Optus SIM only plans and the Optus prepaid SIM: which a visitor can use

What are Optus SIM only plans?

Optus SIM only plans are monthly postpaid plans with no lock-in contract, delivered as a SIM card or an eSIM. On 10 November 2026 Optus listed five. Its prepaid range, sold under the Optus Flex Plus name, is the other route, and for a visitor to Australia it is the one that works without a credit check.

We read Optus's plan pages on 10 November 2026. Two promotions end within weeks, so check before you buy. This is desk research, not a test.

Every card lists no excess data charges, eSIM, and A$5 for 5GB daily roaming. Optus's FAQ says that once you use your data, speeds drop to a maximum of 1.5Mbps. That is fine for maps and messages and poor for video. The Optus mobile plans SIM only range also carries subscription credits on the Promo and Large plans, which won't matter to a traveller.

The A$5 daily roaming is the real perk for an Australian resident who travels. We explain it on our Optus roaming page.

Can a visitor sign up to Optus SIM only plans?

Optus doesn't say no, but the requirements rule most tourists out. Its FAQ says that whether you order online, by phone or in store, you'll need your ID, a credit card and employment details to pass the credit check. A credit check for someone with no Australian history is unlikely to be quick, and we couldn't find an Optus page saying which foreign documents it accepts for a postpaid plan. Optus also asks you to get the delivery address right, because it can't be changed once an order is processed.

For a stay of a few weeks, skip it. For a working holiday or a long stay, it may be worth asking Optus directly.

The Optus prepaid SIM for travellers

Optus has a traveller page aimed at people arriving in Australia, and it is all eSIM-first. You buy the eSIM on Optus's website once you've arrived, then follow the prompts in the My Optus app to set it up. Optus lists these Flex Plus plans there:

What the plan cards say they include:

• unlimited standard talk and text within Australia;
• no lock-in contract or credit check;
• data rollover up to 200GB;
• uncapped 4G and standard 5G speeds;
• some international call minutes and SMS;
• all for use within Australia, under Optus's Fair Go Policy.

Optus's add-ons sit on top: an Unlimited Data Day at A$6 for 24 hours, and A$5 International Talk for 28 days with up to 300 minutes to 50 destinations.

The Optus prepaid SIM also comes as a physical card; Optus's prepaid roaming page tells non-customers to check eSIM compatibility or buy a physical SIM. We did not find where in Australia Optus sells physical SIMs in person, so for shop and airport options see our where to buy a SIM card in Australia and airport SIM card pages.

What ID does the Optus prepaid SIM need?

We couldn't confirm it. Telstra's ID page shows that prepaid activation in Australia involves an ID check, but none of the Optus pages we read on 10 November listed which documents Optus accepts, or whether a foreign passport alone is enough. The activation page did not show ID requirements before you start. Check with Optus before relying on it. Telstra's equivalent has the same uncertainty, which we explain on our Telstra SIM only plans page.

Optus prepaid or a travel eSIM?

On price, Optus wins, as long as activation goes through. A$13 for 110GB over 28 days works out at about 12 cents a gigabyte. Our checked travel eSIM prices for Australia (US dollars) include Saily's 10GB for 30 days at US$17.99 (16 Aug 2026) and Nomad's unlimited 7 days at US$25 (17 Aug 2026).

The eSIM's advantages are timing and certainty. You buy it before you fly and it works as you land, with no Australian ID step. Optus tells you to buy its eSIM after you arrive. If your ID is accepted, that's a short wait at the airport; if not, you are without data until you sort out something else.

One point on coverage: the Optus pages we read give no coverage figures. If you are heading far from the cities, compare Optus's coverage map with Telstra's, which claims the widest network.

Optus SIM only plans are for people living here. Our pick for a visit: for a city trip of up to four weeks, the A$13 Optus prepaid eSIM, bought on arrival. For outback driving or if you can't confirm ID, look at Telstra or a travel eSIM from the cheapest eSIM list. Our older Optus page was written when the Optus site would not load; this page reflects what we read today. The Australia hub has the rest.