How to get connected from day one - PAYG, SIM-only deals, international calls to Nepal, and what to know about contracts.
Getting a working UK number is one of the very first things to sort when you arrive - you will need it for banks, employers, NHS registration, and staying in touch. The good news is that you do not need to sign a long contract to get affordable, reliable mobile service.
Avoid contracts when you first arrive
Monthly phone contracts (where you get a handset included) typically require a credit check and a UK bank account with a track record. As a new arrival, you are very likely to be rejected even if you are financially stable, simply because you have no UK credit history. Do not be discouraged - there are much better options available without a credit check.
Pay As You Go (PAYG)
A PAYG SIM is the easiest option on arrival. You buy credit and use it as you go - no contract, no credit check, no direct debit. Pick up a SIM - often free, or for a nominal amount - from a supermarket, newsagent, or phone shop as soon as you land. Top up by card, cash, or app. PAYG rates per minute and per MB of data can be higher than a monthly plan, so it is best treated as a short-term solution while you get settled.
SIM-only monthly plans (the sweet spot)
Once you have a UK bank account (even a basic one), a SIM-only rolling monthly plan is usually the best value. You keep your own handset, pay monthly by direct debit, and a rolling plan can usually be cancelled with 30 days’ notice. Because no handset is being financed, these are far easier to be accepted for than a handset contract, although some providers still run a credit check. These plans typically offer large data allowances, unlimited calls and texts, for a competitive monthly fee - check comparison sites for current prices as deals change frequently.
Cheap calls to Nepal
Standard UK SIMs charge high rates for international calls. To call Nepal cheaply, look for plans that include international minutes, or use an add-on. Alternatively, many in the community simply use WhatsApp, Viber, or Facebook Messenger over Wi-Fi or data for calls home - these are free and the quality is usually good. Some networks offer bolt-on international call packs; compare the per-minute rate to Nepal before buying.
eSIM: get connected before you land
If your phone supports eSIM (most modern smartphones do), you can buy a UK eSIM online before you even travel and activate it the moment you arrive. This is useful for getting data immediately at the airport without hunting for a physical SIM. Several providers offer eSIM-only plans; search for “UK eSIM” to compare options.
Keeping your number
If you switch networks later and want to keep your UK number, text PAC to 65075 from the phone you are switching. Your current provider must send your PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) back by text within one minute, and the code stays valid for 30 days. Give it to your new provider and they must complete the switch within one working day. If you do not want to keep your number, text STAC to 75075 instead. These are Ofcom rules that every provider has to follow - see Ofcom on switching mobile provider.
Which network to choose?
There are three mobile networks in the UK: EE, VodafoneThree - which sells under both the Vodafone and Three brands, the two having merged on 31 May 2025 - and Virgin Media O2, which sells under the O2 brand. Many budget “virtual” operators (MVNOs) run on top of these networks and often offer cheaper deals with the same coverage. Coverage varies by area - check the network’s coverage map for your home address and workplace before committing. Asking friends and the Nepali community in your city is often the fastest way to find out which network has the best signal locally.
Prices and deals change often. Use a comparison site to find the latest SIM-only or PAYG offers for your budget and data needs.
