Using your phone abroad

Our recommendation

Having a local phone number means easier access to local medical resources as well as meal delivery, restaurant reservations, and smoother communication with DIS students/faculty/staff, particularly during Study Tours. While we highly recommend the local plans below, you are free to choose any provider.

Semester student phone plans

DIS works with two local carriers, Greentel and Lebara, to offer convenient and affordable physical SIM and eSIM options — the vast majority of DIS students use one of these options, as other international plans can be limited and costly.

All students will receive eSIM set-up and payment instructions upon arrival in Copenhagen. Students should not try to activate this plan ahead of their term. If you need a physical SIM card, you will be able to inform DIS in your registration portal.

If your phone uses an eSIM

With local carrier Greentel, students have 50 GB of data per month, and 12 GB can be used throughout the EU. This plan also includes unlimited calls and texts to Danish numbers throughout the EU, as well as 15 hours of call time to the US or EU when in Denmark.

Cost of plan: 128 DKK ($18.50) per month

If your phone uses a physical SIM card

With local carrier Lebara, students choose a data plan ranging from 20-300 GB (with 2-8 GB that can be used throughout the EU). This plan includes unlimited texts to Danish numbers and 20-unlimited calling hours to Danish numbers (and 5 calling hours to other EU numbers). Also includes free calls to US numbers.

Cost of plan: 49-159 DKK ($7-23) per month. Most students choose the 99 DKK plan.

DIS works with local carrier Tele2, one of Sweden’s largest mobile phone companies, to offer convenient and affordable physical SIM and eSIM options — the vast majority of DIS students use Tele2, as other international plans can be limited and costly.

You’ll be prompted to sign up (or opt out) of this phone plan in your DIS registration portal after admission. You’ll receive further instructions upon your arrival in Stockholm. Students should not try to activate this plan ahead of their term.

Inclusions and cost

Unlimited data throughout the EU and beyond (read the fine print below)

Unlimited calls and texts. When you’re in Sweden, calling and texting non-Swedish numbers incurs additional charges. Outside of Sweden, you may call and text numbers within the EU and beyond without additional charges

Cost of plan: $140 (one time payment)

What type of SIM will you need?

Your phone might use a physical SIM card, an eSIM, or both.

iPhone X or earlier = only use physical SIM card
iPhone XR – iPhone 13 = use physical SIM card and/or eSIM
iPhone 14 (US models) = only use eSIM

If your phone has dual SIM capacity (iPhone XS and later), you could keep your current SIM in your phone in addition to setting up a local SIM.

Is your phone unlocked?

Please ensure your phone is unlocked before signing up for a phone plan. For iPhone iOS 14 and later, you can check if your phone is unlocked by following these steps:

Go to Settings > General and tap “About.”
Under Carrier Lock, check for a message that says, “No SIM restrictions.” This means your phone is unlocked.

You can also purchase an unlocked phone at any electronics store.

The fine print for our recommended phone plans

: Signing up for this plan is binding. You are responsible for all extra charges incurred while using this service. You are expected to monitor your usage, pay attention to all Lebara alerts received via SMS and email (which may be in Danish), and top up your account as needed.

Lebara may disconnect service at any time when you have a negative balance. Lebara will restore service to your account after your charges are settled. It is required that you settle all charges and keep your account in good standing.

Any and all customer service issues should be addressed directly to Lebara.

: Signing up for this plan is binding and there will be no refunds unless you withdraw from your DIS term 31 or more days prior to your Arrival Day. As part of signing up for the plan, DIS will provide Tele2 with your full name and email address. You are responsible for settling all charges and keeping your account in good standing. Make sure to monitor your usage and pay attention to all Tele2 alerts received via SMS and email (which may be in Swedish). Tele2 may disconnect service at any time when you have a negative balance and restore service after your charges are settled through DIS.

If you are in Sweden, there is an extra cost to call or text non-Swedish numbers. If you are in the EU (outside of Sweden), there is no extra cost to call or text EU numbers. Additionally, there are several countries outside of the EU (including the USA and UK) that students can call or text without an additional charge when outside of Sweden.

To avoid incurring any extra charges, we recommend that students text and call non-Swedish numbers using iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other chat services.

EU/EEA Countries/Territories Included:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, French West Indies, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Martinique, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czechia, Germany, Hungary.

Extended Countries/Territories Included:

Australia, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Malaysia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UK, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, USA.

Studying with DIS over the summer?

Your summer phone plan options will be based on your starting location (Copenhagen or Stockholm). Only students starting in Stockholm (either with sessions only in Stockholm or who have sessions in both locations but are starting in Stockholm) need to sign up for their phone plan and pay in advance.

: Students who are studying only in Copenhagen (or have summer sessions in both locations but are starting in Copenhagen) can choose between two local carriers depending on whether they’ll need an eSIM or physical SIM card.

You do not need to sign up (or pay for) these plans in advance. You will be provided with instructions on setting up both options in your arrival packet.

If your phone uses an eSIM

With local carrier Greentel, students have 40 GB of data per month, and 12 GB can be used throughout the EU. This plan also includes unlimited calls and texts to Danish numbers throughout the EU.

Cost of plan: 99 DKK ($14) per month

If your phone uses a physical SIM card

With local carrier Lebara, students choose a data plan ranging from 20-300 GB (with 2-8 GB that can be used throughout the EU). This plan includes unlimited texts to Danish numbers and and 20-unlimited calling hours to Danish numbers (and 5 calling hours to other EU numbers). Also includes free calls to US numbers.

Cost of plan: 49-159 DKK ($7-23) per month. Most students choose the 99 DKK plan.

: Students who are studying only in Stockholm (or have summer sessions in both locations but are starting in Stockholm) have the option to sign up for Tele2, a local carrier with both eSIM and physical SIM card options.

You need to sign up in advance and submit payment in your Registration to use Tele2. By doing so, you’ll receive instructions in your DIS arrival packet to set up your new SIM and activate your account.

With Tele2, students have unlimited data that can be used throughout the EU. This plan also includes unlimited calls and texts to Swedish numbers throughout the EU.

Cost of plan: $50 (one time payment regardless of number of sessions)

Have questions?

If you have questions while in Scandinavia and using your new phone plan, visit our Student Hub or call the local carrier to speak with their customer service.