIM is cheaper than an international day pass. 10 GB for 30 days in Indonesia costs $9.40 USD with Cabin Mode, about A$13.38, while ten days on a $5 or $10 day pass costs A$50 to A$100. Because a travel eSIM is a roaming connection and not an Indonesian SIM, the standard IMEI registration rules for local SIMs don't come into a normal holiday. Your Australian number stays active on the same iPhone for bank codes.
Below: plan prices in AUD, what Telstra, Optus and Vodafone charge in Indonesia as of September 2026, how Gojek and Grab work without an Indonesian number, and exactly who the IMEI rules apply to. For coverage across Bali, Nusa Penida and the Gilis, see the main Bali and Indonesia eSIM guide.
Indonesia eSIM prices in AUD
| Data | Valid for | Price (USD) | Approx. AUD | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $1.40 | A$1.99 | A stopover |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $3.40 | A$4.84 | A short, Wi-Fi-heavy trip |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $5.40 | A$7.69 | One week |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $9.40 | A$13.38 | Ten days to two weeks |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $16.40 | A$23.34 | Two to three weeks, or heavy use |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $34.00 | A$48.39 | A month of remote work |
Prices checked 25 September 2026 and can change. AUD figures use the 24 September 2026 reference rate and are approximate; Cabin Mode charges in the currency shown in the app. See every Indonesia plan.
Most Indonesia plans start when your iPhone first connects to a network in Indonesia, so you can install at home in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth before you fly. A few start at install; the plan listing shows which.
How much to buy
A Bali trip runs on data: Gojek or Grab for every trip, maps on the scooter, WhatsApp with your villa host, and a lot of photos. Around 1 GB a day is typical.
- A week in Seminyak or Canggu: 5 GB, or 10 GB if you'll post a lot of video.
- Ten days to two weeks, with Ubud and the Nusas: 10 GB.
- Three weeks, or working from a café: 20 GB. If you'll hotspot a laptop every day, 50 GB.
What Telstra, Optus and Vodafone charge in Indonesia
Each figure below comes from the carrier's own website, as of September 2026. They apply to postpaid plans; prepaid roaming works differently, so check your prepaid provider's page.
| Carrier | Indonesia day pass | Data per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | A$10 a day (International Day Pass, Zone 2) | 2 GB, unused data expires daily | Unlimited standard calls and SMS. Extra data 2 GB for A$10 |
| Optus | A$5 a day (Daily Roaming, Zone 1) | 5 GB for 24 hours | Unlimited standard talk and text. Another 5 GB added for A$5 if you run out. Depends on your plan: some older plans have a A$10 Roaming Pass with 1 GB |
| Vodafone | A$5 a day ($5 Roaming) | Your plan's own allowance | Up to 90 days a year. Charged only on days you call, text or use data. Not on some capped-speed plans |
What a Bali trip costs on each
Assuming you use your phone every day:
| Trip | Telstra (A$10/day) | Optus or Vodafone (A$5/day) | Cabin Mode eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | A$70 | A$35 | A$7.69 (5 GB) |
| 10 days | A$100 | A$50 | A$13.38 (10 GB) |
| 14 days | A$140 | A$70 | A$13.38 (10 GB) |
| 21 days | A$210 | A$105 | A$23.34 (20 GB) |
A worked example: a couple on Telstra spending ten days in Bali would pay A$200 between them at A$10 a day each. Two 10 GB eSIMs cost about A$26.76.
The day passes do include your Australian calls and texts, and Cabin Mode plans are data only, with no Indonesian number and no SMS. In Bali almost everything runs on WhatsApp anyway: villas, drivers, surf schools and restaurants. WhatsApp keeps your Australian number and works over the eSIM's data.
When the day pass makes sense
- A two- or three-day stopover on Optus or Vodafone, where the A$5 pass is close to the eSIM price and gives you calls too.
- You need to make a lot of ordinary calls to Australian numbers.
- Your phone is carrier-locked, or isn't an iPhone. Cabin Mode is iPhone only, on iPhone XR and later.
Keeping your Australian number for bank codes
The eSIM carries your data, and your Australian SIM stays in the phone for calls and SMS. Bank one-time codes sent to your Australian number still arrive in Bali.
The catch is the day pass. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone can charge a day pass when you use your phone overseas, and Vodafone says its A$5 applies on days you make or receive a call, send texts or use data. Check your carrier's rules on incoming SMS before relying on it, and use your bank's app approvals where you can, since those work over the eSIM's data.
Set up your iPhone before you fly:
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. How to install an eSIM on iPhone has the steps.
- When you land at Ngurah Rai, go to Settings › Mobile Service › Mobile Data (Cellular on some iPhones) and choose the travel eSIM.
- Tap the travel eSIM and turn Data Roaming on (on some iOS versions it sits under Mobile Data Options).
- Tap your Australian line and turn Data Roaming off. Leave the line on so texts arrive.
- Leave Allow Mobile Data Switching off, so your Australian line isn't used for data during calls.
