Before you start

An unlocked handset, or an eSIM-capable one
A US address for postpaid plans, though not for prepaid
A payment method — prepaid accepts foreign cards, postpaid usually does not

Step-by-step

1
Buy an eSIM before you fly, or a prepaid SIM on arrival
An eSIM from a US carrier or MVNO can be activated before you land, so you have a working number in the taxi queue. Otherwise any carrier store, airport kiosk or big-box retailer sells prepaid SIMs. No identity registration is required at any point.
OnlineWho: YouDay 1
2
Check your handset is unlocked and supports US bands
Phones bought on contract abroad are often locked to that carrier. US networks use band combinations that some regional models handle poorly, and since the 3G shutdown there is no fallback. Verify your model against the carrier's compatibility checker before buying a plan.
OnlineWho: You
3
Start prepaid rather than fighting a credit check
Postpaid plans run a credit check. With no US file you will either be declined or asked for a deposit of a few hundred dollars. Prepaid has no check, no contract and is typically cheaper for the same data — there is very little reason for a newcomer to start postpaid.
OnlineWho: You
4
Consider an MVNO for the same network at a lower price
Mint Mobile, Visible, US Mobile and Google Fi resell capacity on the big three networks. You get the same towers at a substantially lower monthly price, with the trade-off of slower data during congestion and thinner customer service.
Mobile appWho: You
5
Set up a US number before you need it for verification
Banks, government portals and rental applications send SMS codes to US numbers, and some reject foreign ones outright. Getting the number early removes a surprising number of downstream blockers.
Mobile appWho: YouWeek 1
6
Port your number if you switch carriers later
US number portability is a legal right and works between carriers and MVNOs. Do not cancel your old service first — request the port from the new carrier, which pulls the number across; cancelling first releases the number and loses it.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport, for a postpaid account — nothing at all for prepaid
US address, for postpaid
A payment card; prepaid usually accepts foreign cards, postpaid rarely does

Things most newcomers don’t know

There is no SIM registration in the United States.

Most countries we cover require a passport or national ID to activate a SIM, and several require biometric registration. The US requires nothing for prepaid. If you have relocated from the Gulf, South Asia or Southeast Asia this will feel unnervingly easy — it is genuinely that simple.

Source: community-reported

Postpaid credit checks are the real barrier, not paperwork.

Carriers check credit before offering a contract, and a newcomer with no file gets declined or asked for a deposit. This surprises well-paid arrivals who expect a salary to speak for itself. Prepaid sidesteps the check entirely and usually costs less, so the workaround is also the better deal.

Source: community-reported

MVNOs run on the same towers for meaningfully less.

Mint, Visible, US Mobile and Google Fi lease capacity from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Coverage is identical; what you give up is priority during network congestion and the retail store network. For a single line with no device financing, the saving is large and the compromise is small.

Source: community-reported

The subway now has service, and it changes how you use the city.

The MTA has brought mobile and Wi-Fi coverage to underground stations and is extending it into tunnels. Coverage between stations remains patchy on older lines, so download maps and podcasts before a long ride rather than assuming continuous service.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Arriving with a carrier-locked handset and discovering it on day one.
Applying for postpaid with no credit file and being asked for a large deposit.
Cancelling your old carrier before requesting the port, which loses the number permanently.
Relying on a foreign number for bank and government SMS verification, which is often rejected.
Assuming continuous underground coverage between subway stations.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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