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Movistar Mexico SIM card: Recarga prepaid and the prepaid eSIM

Movistar Mexico sells a prepaid eSIM online with recharges from 100 pesos. You must link the line to an ID, and the site names no tourist plan.

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Is a Movistar Mexico SIM card worth it for a visitor?

It can be, because its prepaid eSIM page lays out the purchase steps and prices clearly. The drawbacks: it names no plan for tourists, the QR code can take up to 72 hours to arrive, and you must link the line to an official ID. For a quick holiday, a travel eSIM is faster. For weeks on the ground, Movistar's prepaid is worth comparing.

What does Movistar sell?

We read Movistar Mexico's homepage and its prepaid eSIM page on 8 October 2026.

  • Recarga Movistar (prepaid chip). The SIM is collected at a Movistar store, where you can also make your first recharge. The homepage advertises a 100 peso recharge with 30 GB on 5G and unlimited YouTube and TikTok for the month.
  • Prepaid eSIM. Shown on the eSIM page with three offers: 100 pesos for 8 GB plus unlimited selected apps for 28 days, 200 pesos for 16 GB for 30 days, and 300 pesos for unlimited data for 30 days. The 100 and 200 offers are first-recharge offers, and the page says validity and data change from the second to third month, so read the conditions.
  • Postpaid. Not relevant for most visitors, so we do not cover it.

How does the eSIM activation work?

Per the page: connect to Wi-Fi and update the phone, buy online or in a store, wait for the QR code by email (up to 72 hours), scan it, call 611 to activate the line and then link the line on Movistar's site. Check your phone with #06#: if an EID appears, it supports eSIM. A QR code works once on one device. If you delete or lose the eSIM, you must go to a service centre for a new one. The page does not say whether you can port a number into a prepaid eSIM online.

Do you need ID?

Movistar's homepage carries a notice to link your line to an official ID so you do not lose service. It does not explain the steps there, and we did not read the registration page, so we cannot say what a foreigner must present. Assume a passport and ask in a store.

Coverage

Movistar links a 4G LTE and 5G coverage map but we did not open it, and its pages make no measured claim. We say nothing about reach.

Movistar compared with a travel eSIM

The eSIM price points are easy to compare with a travel eSIM, but the 72-hour QR and line-linking steps are not. See our Mexico SIM card comparison and cheapest eSIM page. Other carriers: Telcel and AT&T Mexico. Back to the Mexico hub.

Bottom line

Our verdict on the Movistar Mexico SIM card is that Movistar prepaid and the Movistar eSIM have clear prices, but the QR delay and line linking make it slower than a travel eSIM for a short trip.

Common questions

Does Movistar Mexico sell a prepaid eSIM?

Yes. Its eSIM page offers prepaid eSIM at 100 pesos (8 GB, 28 days), 200 pesos (16 GB, 30 days) and 300 pesos (unlimited data, 30 days), bought online or at a store. The QR code can take up to 72 hours to arrive, and the line must be activated and linked.

How do I activate a Movistar Mexico eSIM?

Per Movistar's page, you connect to Wi-Fi, buy the eSIM, receive the QR by email (up to 72 hours), scan it, call *611 to activate the line, and then link the line on Movistar's site. A QR code can be scanned once, on one device only.

Can tourists buy a Movistar Mexico SIM card?

The pages we read name no tourist plan. Movistar's prepaid SIM is collected in a Movistar store, and a notice asks you to link your line to an official ID. We do not know what a foreign visitor must present, so ask in a store and bring your passport.

Does Movistar Mexico have 5G?

Movistar's homepage advertises a prepaid recharge with 30 GB for 5G browsing and links a 4G LTE and 5G coverage map. We did not open the map or see measured coverage claims, so check the map for your route. Treat the claim as the carrier's own.

Is Movistar cheaper than Telcel in Mexico?

We cannot compare, because we read no Telcel prices. Movistar's current prices are on its site and show 100 pesos for 8 GB for 28 days on first recharge. Check both carriers' current pages and a travel eSIM before buying, because promotions change.

Sources and further reading