SIM cards and mobile data

Who this is for

Tourists and business visitors who need a stable connection in Georgia from day one.

Also people living here for months who need a local number for everyday life.

Our role

We help you check the phone, choose a package, talk to the shop and activate the number.

You pay the operator directly, and we never hold your money. We take no commission from operators, and our fee is agreed in advance.

Why a local number

With a local number, taxi apps, delivery services and restaurant bookings work without trouble.

Locals are more willing to call a local number.

And data is far cheaper than roaming, and often faster.

Roaming or local

In some countries your operator has a good roaming deal for Georgia, so check before you travel.

In most cases roaming data is expensive, and on a longer trip a local number is better.

For a visit of a day or two, roaming is sometimes enough.

Operators

Georgia has three main mobile operators, and all three give good coverage in the cities.

The differences are often in mountain regions and in the terms of particular packages.

We recommend an operator based on your route, not in favour of any company.

Coverage in cities

Fast mobile data is normal in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and other large cities.

On main roads the connection is mostly stable, though it can drop in tunnels and gorges.

In the metro coverage works only in part, and you allow for that.

Coverage in the mountains

In high mountain villages, especially in remote valleys, the signal is weak or absent.

On a hike the most reliable tools are an offline map and a route downloaded in advance.

Before heading into the mountains, tell your family or us when to expect your next message.

Unlocking your phone

Some phones are locked to the home operator and will not accept another SIM card.

Check this before the trip: ask your operator or try a friend's SIM.

A locked phone cannot be unlocked on the spot, so this step matters.

Two SIMs in one phone

Many phones have two SIM slots, or one physical SIM and one eSIM.

That way your home number stays on while data comes from the local number.

Turn off mobile data on the home number so you do not get a roaming bill.

eSIM

An eSIM is an electronic card added to the phone by QR code or an app.

Local operators often offer an eSIM, though registration still requires a passport.

First check that your phone model supports eSIM.

International eSIM

Some guests buy an international eSIM online before arriving.

That gives you data as soon as you land, though not a local number.

A local number is still useful for taxi and delivery apps and for calls.

Where to buy

You buy a SIM card at an operator's shop, in some shopping centres and at the airport.

In an official shop the number is registered in your name and activated straight away.

A random street seller may sell you a SIM registered to someone else, so avoid that.

Buying at the airport

In the arrivals hall at Tbilisi airport, operator kiosks are as a rule open.

After a night flight some kiosks may be closed, and then you buy in town.

So for a night arrival we plan ahead for hotel Wi-Fi or an international eSIM.

The operator's shop

A shop in town usually has more packages, and staff have more time.

Many shops have staff who speak English or Russian, though not all.

If you like, we go with you to the shop or translate by phone.

Passport and registration

The operator as a rule registers a mobile number with a passport.

Bring the original passport to the shop; a copy or photo is often not accepted.

Registration takes a few minutes, and the number works right away.

A number in your name

The number is registered to the person whose passport was presented.

So it is not worth handing your number to someone else or using someone else's.

We do not buy a SIM for you in our name or anyone else's.

Number format

Georgia's country code is +995, and mobile numbers start with a five.

When calling from abroad you dial the code and the nine-digit number.

Send your new number to us and your hotel straight away so we can reach you.

Choosing a package

Operators offer travellers packages for several days or a month.

We choose the package by the length of your trip and how much data you use.

We do not suggest an oversized package if there is no need for it.

How much data

Maps, messengers and taxis use little data a day.

Video calls, uploading photos to the cloud and streaming use a lot.

Set photo backup to Wi-Fi only so the package does not run out quickly.

Local calls

Calls to local numbers are part of the package or charged separately, and we check this when buying.

Calling a restaurant, guide or driver is simpler with a local number.

Many locals are also happy to take a call through a messenger.

International calls

Calls abroad from a local number are often expensive.

Calling home through a messenger over data is simplest and cheapest.

If you need frequent international calls, we look for a suitable package separately.

Texts and codes

Many local apps and services send a text code when you register.

Taxi, delivery and some banking apps often require a local number.

Never pass a code from an unknown number to anyone, even if they claim to be the operator or a bank.

Bank codes and your home number

Your home bank often sends a text code to your home number to confirm a payment.

If you remove your home SIM, those codes stop arriving and card payments can get stuck.

So keep your home number on in a dual-SIM phone or switch to confirmation in your bank's app.

Messengers on a new number

A messenger set up with your home number usually keeps working after you swap SIMs.

You do not need to change the number in the messenger unless you want to.

Give your new local number only to those who need to reach you here.

Activation

Before leaving the shop, check that data and calls work.

If data does not come on, restarting the phone is often enough.

If there is a problem we ask the staff on the spot, not after returning to the hotel.

Data settings

Modern phones usually pick up mobile data settings automatically.

Sometimes you have to type in the access point name by hand, which you do at the shop or with us.

