{"id":422954,"date":"2026-02-02T08:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T07:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/?p=422954"},"modified":"2026-02-11T14:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:50:51","slug":"phone-plans-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/phone-plans-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get a phone number in Australia (with Working Holiday Visa)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Australia, it is important to have a local phone number for things like applying to jobs<\/a> and opening a bank account<\/a>. And in this day and age, cellular data is also essential not just to travel, but even daily life. <\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll tell you about mobile phone offers in Australia and how you can get connected while staying within budget.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWant to live and work in Australia for up to three years? Learn more about the Working Holiday Visa<\/a>!\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

Contents<\/h2>\n
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  1. Phone plans in Australia<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. A closer look at prepaid<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Choosing a carrier<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. How to get an Australian SIM<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Holafly: eSIM for international roaming<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. What to do about your phone plan from home<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Internet access and coverage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. Phone plans in Australia<\/h2>\n

    There are three main types of phone plans in Australia: <\/p>\n

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    1. Prepaid<\/strong>. You top up your account up front with a certain number of dollars and the operator deducts from your balance based on your actual usage (of data, minutes, and texts). When your balance is low, you top up again. <\/li>\n
    2. Postpaid without commitment<\/strong> (i.e. month to month). You select a package and pay the same amount every month. There is no fixed commitment, so you can end it at any time. <\/li>\n
    3. Postpaid with commitment<\/strong> (i.e. with contract). You select a package and sign a contract for 12 or 24 months. You pay the same amount every month. As a perk, the contract usually comes with a brand new device. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The most popular option for working holiday makers is number 1: prepaid. This is because it offers maximum flexibility and you pay for exactly what you use. There\u2019s no monthly bill to deal with either, since charges are deducted automatically from your top up balance. <\/p>\n

      Option 2 (postpaid without commitment) is also a good choice as well if you consume a lot of data. You\u2019ll just need to make sure you pay the recurring bills on time and to notify the operator before permanently leaving Australia. However, more paperwork will be required during registration compared to prepaid, especially as a Working Holiday Visa holder. <\/p>\n

      2. A closer look at prepaid<\/h2>\n

      Most working holiday makers opt for prepaid SIM cards, as they are a practical way to adapt spending to lifestyle:<\/p>\n