eSIM for Greenland
Land connected in Greenland. Pick a plan below - it activates in seconds, no physical SIM, no roaming fees.
Best eSIM plans for Greenland
Three travel data plans that suit most trips to Greenland, or see the full list of Greenlandic eSIMs below.
Your Greenland eSIM guide
How to install your Greenland eSIM in 3 steps
Since Tusass is Greenland's only mobile operator, setting up an eSIM here means choosing a network profile rather than picking between carriers.
- Buy your Greenland eSIM online and download the QR code onto your phone before you travel, ideally over home Wi-Fi - airport Wi-Fi at Kangerlussuaq and Nuuk is limited, so it's far easier to get the profile installed in advance than to chase a signal on arrival.
- Open your phone's cellular or mobile data settings, choose "Add eSIM" or "Add Data Plan", and scan the QR code. Label the new line "Greenland" so it's easy to tell apart from your home SIM, and set it as your data line while keeping your regular SIM active for calls and texts if you need them.
- Once you land, turn on data roaming for the new eSIM line. As soon as you're within range of a town such as Nuuk, Ilulissat, or Sisimiut, your phone will pick up the Tusass 4G or 5G signal automatically, with no manual APN setup required on most devices.
Coverage in Greenland
Tusass, formerly TELE Greenland, is the country's sole mobile network operator, so every eSIM sold for Greenland runs on the same infrastructure regardless of provider. 4G/LTE reaches the main towns - Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Qaqortoq, Aasiaat, Maniitsoq, Narsaq, and the airport hub at Kangerlussuaq - while basic 2G service extends out to any settlement with roughly 70 or more residents, putting more than 90% of the population within reach of a signal.
5G is live in several towns, including Nuuk, Ilulissat and Sisimiut, and Tusass is continuing to expand the network. Coverage in these towns is still building out rather than blanket, so treat 5G as a bonus in town centres rather than something to plan a trip around.
What that population figure hides is geography: only a small fraction of Greenland's land area has any signal at all. The vast ice sheet that covers most of the country has no mobile coverage whatsoever, and there's nothing in between settlements either - Greenland has no roads or railways connecting its towns, so travel between them is by boat, small plane, or helicopter, entirely offline. Each coastal settlement functions like its own island of connectivity, with signal stopping abruptly at the town boundary.
Because there's only one network, the coverage an eSIM gets matches exactly what a local Tusass SIM gets - there's no second carrier to fall back on if a particular tower is down.
How much data do you actually need in Greenland?
Most of your data use will happen inside towns, so match your plan to how much time you'll spend online in Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, and other covered settlements rather than the length of your whole trip.
| Usage type | Typical daily use | Suggested plan | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | ~300MB/day | 1GB / 7 days | Maps, messaging, and quick check-ins while moving between Nuuk, Ilulissat, and Sisimiut |
| Moderate | ~750MB/day | 3GB / 30 days | Social media, browsing, and photo uploads from each town you pass through |
| Heavy | 1.5GB+/day | 10GB or 20GB / 30 days | Streaming, video calls, and uploading photos or video from stops like the Icefjord |
Whichever plan you pick, remember it only draws down data while you're within a covered town - time spent travelling by boat or plane between settlements, or out on the ice sheet, simply won't use any data at all.
eSIM vs. roaming vs. a local Tusass SIM
| eSIM (from home) | Home carrier roaming | Local Tusass SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | None - install before you fly | None, but tied to your existing contract | Tusass may ask for a CPR number, which visitors don't have; this isn't enforced for tourist SIM sales |
| Cost | Set in advance, from £7.32 | Greenland sits outside the EU, so EU roaming caps don't apply - expect a premium day-pass rate (roughly £7 to £9 per day) or steep per-MB charges without one | Prepaid SIMs typically cost a modest local amount |
| Setup effort | Scan a QR code, ready in minutes | Just switch on data roaming, no store visit needed | Requires finding a Tusass outlet in a town like Nuuk |
| Best for | Visitors moving between towns for a set trip length | Short layovers or emergencies only, given the cost | Longer stays or anyone effectively settling in |
Practical connectivity tips
Because Tusass is the only operator, there's no need to compare coverage maps between carriers - what you see is what every visitor gets.
Download offline maps before you leave a town. Once you're on a boat, helicopter, or small plane between settlements, or out on the ice sheet, there's no signal at all, so your eSIM won't help again until you reach the next covered town.