Mobile data and data roaming must be switched on for the right SIM.

Checking your balance

You check the balance and remaining allowance with a short code, a text or the operator's app.

The operator often sends a message before the package runs out, though in Georgian.

We are always happy to translate the message for you.

Topping up at a terminal

Payment terminals are on almost every corner in Georgia: in shops, the metro and on the street.

At the terminal you choose the operator, number and amount, and pay by cash or card.

Keep the receipt until the amount shows on your balance.

Topping up by app

Topping up through the operator's app or a banking app is fastest.

A foreign card may not work in some apps, and then a terminal is better.

We do not top up your balance with our own money on your behalf.

Renewing a package

Sometimes a package does not renew automatically when it expires, and data switches to the standard rate.

At the end of the period we remind you to reactivate the package, if you wish.

For long stays we look for an auto-renewal option separately.

Sharing your connection

By sharing data from your phone you connect a laptop or a second phone.

Some packages limit sharing, and we confirm this before buying.

Sharing drains the battery fast, so a power bank often comes in handy.

Pocket router

For a family or group, a pocket router connects several devices with one SIM.

We find a router to rent or buy, and its SIM is registered to someone's passport.

Do not forget to charge the router every evening.

Tablets and laptops

A tablet or laptop with a SIM slot only needs a data card.

You buy such a card with a separate package, without calls.

Check the card size in advance: standard, micro or nano.

Families and children

In a family each adult may need their own number, and each registers with their own passport.

For a teenager's phone a parent usually registers the number in their own name.

We save our number and the parents' numbers in a child's phone in case they get lost.

Groups

For a group we plan the shop visit in advance so you do not wait long in the queue.

Each participant needs their own passport, and we allow for that in the day's plan.

We send the group leader a list of all the new numbers.

Business visitors

On a business visit, stable data and a local number are often essential.

Local partners prefer to call a local number and write by messenger.

For a company's visitors we plan several numbers ready before arrival.

Living here longer

For people living in Georgia for months, a monthly package or a contract plan is often better.

Contract terms differ from operator to operator.

We write about home internet and apartment matters on the main concierge page.

Keeping the number

If you visit Georgia often, keeping the number is convenient.

Some operators cancel a number after a certain period of inactivity.

So we confirm the terms for keeping the number at the shop and remind you to top up in time.

A lost phone

If you lose your phone, first try to locate or lock it from another device.

Then block the SIM at the operator's shop and get a new card with the same number.

To get a new card you usually need to present the same passport.

Blocking the SIM

Blocking the SIM stops anyone using codes sent to your number.

Block it as quickly as possible, through the operator's hotline or at a shop.

Block your home number too if it was in the same phone.

Theft and the police

If your phone is stolen, a police report is often required for insurance.

We help by going with you to the police and translating.

We write about emergencies in a separate section.

Emergency calls

The emergency number in Georgia is 112.

You can as a rule call 112 even when your balance has run out.

Save this number on speed dial.

Useful apps

Download taxi, delivery, translation and map apps before you arrive.

Some apps ask for a local number or local card, and we help with registration.

The operator's app shows your balance and package on one screen.

Offline maps

An offline map works even when there is no signal.

Before heading into the mountains, download the whole region's map over Wi-Fi.

Keep the hiking route in a separate app and save battery.

Public Wi-Fi

On an open cafe or airport Wi-Fi, avoid logging into banking apps or personal accounts.

In those moments local mobile data is safer.

Turn off automatic connection to unknown networks on your phone.

Fake calls and texts

Travellers sometimes receive fake texts supposedly from a bank, a courier or the operator.

Do not tap links in such messages and never share a code.

If in doubt, forward the message to us and we will tell you whether it is genuine.

Removing the SIM

To open the SIM slot you need a small pin, which is often in the phone box.

Keep your home SIM carefully in a small pouch so it does not get lost.

At the shop, staff will always help you insert the card.

Language at the shop

Package terms and contracts are often only in Georgian.

Before you sign, we translate the main terms: validity, allowance and renewal.

Never sign a document you do not understand.

Older guests

New phone settings can be confusing for older guests.

We set everything up slowly, step by step, and save our number on speed dial.

If you like, we write short instructions on paper in large letters.

End of the trip

Before leaving, put your home SIM back and turn mobile data on for the right number.

Keep the local SIM for your next visit or simply leave it.

Remaining credit is as a rule not refunded, so do not top up more than needed in the last days.

Common mistakes

Forgetting to check that the phone is unlocked before arriving.

Bringing only a copy of your passport to the shop instead of the original.

Removing the home SIM and then not receiving bank codes.

What we need from you

Your phone model and whether it is unlocked.

The length of your trip, your route and how much data you use.

How many people need a number and your arrival time.

Cost

The operator sets the price of the SIM and package, and you pay them directly.

We take no commission from operators and add nothing to their prices.

Our fee for helping is separate and agreed in advance.