In brief
Under the SIM Registration Act, a tourist registers a SIM with a passport, proof of an address in the Philippines and a return or onward ticket, and the SIM is valid for 30 days before it deactivates. Globe’s Prepaid Traveler eSIM lists 80 GB for PHP 1,750 over 30 days.
- Tourist SIMs are valid “temporarily for thirty (30) days” and then deactivate automatically1.
- Globe: 80 GB, PHP 1,750 for 30 days, unlimited calls and texts to all networks, bought in the GlobeOne app2.
- Smart: a tourist eSIM with up to 21 GB for PHP 99 was advertised in December 2023; prices may have changed4.
- DITO’s January 2026 blog says carriers sell eSIMs for around PHP 99 and names no tourist plan5.
- The operators’ pages used here give no Boracay coverage information.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, marked by the products, tours and hotels they name. A purchase through these links may earn the site a commission at no cost to you, and it never affects what is recommended. How this works.
Where to book Current rates across the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register a SIM card in the Philippines?
Yes. Globe says Philippine law requires locals and tourists to register locally purchased physical or digital SIMs3.
What do tourists need to register a SIM?
A passport, proof of an address in the Philippines, and a return ticket or another ticket showing the date and time of departure1.
How long does a tourist SIM last?
It is valid for 30 days and then deactivates automatically1.
How much is Globe's traveler eSIM?
PHP 1,750 for 80 GB over 30 days, according to Globe’s traveler page and its July 2024 blog23.
Can I install an eSIM before I arrive?
Globe says it can be installed in advance and activates when it connects to Globe in the Philippines. The phone must be carrier-unlocked3.
How much is Smart's tourist eSIM?
A December 2023 Smart-sponsored article advertised up to 21 GB for PHP 99. Current prices were not confirmed4.
The detail
A SIM is the easiest way to keep a connection on the island, and the law decides how you buy one. This page sets out the registration rule, the products the three major operators describe, and what is not known. For mobile and internet service on the island itself see Working Remotely From Boracay; for other rules visitors meet see Boracay Rules for Visitors.
The short answer
| If you are… | Do this |
|---|---|
| A foreign tourist | Register the SIM with your passport, proof of a Philippine address and your return or onward ticket1 |
| Any buyer, local or foreign | Register a physical or digital SIM bought in the Philippines; Globe describes the app and a text code as the route3 |
| Staying beyond 30 days | Expect a tourist SIM to deactivate at 30 days1 |
| Buying an eSIM in advance | Check the phone is carrier-unlocked, as Globe states3 |
What the law requires
The SIM Registration Act, Republic Act 11934, was approved on 10 October 2022. For foreign nationals visiting as tourists, it asks for a passport, proof of address in the Philippines, and a return ticket to the tourist’s own country or any other ticket showing the date and time of departure. SIMs registered on that basis are valid temporarily for 30 days and are deactivated automatically on expiry1.
Foreigners staying longer register with other documents. The act lists items such as an Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment, a Bureau of Immigration ACR I-Card, or a student ID1. Registrants give their full name, nationality, passport number and Philippine address1.
Globe states the practical side: Philippine law requires locals and tourists to register locally purchased physical or digital SIMs, which it handles through the GlobeOne app and a one-time text code3.
Globe
Globe’s traveler page describes the Prepaid Traveler eSIM (5G) as 80 GB of data for PHP 1,750 over 30 days, with unlimited calls and texts to all networks. It is bought in the GlobeOne app, works on Android and iOS, and comes with a 50 percent voucher for a first GrabCar ride. The page also mentions a physical SIM option “via airports”2.
A Globe blog post of 23 July 2024 gives the same 80 GB for PHP 1,750, payable by Visa, Mastercard or JCB. It says the eSIM can be installed before arrival and activates when it first connects to Globe in the Philippines; it is usable for 30 days, allows a hotspot, and needs a carrier-unlocked phone3.
Smart
Smart’s own pages are not used here. The most detailed account is a Smart-sponsored article in the Inquirer’s BrandRoom section, labeled branded content, from 21 December 2023. It describes the Smart Prepaid Philippine Tourist eSIM as carrying up to 21 GB of data for PHP 99, with calls and texts in the preload. It is sold in the Smart Online Store, at Smart booths in international airports, at e-Hubs and through Smart flagship stores on Lazada and Shopee. A separate “Unli 5G + Non-Stop Data” offer cost PHP 299 for 7 days or PHP 999 for 30 days4.
That is a paid placement almost three years old, so treat the prices as 2023 prices and check Smart’s own store before you buy.
DITO
DITO’s blog of 6 January 2026 says carriers in the country sell eSIMs for around PHP 99 and that DITO is one of the three major carriers. It names no tourist plan5. No source used here describes DITO’s coverage on Boracay.
Which one for Boracay
The pages used here do not give signal coverage for Boracay for any operator, so no recommendation by operator is possible. The question that matters on the island, whether the signal holds up, is not answered by an operator’s price page. Ask your accommodation which network its guests use before you buy.
Related Articles
Sources (5)
- Republic Act No. 11934, the SIM Registration Act — Congress of the Philippines, approved 10 October 2022, via Lawphil. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Traveler SIM — Globe Telecom, undated. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Traveler eSIM for tourists — Globe Telecom, 23 July 2024. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Travel to the Philippines with peace of mind with Smart Prepaid tourist eSIM — INQUIRER.net BrandRoom (branded content), 21 December 2023. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Buy eSIM for travel to the Philippines — DITO Telecommunity, 6 January 2026. Accessed 2026-10-03.