eSIM or physical SIM · United Kingdom number
giffgaff
A UK prepaid SIM that is deactivated after six months without use. Use it or add credit once every six months to keep the number.
- Checked October 10, 2026
Where it works
Only the markets where the carrier's own pages say the SIM receives texts or uses data are listed. A market that is missing is one the carrier does not say it works in.
| Market | Receiving texts | Mobile data |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | Through roaming | Paid for on top |
| Hong Kong & Macau | Through roaming | Paid for on top |
| United States | Through roaming | Paid for on top |
| Japan | Through roaming | Paid for on top |
How to keep it working
giffgaff deactivates a SIM that has had no activity for six months. To prevent that, do at least one of these every six months: make a call, SMS or MMS to another number (calls to emergency services, Member Services or free numbers do not count), connect to the internet over mobile data, or buy airtime credit or a plan. giffgaff sends a first warning about a month before and a second email about five days before. After deactivation you can ask for a PAC code within 30 days to move the number to another network; after that the number returns to the pool and cannot be retrieved, and unused credit can only be refunded within the same 30 days. Outside the EU zone you roam on credit; giffgaff's roaming page lists travel data add-ons for China, Hong Kong, Japan and the USA.
Where this comes from
Compiled from the carrier's own public pages. Open them to check a fact before you rely on it.
- The rule Open the page (help.giffgaff.com) (checked October 10, 2026)
Compiled from each carrier's public pages and checked on the date shown. Rules and prices change without notice, and the carrier's current terms always prevail. General information only, not advice.
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