cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/72262564

Hi, so here's the situation : I need to access government services in a different country to the one I live in permanently, and therefore I need a number in said country with the ability to receive SMS for login and payment confirmations. How should I go about it ?

I guess the easiest thing to do would be to wait for the next time I go there and buy a cheap SIM card there. But the problem is I'm only going to that country in a year from now, so I'd like to speed up things.

I thought about getting an e-SIM with the lowest amount possible of data, but it still comes out pretty expensive for just receiving confirmation messages.

Anyone have a better idea on how to do this ? How do double citizens go about this usually ?

Have you tried talking to your current provider?

I am US based and have used WhatsApp to talk to people in England. My friend just put in the number she got in Germany and it's been fine.

No other ideas.

Are you sure there's no other way to achieve whatever it is you want?

Anyhow, I believe it should be possible to contact mobile providers from, and get the SIM shipped to abroad. Have you tried that?

They might need some collateral from you; I know this used to be possible for people who e.g. work in my country but haven't (yet) got any official status.

Depends on your country as to solutions ? in Australia, I go with a $30 per annum esim plan with Amysim SMS and calls only) and $20 international per annum roaming pack for international SMS 2FA. When i go back to Aus. I just change to a data plan on Amysim.

I always get a local plan wherever I go, I do have a Roam esim data plan as a back I have only used it once to test it, it's PAYG so there's a small credit balance.

Getting a physical SIM fr said country is gonna be the cheapest and most efficient solution fore cause my phone doesn't do e-SIM, so yeah I'll try to order it directly here if they allow it, and else I'll ask for a family member to ship it to us ! Thanks for the help