Gojek and Grab without an Indonesian number
Gojek and Grab are how most visitors get around Bali, and both need a phone number to sign up. This is the part to sort out before you leave Australia.
Gojek
Gojek's own help centre is cautious about foreign numbers. It says an Indonesian or Singapore number is recommended, and if your number isn't accepted, to try a local one. It also says virtual or VoIP numbers aren't supported, and that the sign-up code arrives by SMS, with WhatsApp as an option if the SMS doesn't come.
So an Australian number may work, but it isn't guaranteed. Try to register at home before you fly, while your Australian SIM is on its home network and the SMS code arrives normally. If Gojek won't accept your number, use Grab, or buy an Indonesian SIM.
Grab
We couldn't confirm Grab's current policy on foreign numbers from its help centre. Grab does market to visitors: it sells a Tourist Pack covering Indonesia, bought on arrival, and has promoted paying with a Mastercard in Bali. Set up the app and add your card at home, and check the sign-up works with your +61 number before you fly.
Paying for rides
Both apps let you pay with a card or cash. Adding an Australian card can fail; if it does, pay the driver in rupiah. Keep some cash for this.
The IMEI rules: who they actually affect
Indonesia requires the IMEI (the phone's hardware ID) of phones brought in from abroad to be registered before they can use Indonesian mobile networks. The rules come from Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai), and they're often misreported. Here's what Bea Cukai's own FAQ says, split by situation.
Roaming with your Australian SIM
Bea Cukai's FAQ for temporary visitors, such as tourists and business travellers, says registration isn't required if the device keeps using its SIM card from its home country, which it treats as roaming. The legal basis is a 2020 communications ministry regulation.
A travel eSIM like Cabin Mode
A travel eSIM from a provider outside Indonesia connects to Indonesian networks as a roaming line, in the same way as your Australian SIM. The FAQ doesn't name travel eSIMs specifically, so we can't quote a line that covers them. But the rule is written around roaming, and a travel eSIM roams. For a normal holiday, IMEI registration isn't a step you need to take.
An Indonesian tourist SIM in your phone
This is where registration applies. Bea Cukai says a foreign tourist's phone can use an Indonesian SIM by registering it at a mobile operator's outlet, which gives network access for up to 90 days. Take your passport.
Staying longer than 90 days with a local SIM
For longer use of an Indonesian SIM, you need to register the IMEI with Bea Cukai:
- Declare the phone on arrival, before you leave the airport terminal, through the customs declaration, and fill in the IMEI form online or in the Mobile Beacukai app. Show the QR code at the arrival counter.
- You can register up to 60 days after arrival, but you lose the duty exemption if you didn't declare it at the airport. After 60 days, you can't register.
- Duty: personal goods worth up to USD 500 per person per arrival are exempt. That USD 500 covers everything you bring in, not just phones. Above it, Bea Cukai charges 10% import duty plus 12% VAT on the amount over the allowance. A phone the system values under USD 500 is registered with nothing to pay.
- Registration itself is free, and a phone registered on a previous visit doesn't need registering again.
If you're moving to Bali, not visiting, read Bea Cukai's IMEI page before you fly, as the details can change.
Bali plus somewhere else
The Indonesia plan covers Indonesia only, including Lombok, Java and Flores. If you're stopping in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur on the way, a small separate plan for that country is usually cheapest. The Southeast Asia backpacking guide compares regional plans for longer loops.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get mobile data in Bali from Australia?
For most trips, a travel eSIM. 10 GB for 30 days costs about A$13.38, compared with A$50 to A$100 for ten days on a Telstra, Optus or Vodafone day pass. Your Australian number stays active for texts.
How much does Telstra roaming cost in Bali?
As of September 2026, Telstra's International Day Pass for Indonesia (Zone 2) costs A$10 a day, with 2 GB of data and unlimited standard calls and SMS. Unused data expires at the end of each day.
Is Optus roaming in Bali $5 a day?
On plans with Optus Daily Roaming, yes: A$5 for 5 GB over 24 hours in Zone 1, which includes Indonesia. Some older or selected plans use a A$10 Roaming Pass with 1 GB instead. Check your add-ons in My Optus.
Do I need to register my IMEI in Bali if I use an eSIM?
Not for a normal holiday. Indonesian Customs says registration isn't required if the phone keeps using its home-country SIM, which counts as roaming, and a travel eSIM connects as a roaming line. Registration applies when you use an Indonesian SIM.
Can I use Gojek in Bali with an Australian number?
Possibly, but it isn't guaranteed. Gojek's help centre recommends an Indonesian or Singapore number and suggests a local number if yours isn't accepted. Try to register before you leave Australia, and have Grab or a local SIM as a backup.
Can I use Grab in Bali without an Indonesian SIM?
Grab markets to foreign visitors in Bali, including a Tourist Pack you buy on arrival. Set up the app and check your +61 number works before you fly, so the verification SMS arrives on your home network.
How much data do I need for a week in Bali?
About 5 GB for typical use: ride-hailing, maps, WhatsApp and social media. Take 10 GB if you post a lot of video or won't have reliable villa Wi-Fi.