I recently changed to an iPhone that supports eSIM, so I plan to keep only the mainland China mobile phone number as a physical card, and change other number preservation cards and travel cards to eSIM. I have held the physical card of CMHK for 5 years and it is not very useful, so I want to change it to Club SIM’s eSIM to preserve the number, so I wrote this tutorial based on my personal experience.
The article introduces 3 steps
- Register a Club SIM account and complete the real-name system
- Purchase a package in the app and apply for eSIM
- Transfer a card number from another operator to replace the existing eSIM number
If you want to apply for a Club SIM eSIM number, just check steps 1-2. The first card purchase fee is about HKD 50, and the minimum number preservation fee is HKD 6/year.
If you want to transfer your original Hong Kong number, please refer to steps 1-3. The first card purchase fee is about HK$50, the minimum transfer fee is HK$58, and the number preservation fee is the same.
1. Register for a Club SIM account and complete real-name authentication
Download the Club SIM app from the App Store and log in. Complete the real-name authentication first and then buy the number.
2. Apply for eSIM
2.1 Purchase and pay for packages
Click to buy the package directly. Please note that the minimum consumption for opening the card is 50 Hong Kong dollars. If you need to use data in mainland China, you can buy a mainland data package; if you just want to buy a number card and do not need data, the lowest price is to buy 3 PASS packages of 15 Hong Kong dollars + 6 Hong Kong dollars for SMS service, with a total price of 51 Hong Kong dollars. Payment only supports Visa or Mastercard credit cards, and single-label cards issued in mainland China are acceptable. After the purchase is completed, you will receive an email with a QR code.
Many netizens pointed out that there is no need to collect 51 Hong Kong dollars. You can directly purchase 50 Hong Kong dollars of App Store Gift Card, which can be used for consumption in the App Store or Google Play. If you have a Hong Kong account, you can give priority to purchasing this.
2.2 Scan QR code to activate
Open the iPhone’s settings, and in the Cellular Network – Add eSIM option, scan the QR code in the email to activate. Please make sure there is a Wi-Fi network during activation. Activation takes about 5 minutes. It can also be successfully activated in non-Hong Kong areas. If the activation time is too long, the iPhone will automatically enter the background activation. When you see the signal bar appear, it means that the activation is successful.
2.3 Real-name authentication number
After activation is complete, you will receive a text message asking for real-name authentication. Click the link in the text message to authenticate. This step is to authenticate the number card, which is different from the first step of Club SIM account authentication. The information filled in during account authentication will be automatically filled in, and there is no need to fill it in again, just click OK. Real-name authentication takes about 2-5 minutes, and then the real-name mobile phone number and package information will appear in the Club SIM app.
At this point, the new eSIM application is complete. You can receive text messages in mainland China, but you cannot make calls or send text messages. You can keep your number for 365 days by making any purchase. The cheapest package in the mall is currently 6 Hong Kong dollars, so 6 Hong Kong dollars can keep your number for 1 year.
3. Transfer to another operator card number to replace the existing eSIM number
Because I have used my previous CMHK number for 5 years and I am reluctant to change it, I chose to transfer to Club SIM to replace the eSIM number I just applied for. To transfer, you need to choose to buy a package with a minimum price of HK$58. Then fill in the real-name authentication information of the original number and follow the process. It takes about 10 working days to process.
4. Notes
About iPhones that support eSIM
Note: iPhones issued in mainland China do not support eSIM. Only a few models such as iPhone 12 mini and iPhone SE 2 in Hong Kong and Macau support eSIM. If you need to buy an iPhone that supports eSIM, it is recommended to consider the Japanese SIM Free version of iPhone (non-carrier contract phone), which can take photos without shutter sounds in non-Japanese areas. Japan Apple Store no longer supports duty-free, and you need to go to Yodobashi, BIC Camera and other electrical appliance cities to buy duty-free iPhones.
Functions of eSIM
eSIM is suitable for adding a number preservation card or a travel card to a mobile phone, supporting up to 8 cards, which can be used at any time without frequent card changes. At the same time, most overseas operators already support eSIM, which is convenient to apply for.
About using overseas mobile phone numbers to surf the Internet anonymously
After a mobile phone number outside China is connected to a domestic base station, domestic operators can obtain the mobile phone number and location. During the epidemic, community grid workers have the authority to obtain overseas mobile phone numbers to contact users directly. Therefore, even if the mobile phone number is not real-name registered, using an overseas mobile phone number in the mainland cannot achieve any form of anonymity.