How to Keep Your UK Mobile Number Abroad
There are two reliable ways to keep your UK number working when you leave the country — and the right one depends on how long you'll be away. Here's exactly how each works, what it costs, and how to choose.
How long will you be away?
Six months is the tipping point. Shorter than that, your number is safe with your UK carrier and you just need your calls to follow you. Longer, and porting is the only way to keep it safe indefinitely.
Holidays, work trips & semesters abroad
Your number stays on your UK SIM. Incoming calls are forwarded to the 7G app anywhere you have internet.
Relocating, studying or working abroad
Port your UK number to a 7G eSIM. Calls, SMS and bank 2FA keep working anywhere in the world.
Forward your calls to the 7G app
For holidays, business trips and stays of up to 6 months, there's no need to move your number anywhere. 7G's patented technology routes every incoming call to your UK number straight to the 7G app — anywhere you have Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Patented 7G technologyYour number stays put
Your UK number stays with EE, O2, Vodafone, Three or any other carrier. Nothing is ported, nothing changes.
Unlimited incoming calls
Every call to your UK number rings in the 7G app — no roaming charges, no missed calls from your bank, GP or family.
Turn it on and off yourself
Activate it in the 7G app before you fly and switch it off when you're back. It's a $1.99 add-on to any 7G travel data plan.
Good to know: The short-trip option covers incoming calls only — SMS and bank 2FA codes are not forwarded. If you need texts and bank codes while abroad, the porting option below includes them.
Set it up in the 7G app before you leave
Port your UK number to a 7G eSIM
If you're relocating, the safest home for your UK number is a 7G eSIM. Your real number — not a virtual copy — moves to 7G, so everything tied to it keeps working from any country: your bank, WhatsApp, HMRC, and everyone who already has your number.
Unlimited incoming calls & SMS
Calls and texts to your UK number arrive in the 7G app wherever you are.
Bank 2FA keeps working
Verification codes from Barclays, HSBC, Monzo, PayPal and HMRC land instantly.
Call out from your UK number
Make calls and send SMS from your own number using the 7G app dialer.
Data when you visit home
Unlimited data on visits back to the UK, subject to fair usage.
Free for 7 days · then from $7.50/month · port out anytime
How to keep your number when moving abroad
Keep your original mobile number active abroad in four simple steps — no contracts, no hassle.
Port your number
Enter your existing number in the 7G app and pick your plan. It takes about 2 minutes.
Wait 24-48h for approval
We handle the porting with your current carrier. You'll get a notification the moment it's approved.
Download the 7G app
Set up your eSIM in the app and your number goes live — no physical SIM needed.
GlobalActiveStart calling & texting
You're all set. Receive calls, SMS, and bank 2FA on your original number anywhere in the world.
GlobalActiveCompare the two options
Both keep your UK number reachable abroad — they just do it differently.
Forward calls to the app
Port your number
Best for
Holidays, work trips, semesters abroad
Relocation, long-term work or study
Your UK number
Stays with your current carrier
Moves to your 7G eSIM — still yours
Incoming calls
Unlimited, ring in the 7G app
Unlimited, ring in the 7G app
SMS & bank 2FA
Not included
Unlimited incoming SMS & 2FA
Outgoing calls & SMS
Not included
From your UK number via the app
Price
$1.99 add-on to any data plan
7-day free trial, then from $7.50/month
Setup
Instant — activate in the app before you leave
2 minutes to start; port completes in 24–48h
Forward calls to the app
Best for
Holidays, work trips, semesters abroad
Your UK number
Stays with your current carrier
Incoming calls
Unlimited, ring in the 7G app
SMS & bank 2FA
Not included
Outgoing calls & SMS
Not included
Price
$1.99 add-on to any data plan
Setup
Instant — activate in the app before you leave
Port your number
Best for
Relocation, long-term work or study
Your UK number
Moves to your 7G eSIM — still yours
Incoming calls
Unlimited, ring in the 7G app
SMS & bank 2FA
Unlimited incoming SMS & 2FA
Outgoing calls & SMS
From your UK number via the app
Price
7-day free trial, then from $7.50/month
Setup
2 minutes to start; port completes in 24–48h
Why not just use roaming?
The usual workarounds all have the same problem: they either cost too much or quietly kill your number.
Roaming on your UK SIM
Since Brexit, most UK networks charge for roaming again — typically £2–£7 per day, and far more outside Europe. On a six-month stay that's hundreds of pounds just to keep a number alive.
Leaving the SIM in a drawer
Pay-as-you-go SIMs are deactivated after months of inactivity, and the number is recycled. Many expats only discover their number is gone when a bank login fails.
Virtual numbers & VoIP apps
A virtual number isn't your number. UK banks often refuse VoIP numbers for 2FA, and every contact, account and app tied to your real number still breaks.
Want the full picture on porting? See Keep My Number or browse travel data plans for 190+ countries.
Frequently asked questions
You have two options with 7G. For trips under 6 months, keep your UK SIM and forward incoming calls to the 7G app for $1.99. For moves of 6 months or more, port your number to a 7G eSIM — calls, SMS and bank 2FA keep working worldwide from $7.50/month after a 7-day free trial.
Most UK pay-as-you-go SIMs are deactivated after around 6 months without activity, and roaming or contract fees add up long before that. For anything shorter, call forwarding is cheaper and instant; for anything longer, porting is the only way to keep your number safe indefinitely.
Nothing — it stays with your current UK carrier (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three or any other). 7G's patented technology forwards incoming calls to the app while you're away, and you switch it off when you're back.
On the short-trip option, only incoming calls are forwarded — SMS and 2FA codes are not. If you need texts and bank codes abroad, choose the porting option: unlimited incoming SMS and 2FA are included.
No. Your existing service keeps working during the transfer, which typically completes within 24–48 hours. There's no service gap.
Yes. Many customers use the $1.99 add-on for a first trip and port their number once they decide to stay abroad longer. Both are managed from the same 7G app.
Yes — 7G's Keep My Number technology is patented and proprietary. 7G is the only eSIM provider that lets you keep receiving calls on your original number while abroad without changing carriers.
Yes. If you port your number to 7G and later return to the UK, you can port it back to any carrier whenever you like. Your number always belongs to you.
Keep your UK number, wherever life takes you
Short trip or big move — your number can come with you. Setup takes minutes either way.
7-day free trial on porting plans · $1.99 short-trip add-on · Cancel anytime