Check your device is ready for the network transition: Tusass has switched off its 3G network and is phasing out 2G, so older phones limited to those standards may struggle to get service even in towns with coverage.
Keep a backup plan for outages. Greenland's connectivity depends partly on submarine cables, which can be damaged by fishing trawlers, storms, or harsh Arctic weather, occasionally causing extended outages in affected towns - it isn't only your eSIM if the signal drops everywhere at once.
If you're heading out on an aurora-hunting trip or a longer Arctic expedition beyond the settlements, plan for a dedicated satellite device, since no eSIM reaches that far off-grid.
In an emergency, dial 112, which works on any phone, even one that's locked or has no SIM inserted.
Travelling beyond Greenland?
If your route continues past Greenland, these neighbouring eSIM pages might come in handy:
- Iceland eSIM - many Greenland itineraries connect through Reykjavik on the way in or out
- Denmark eSIM - Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and Copenhagen is a common gateway flight
- Canada eSIM - useful if you're carrying on west across the wider Arctic region
All Greenlandic eSIM data plans
8 plans from £7.32. Prices include VAT, shown in GBP.
Not sure how much data you need?
Tell us your trip length and how you'll use your phone, and we'll point you to the right plan.
Local info for Greenland
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Explore the best Greenlandic destinations and stay connected.
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for Greenland
Does it matter that Tusass is Greenland's only network operator?
Yes, in a good way for eSIM users: unlike countries with several competing carriers, every mobile eSIM sold for Greenland runs on the same Tusass infrastructure, so there's no coverage comparison to make between providers - what you see on the network map is what you get, whichever eSIM you choose.
Will my eSIM work between Nuuk and Ilulissat, or out on the ice sheet?
No. Greenland has no roads or railways linking its towns, so travel between settlements is by boat, small plane, or helicopter, and there's no mobile signal at all during that journey. The vast ice sheet, which covers most of the country, has no coverage whatsoever - your eSIM will reconnect once you arrive at the next town.
Do I need to register my SIM or phone as a tourist in Greenland?
No mandatory SIM or IMEI registration applies to visitors. Tusass may ask for a Greenlandic CPR (Centrale Personsregister) number when you buy a SIM, but this is a resident ID number that tourists don't have, and it isn't enforced when selling to visitors - eSIM activation has no such barrier at all.
Does EU roaming apply since Greenland is part of Denmark?
No. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark but left the European Union in 1985, so EU roaming price caps do not apply here. Travelers relying on an EU or UK phone plan should expect much higher out-of-EU roaming rates than they'd pay in mainland Europe, which is one reason a local eSIM usually works out cheaper.
Will the 2G/3G shutdown affect my phone in Greenland?
Tusass has switched off its 3G network, with 2G being phased out too. If your device is older and only supports those standards, it may lose service even in towns with coverage, so it's worth confirming your phone supports 4G or 5G before you travel.
What's the emergency number in Greenland?
Dial 112. It's the standard GSM emergency number and works from any phone, including ones that are locked or have no SIM installed at all.
Is 5G available in Nuuk and Ilulissat?
Yes. 5G is live in several towns, including Nuuk, Ilulissat and Sisimiut. Coverage in each city is still expanding rather than blanket, so 4G remains the more dependable option outside central areas.
Can I use my eSIM as soon as I land at Kangerlussuaq airport?
Kangerlussuaq is one of the towns with 4G coverage and serves as Greenland's main inland transport hub, so your eSIM should connect there. It's also the usual jumping-off point for onward trips inland, which is worth remembering since coverage won't follow you past the settlement itself.
What if I'm going on an aurora-hunting trip or an Arctic expedition?
An eSIM only works within Tusass's coverage areas in and around towns. Aurora-hunting trips or longer expeditions that head out onto the ice sheet or between settlements fall outside any mobile coverage, so those trips call for a dedicated satellite communication device rather than relying on a phone eSIM.
Why might my connection drop out for hours at a time?
Greenland's towns rely on submarine cables for their connectivity, and these can be damaged by fishing trawlers, storms, or severe Arctic weather, sometimes causing extended outages in affected settlements. If your signal disappears completely rather than just being weak, it may be a cable issue rather than anything to do with your eSIM.
The connectivity details on this page (networks, coverage, local SIM rules, prices and any numbers) are provided for general guidance and can change. Please confirm current details, especially emergency numbers and registration requirements, with official local sources before you travel.