Short answer
Many short visitors can start with international roaming or a travel eSIM and may not need a mainland number. If a local number is required for a service or long stay, use an official carrier store or authorised channel, bring your passport and complete the carrier's real-name process. Requirements, activation and prepaid rules vary; avoid street sellers who cannot explain the account or provide a receipt.
Do you actually need a local number?
- Short trip, reliable roaming and an eSIM can cover many ordinary services.
- A local number may help for long stays, certain app sign-ups or services that require a mainland mobile number.
- Keep your home number active for banking, email and 2FA while you set up connectivity.
At an official carrier channel
- Bring the original passport and the details required by the carrier for real-name registration.
- Ask about prepaid validity, activation, top-up, handset compatibility and the account holder's responsibilities.
- Keep the SIM, receipt and service number in your travel documents.
If a street seller offers a number
Treat it as a risk to your accounts and personal data. A temporary number can be reassigned or tied to someone else's identity, which can make later sign-in and recovery difficult.
Related guides
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Where these matter
Official sources
Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.