Best Spanish SIM Card for Students 2026: Long-Term Guide (3–12 Months)
Which Spanish SIM card to get as a student staying 3–12 months. Lycamobile, DIGI, Orange, Simyo compared — including when you need a Spanish number, and how to get one without a NIE.
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You landed in Barcelona with an eSIM getting you through the first days. Now you need a Spanish phone number — for your bank account, your empadronamiento, your landlord, your school, and Extranjería. This is a different problem from “which eSIM do I buy for a two-week holiday.” Here’s what actually works for students staying 3–12 months.
Why You Need a Spanish Number
Before comparing carriers, it helps to understand why a local number matters for students:
- Bank account opening — Spanish banks (and Wise/Revolut with Spanish IBAN) require a Spanish number for SMS verification
- Empadronamiento — the town hall often uses phone contact for confirmation
- Extranjería / TIE appointment — some appointment systems require a Spanish number for SMS codes
- Landlord and school — Spanish landlords and school administrators default to WhatsApp on local numbers
- Practicality — calling Spanish numbers from a foreign SIM gets expensive fast
A foreign number or eSIM works for the first week. After that, a local SIM is worth the €10–15 setup cost.
The Key Split: Prepaid vs Contract
| Type | What you need | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid (sin contrato) | Passport only | €5–15 activation | First month before you have NIE |
| Contract (postpago) | NIE or TIE | Monthly fees | 6–12 month stay, better value |
Most students start on prepaid (because you arrive before getting your NIE) and switch to a contract after their TIE card arrives.
Best Options for Students
1. Lycamobile — Best for First Weeks (No NIE Needed)
Lycamobile is the go-to for students who just arrived and don’t yet have a NIE.
- Activation: Passport only — no NIE, no TIE, no permanent address required
- Where to buy: Estancos (tobacco shops), phone shops, Carrefour — everywhere
- Plans: From €9.90/month (10GB + unlimited calls)
- Network: Movistar (Spain’s best coverage)
- Drawback: Customer service is painful; app is mediocre
Best plan for students: €14.90/month for 20GB + unlimited national calls. Enough for daily use without WiFi dependency.
2. DIGI — Best Value Once You Have NIE
DIGI is aggressively cheap and has become the default for cost-conscious long-term residents.
- Activation: NIE required
- Plans: €6/month (30GB!) — the best data-to-price ratio in Spain
- Also: €10/month for 50GB + unlimited calls
- Network: Masmovil (good in cities, weaker in rural areas — irrelevant for Barcelona/Madrid)
- Downside: Shops mostly in larger cities; activation sometimes requires visiting a store
The DIGI strategy: Start on Lycamobile, switch to DIGI the week your NIE arrives. Port your number (portabilidad) in 24 hours — you keep the same number.
3. Simyo — Best Mid-Range (Orange Network)
Simyo is Orange’s budget brand — same towers, lower price, online-only.
- Activation: NIE preferred, sometimes passport accepted
- Plans: From €8/month (15GB) to €18/month (50GB)
- Network: Orange (very good nationwide coverage, second after Movistar)
- Setup: Entirely online — SIM delivered to your address
- Good for: Students who want better coverage than Masmovil but don’t want to pay Movistar prices
4. Orange / Movistar — Best Coverage, Higher Price
If you’re doing an intensive Spanish course where you need reliable 5G everywhere, or you’re frequently traveling within Spain:
- Orange: €20–35/month for 50–100GB + calls
- Movistar: €25–40/month, Spain’s largest network, best rural coverage
- Both require NIE for most plans
Worth the premium for students doing intensive travel or living outside major cities.
Comparison Table
| Carrier | Network | Min plan | NIE needed? | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lycamobile | Movistar | €9.90/mo | ❌ No | Estancos, supermarkets |
| DIGI | Masmovil | €6/mo | ✅ Yes | DIGI stores, online |
| Simyo | Orange | €8/mo | Usually no | Online only |
| Orange | Orange | €20/mo | ✅ Yes | Orange stores |
| Movistar | Movistar | €25/mo | ✅ Yes | Movistar stores |
| Amena | Orange | €12/mo | Sometimes | Online |
The Recommended Student Route
Week 1–4 (no NIE yet): Lycamobile prepaid. €14.90/month, 20GB, passport activation at any estanco.
After NIE/TIE arrives: Port to DIGI. €6–10/month, 30–50GB. Request portabilidad (number transfer) on the DIGI website — takes 24 hours, zero downtime.
If you want the easiest setup without going to a store: Simyo online — SIM delivered to your Barcelona address within 48 hours.
Number Porting (Keeping Your Number)
When you switch from Lycamobile to DIGI or any other carrier, you can keep the same number. This is called portabilidad and it’s free and legally mandated within 24 hours.
Process: log into your new carrier’s website → request portabilidad → enter your existing number → done. Your current carrier cannot block or delay it.
Do You Need a Spanish Number or Just Data?
If you’re only in Spain for 2–3 months and don’t need a local number for bureaucracy, an eSIM (Holafly or Airalo) is simpler and cheaper. See our eSIM comparison for short-stay options.
For anything longer, or if you’re opening a Spanish bank account, getting a TIE card, or doing any bureaucratic process — get a local SIM.
Related guides:
Not Sure Your Documents Are Right?
Better to find out now than at the consulate. Book a free call — we'll tell you exactly what you need and flag any risks before you submit.