Santander launches travel eSIM in Spain for 160+ countries
Madrid, August 4, 2026. Banco Santander has launched a travel eSIM service inside its banking app in Spain, giving customers access to mobile data plans for more than 160 countries.
The bank announced the service on August 3. Plans come with 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB or 50GB of data, and customers can buy and manage them without leaving the Santander app. Spain is the first launch market. Santander says Portugal and Mexico will follow, although it has not given release dates for either country.
The key point for travelers: Santander has added a new place for its customers in Spain to buy travel data. The announcement does not say that every Santander customer can use it, or that the plans include calls, SMS or a local phone number.
Santander eSIM launches in Spain first
Santander eSIM is available to the bank's customers in Spain at launch. The product sits inside the Santander app, where users can choose an international data package, check usage and add more data.
The distinction between purchase market and travel coverage matters. More than 160 countries are covered as destinations, but the service is not being sold in 160 Santander markets. A Santander customer in Portugal or Mexico should wait for a local launch rather than assume the Spanish offer is already attached to their account.
Santander named the United States, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Turkey, Japan, Brazil and Thailand as examples of covered destinations. It did not publish a complete country list in the announcement, so the current options in the app should be checked before a trip.
Plans range from 3GB to 50GB
Customers can choose from five data allowances: 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and 50GB. Santander says users only need to activate the eSIM profile once. They can then recharge it for later trips instead of installing a new profile every time.
That reusable setup is useful for frequent travelers because it reduces repeat installation. The app also shows data consumption in real time and keeps plan management in the same place as the purchase.
Santander has not published the prices or validity periods in its press release. A 10GB allowance, for example, does not reveal whether the plan lasts seven days or 30 days. Customers still need to compare the live price, coverage and expiry shown for the package in the app.
Gigs provides the eSIM platform
The launch is part of a global agreement between Santander and Gigs, a company that provides embedded mobile connectivity. Santander says the same arrangement will support the planned rollout to Portugal, Mexico and other group markets.
For customers, the important detail is that the purchase and management experience remains inside the Santander app. Gigs works behind the service, but Santander has not asked customers to install a separate Gigs app in the launch instructions.
Prices, calls and hotspot rules are not yet public
Santander's announcement confirms the launch market, destination count, data sizes and reusable profile. It does not list several details that can determine whether a plan suits a particular trip:
- retail prices and plan validity;
- the network operators used in each country;
- 4G or 5G availability;
- calls, SMS or a destination-local number;
- hotspot or tethering support;
- the activation trigger, refund terms and reinstall rules.
These are unconfirmed details, not proof that a feature is unavailable. The package shown inside the app should be treated as the current source of truth before payment.
Why Roaming eSIM is the stronger option for most travelers
Santander's service can be convenient for an eligible customer in Spain who wants to buy travel data inside a familiar banking app. Roaming eSIM has the broader practical advantage because it is built for travel connectivity and is not tied to a Santander banking relationship or the Spanish launch market.
| Traveler decision | Santander eSIM at launch | Roaming eSIM advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Who can browse and buy | Customers using Santander's app in Spain | The public catalog is not tied to a Santander account, so travelers can compare country, regional and global plans before signing in |
| Price and validity | Not included in Santander's announcement | Live package cards show retail price, data, validity and speed before checkout |
| Network detail | No destination operators named in the announcement | Current packages list supported operators for the selected country |
| Plan choice | Five data sizes from 3GB to 50GB | Fixed, daily and longer-validity choices vary by destination, with regional options for multi-country routes |
| Installation | Reusable profile managed in the bank app | One-click, QR code and manual installation options are provided where supported |
| Help while traveling | Support hours are not stated in the announcement | Roaming eSIM advertises 24/7 support and provides a WhatsApp channel for installation and activation help |
| Ongoing management | Usage tracking and recharging in the Santander app | Buy on the web, then monitor, top up eligible plans and manage the eSIM in the dedicated app |
The live Roaming eSIM catalog makes the difference concrete. At our August 4 check, it returned 37 United States packages, 18 United Kingdom packages and 43 Japan packages. Top-up eligible 10GB plans valid for 30 days were listed at $12.08 for the United States, $8.56 for the United Kingdom and $9.40 for Japan. Those packages also showed their supported operators and up to 5G service. Prices can change, and final totals may include fees or currency conversion.
Santander's release does not provide an equivalent price, validity or operator comparison. That is why Roaming eSIM is easier to evaluate before a traveler commits.
🏆 Roaming eSIM wins on access and transparency: it is available beyond one bank's customers, publishes destination-specific package terms, supports country and regional plan comparison, and provides 24/7 help. Santander wins only on the convenience of buying inside its app for customers who already qualify.
Our international eSIM buying guide explains how to compare a bank-app offer with a dedicated travel plan. Travelers can also check whether their phone supports Roaming eSIM and how calls and SMS work on Roaming eSIM plans.
What to check before buying Santander eSIM
Travelers considering the new service should verify four points in the Santander app:
- Account eligibility: confirm that Santander eSIM appears in the Spanish account being used.
- Full-route coverage: check every destination and stopover, not only the main country.
- Plan terms: compare the price, validity, activation timing, hotspot rule and any speed limits.
- Phone readiness: confirm eSIM support and carrier-unlocked status before departure.
Installing while reliable Wi-Fi is available can make troubleshooting easier, but activation timing depends on the package. Our eSIM installation timing guide explains why installation and plan activation are not always the same event.
Portugal and Mexico are next
Santander says Portugal and Mexico will be the next group markets to receive the service, followed by other countries. It has not announced dates, prices or whether the plan selection will be identical in each market.
Roaming eSIM will update this report when Santander confirms those launches or publishes material changes to availability and plan terms.
Sources and updates
The confirmed launch details in this report come from Banco Santander's August 3, 2026 press release. The source was checked on August 4, 2026.
Editor's note, August 4, 2026: Roaming eSIM initially published its eSIM news page as a multi-company summary. We replaced that format on the same day with this focused report and redirected the earlier URL here.