चालू बेलायती फोन नम्बर पाउनु आइपुगेपछि सबैभन्दा पहिले मिलाउनुपर्ने कुरामध्ये एक हो — बैंक, रोजगारदाता, NHS दर्ता, र सम्पर्कमा रहन तपाईंलाई यो चाहिन्छ। राम्रो कुरा के भने, किफायती र भरपर्दो मोबाइल सेवा पाउन तपाईंले लामो contract गर्नुपर्दैन।
सुरुमा contract बाट टाढै रहनुहोस्
मासिक फोन contract (जहाँ ह्यान्डसेट समावेश हुन्छ) मा सामान्यतया credit check र इतिहास भएको बेलायती बैंक खाता चाहिन्छ। नयाँ आगन्तुकका रूपमा, तपाईं आर्थिक रूपमा सबल भए पनि, बेलायती क्रेडिट इतिहास नभएकै कारण अस्वीकृत हुने सम्भावना धेरै हुन्छ। निरुत्साहित नहुनुहोस् — credit check बिनाका धेरै राम्रा विकल्पहरू उपलब्ध छन्।
Pay As You Go (PAYG)
आइपुग्दा PAYG SIM सबैभन्दा सजिलो विकल्प हो। तपाईं credit किनेर आवश्यकताअनुसार प्रयोग गर्नुहुन्छ — कुनै contract छैन, credit check छैन, direct debit छैन। आइपुग्नासाथ सुपरमार्केट, newsagent, वा फोन पसलबाट SIM लिनुहोस् — प्रायः निःशुल्क, वा नाममात्रको रकममा। कार्ड, नगद, वा एपबाट top up गर्नुहोस्। PAYG को प्रतिमिनेट र प्रति MB डाटा दर मासिक योजनाभन्दा महँगो हुन सक्ने भएकाले, बसोबास नमिलुन्जेल यसलाई अल्पकालीन समाधानका रूपमा लिनु राम्रो हुन्छ।
SIM-only मासिक योजना (उत्तम विकल्प)
तपाईंसँग बेलायती बैंक खाता (basic भए पनि) भएपछि, SIM-only rolling मासिक योजना सामान्यतया सबैभन्दा फाइदाजनक हुन्छ। तपाईं आफ्नै ह्यान्डसेट राख्नुहुन्छ, direct debit बाट मासिक तिर्नुहुन्छ, र rolling योजना सामान्यतया ३० दिनको सूचनामा रद्द गर्न सकिन्छ। ह्यान्डसेटको किस्ता नहुने भएकाले ह्यान्डसेट contract भन्दा यी स्वीकृत हुन धेरै सजिलो हुन्छ, तैपनि केही प्रदायकले credit check गर्छन्। यी योजनाले प्रायः ठूलो डाटा, असीमित कल र text प्रतिस्पर्धी मासिक शुल्कमा दिन्छन् — सम्झौताहरू बारम्बार परिवर्तन हुने भएकाले वर्तमान मूल्यका लागि comparison साइट जाँच्नुहोस्।
नेपालमा सस्तो कल
मानक बेलायती SIM ले अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय कलमा उच्च दर लिन्छ। नेपालमा सस्तोमा कल गर्न, अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मिनेट समावेश गर्ने योजना खोज्नुहोस्, वा add-on प्रयोग गर्नुहोस्। वैकल्पिक रूपमा, समुदायका धेरैले घरमा कलका लागि Wi-Fi वा डाटामार्फत WhatsApp, Viber, वा Facebook Messenger नै प्रयोग गर्छन् — यी निःशुल्क हुन् र गुणस्तर प्रायः राम्रो हुन्छ। केही networkले bolt-on अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय कल pack दिन्छन्; किन्नुअघि नेपालको प्रतिमिनेट दर तुलना गर्नुहोस्।
eSIM: आइपुग्नुअघि नै जोडिनुहोस्
तपाईंको फोनले eSIM समर्थन गर्छ भने (अधिकांश आधुनिक स्मार्टफोनले गर्छन्), तपाईं यात्रा गर्नुअघि नै बेलायती eSIM अनलाइन किन्न र आइपुग्ने बित्तिकै सक्रिय गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। भौतिक SIM नखोजी विमानस्थलमै तुरुन्तै डाटा पाउन यो उपयोगी हुन्छ। धेरै प्रदायकले eSIM-only योजना दिन्छन्; विकल्प तुलना गर्न “UK eSIM” खोज्नुहोस्।
आफ्नो नम्बर राख्ने
पछि तपाईं network फेर्नुहुन्छ र आफ्नो बेलायती नम्बर राख्न चाहनुहुन्छ भने, जुन फोन फेर्दै हुनुहुन्छ त्यहीँबाट 65075 मा PAC लेखेर text पठाउनुहोस्। तपाईंको वर्तमान प्रदायकले एक मिनेटभित्र PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) text मार्फत पठाउनैपर्छ, र त्यो code ३० दिनसम्म मान्य रहन्छ। त्यो आफ्नो नयाँ प्रदायकलाई दिनुहोस् र उनीहरूले एक कार्य दिनभित्र switch पूरा गर्नैपर्छ। नम्बर राख्न चाहनुहुन्न भने, 75075 मा STAC लेखेर पठाउनुहोस्। यी Ofcom का नियम हुन् जुन हरेक प्रदायकले पालना गर्नैपर्छ — हेर्नुहोस् Ofcomको mobile provider switch गर्नेबारे पृष्ठ।
कुन network रोज्ने?
बेलायतमा तीन वटा mobile network छन्: EE, VodafoneThree — जसले Vodafone र Three दुवै brand मा बिक्री गर्छ, यी दुई ३१ मे २०२५ मा मर्ज भएका हुन् — र Virgin Media O2, जसले O2 brand मा बिक्री गर्छ। धेरै budget “virtual” अपरेटर (MVNO) यिनै network मा चल्छन् र प्रायः उही coverage सँग सस्तो सम्झौता दिन्छन्। coverage क्षेत्रअनुसार फरक हुन्छ — प्रतिबद्ध हुनुअघि आफ्नो घर र कार्यस्थलका लागि network को coverage नक्सा जाँच्नुहोस्। आफ्नो सहरका साथी र नेपाली समुदायलाई सोध्नु प्रायः स्थानीय रूपमा कुन network को signal राम्रो छ भनेर थाहा पाउने सबैभन्दा छिटो उपाय हो।
मूल्य र सम्झौता प्रायः परिवर्तन हुन्छन्। आफ्नो बजेट र डाटा आवश्यकताका लागि नवीनतम SIM-only वा PAYG सम्झौता खोज्न comparison साइट प्रयोग गर्नुहोस्।
