Wise launches eSIMs & QR payments for Australian travellers

Wise has launched eSIM services and QR code payments for customers in Australia, combining mobile data access and local payment options in one app.

The additions are aimed at travellers arriving overseas without mobile connectivity or access to widely accepted payment methods. The new eSIM offer covers more than 150 destinations, while QR payments work across domestic payment networks in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe.

Wise's eSIM product lets users choose the amount of data and trip duration. It also offers refunds for verified unused data, a feature designed to set it apart from standard roaming packages and fixed travel data plans.

Research commissioned by Wise among 1,500 Australian travellers found that 65% still use what it described as more expensive or less convenient ways to manage data overseas. The survey found that 27% buy a local SIM after arrival, 26% use a package from their domestic mobile provider and 16% go without mobile data while travelling.

According to the research, one in five respondents said they had been charged high roaming fees abroad. The findings suggest continued demand for alternatives to conventional international mobile plans despite the spread of eSIM-compatible phones.

Payment reach

Alongside the eSIM launch, Wise has added QR code payment access across several local schemes widely used for everyday spending. These include PayNow in Singapore, QR Ph in the Philippines, DuitNow in Malaysia, PromptPay in Thailand and Pix in Brazil, as well as Swiss QR-bill in Switzerland and Qvik in Hungary.

Wise has also integrated with Alipay+, giving eligible users access to merchant QR payments in mainland China through the app. The arrangement removes the need for a Chinese bank card, local mobile number or separate app setup. Alipay+ coverage within the app also extends to Hong Kong, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

The move targets a longstanding issue for foreign travellers in markets where local QR systems dominate smaller retail transactions. While international cards are often accepted at hotels and airports, everyday merchants in some destinations rely on domestic payment rails that have historically been difficult for overseas visitors to access.

Travel hub

Wise said the new functions sit within a broader travel-focused account offering. Other tools available through the account include pay-as-you-go airport lounge passes, a global ATM locator map, multi-currency bill splitting and group spending features.

These additions put Wise in closer competition with travel cards, digital wallets and telecom providers seeking a greater share of international travel spending. By bringing connectivity and point-of-sale payments together, the company is expanding its offer beyond cross-border transfers and foreign currency spending.

Wise said it supported around 19 million people and businesses in the 2026 financial year and processed more than $240 billion in cross-border transactions. Customers also saved more than $3 billion over that period, it said.

Tristan Dakin, ANZ Country Manager at Wise, outlined the travel problem the company is trying to address.

"We've all had that exact moment of panic when you step off a plane in a new country, your phone has no signal, you can't look up directions, and you realise the local taxi or coffee shop doesn't accept your card. It instantly makes you feel isolated and locked out of the local economy.

"By launching fully customisable eSIMs alongside an unmatched global QR scanner, we are fixing that exact arrival anxiety while protecting travellers from unexpected charges, whether that's bill shock from roaming or hidden foreign transaction fees.

"But true peace of mind is about more than just eliminating surprise costs with data and digital payments; it's about the entire travel experience. By bringing those features together with a built-in global ATM finder to avoid bad fee-heavy ATMs when you do need cash, pay-as-you-go lounge access, and instant multi-currency group bill-splitting, the Wise Account is now a holistic toolkit for effortless exploration."