TRAVEL TECH · ESIM BORDER CHECK
Will your France or Spain eSIM work in Monaco, Andorra, Gibraltar or the Canary Islands?
Monaco, Andorra and Gibraltar sit right next to France and Spain but aren't part of them, and none of the three is in the EU roaming area. Travel eSIMs cover a fixed list of places, so a day trip across one of these borders can leave you without data. We checked Airalo's and Saily's plan pages on October 22, 2026 to see which plans actually cover each place.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy an eSIM through the Airalo or Saily links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Using Wi-Fi and offline maps for a short day trip costs nothing. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with Airalo or Saily. Prepared with AI assistance; provider pages were read on October 22, 2026.
The 30-second answer
Monaco: your France or Europe eSIM probably won't work. Inside Monaco, phones register on Monaco Telecom, and neither Airalo's nor Saily's France or Europe plans list Monaco. Add a cheap Monaco eSIM for the day, or use a Global plan.
Andorra: same story. Not on Airalo's or Saily's Europe lists; Andorra eSIMs start at $3.99.
Gibraltar: covered by Airalo's and Saily's Europe plans, not by a Spain-only plan.
Canary Islands: part of Spain and inside EU roaming rules, but Airalo sells them as a separate destination. Buy the Canary Islands plan or confirm with support before relying on a Spain plan.
Place by place (checked October 22, 2026)
| Place | Local network | France / Spain plan? | Europe plan? | Cheapest fix we found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monaco | Monaco Telecom | Not listed | Not listed (Airalo 41 countries, Saily 35) | Airalo Monaco 1GB / 3 days $4, 3GB / 7 days $7.50; Saily Monaco 1GB / 7 days $8.49 |
| Andorra | Andorra Telecom | Not listed | Not listed | Saily Andorra 1GB / 7 days $3.99, 3GB / 30 days $9.99; Airalo Andorra 1GB / 3 days $4, 3GB / 7 days $10 |
| Gibraltar | Gibtelecom | Spain plan: not listed | Yes, Airalo and Saily both list it | A Europe plan for the whole trip, or Airalo Gibraltar 1GB / 3 days $4 |
| Canary Islands | Orange (Airalo's Canary Islands eSIM) | Airalo's Spain page doesn't mention the islands | Not listed by name | Airalo Canary Islands 3GB / 7 days $7, 5GB / 7 days $9 |
"Not listed" means the place doesn't appear on the plan's coverage list on the provider's page. It may still connect in places, but you can't count on it. Prices are in US dollars and change often.
Why these borders catch people out
The EU's "roam like at home" rules cover the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican are outside them, and so is Gibraltar since Brexit. Travel eSIMs don't follow the EU rules anyway: each plan works on the networks in its own coverage list, country by country. A "France" plan is a list with one country on it, and a "Europe" plan is a longer list that still leaves some places out.
Near a border, your phone can also pick up the neighboring country's network before you've crossed. If your data stops in Menton, near Monaco, or in La Línea, next to Gibraltar, go to your network settings, turn off automatic selection and pick a network your plan lists.
Monaco: the day trip from Nice
Monaco's government says that since March 5, 2024 every French mobile customer uses Monaco Telecom's network throughout the Principality, and phones set to automatic selection register on it when they arrive. That arrangement is for customers of French carriers. A travel eSIM is a separate roaming line, and neither Airalo's France plan nor its 41-country Europe plan lists Monaco; Saily's 35-country Europe plan doesn't either.
What to do: for a few hours in Monte Carlo, Airalo's Monaco eSIM at $4 for 1GB over 3 days is the cheapest fix we found. Install it at your hotel the night before, then switch your data line to it when you cross. Or skip data for the afternoon: download Monaco in Google Maps offline and use café Wi-Fi.
Andorra: the ski and shopping trip
Andorra sits in the Pyrenees between Spain and France and is reached by road, usually from Barcelona or Toulouse. Airalo's Andorra eSIM uses Andorra Telecom. Andorra isn't on Airalo's or Saily's Europe lists, so a Spain, France or Europe plan won't cover a ski week there.
What to do: for a long weekend, Saily's Andorra eSIM at $3.99 for 1GB / 7 days, or $9.99 for 3GB / 30 days, was the lowest price we found on October 22, 2026. Airalo's runs from $4 (1GB / 3 days) to $10 (3GB / 7 days). Keep your Spain or France eSIM installed for the drive back.
Saily code PIVOT10 takes 10% off your first Saily purchase (all plans); it is applied automatically through the Saily link on this page.
Gibraltar: the easy one, if you have a Europe plan
Gibraltar is a British territory served by Gibtelecom, and since Brexit it isn't covered by EU roaming rules. Both Airalo's and Saily's Europe plans list Gibraltar, so if you're touring Andalusia with a Europe plan, the walk across from La Línea is covered. A Spain-only plan doesn't list Gibraltar.
What to do: if you're already on a Spain plan, a Gibraltar day trip doesn't justify switching; use Wi-Fi or Airalo's Gibraltar eSIM ($4 for 1GB / 3 days). If you haven't bought yet and Gibraltar is on the route, buy a Europe plan instead of a Spain one.
The Canary Islands: Spain, but sold separately
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and the other islands are part of Spain, and Austria's regulator lists them inside the EU roaming area. That matters for European carriers. Airalo, though, sells the Canary Islands as their own destination, with an eSIM on Orange, and its Spain page doesn't mention the islands. We couldn't confirm from Airalo's pages that its Spain or Europe plans cover them.
What to do: for a Canary Islands-only holiday, buy the Canary Islands plan: 3GB / 7 days was $7 and 5GB / 7 days $9 on October 22, 2026. If you're combining the mainland and the islands, ask Airalo's 24/7 support in the app whether your Spain plan covers the Canaries before you fly, or add a small Canary Islands plan.
See Airalo Canary Islands plans
What to do before you go
- List every place on your route, including day trips. Monaco, Andorra and Gibraltar are the usual surprises; the Canary Islands, Madeira and the French Caribbean are sold as separate destinations by Airalo.
- Open your plan's coverage list in the provider's app or on its website and check each place by name.
- Missing one? Add a small local plan for that place (often $4 or less), or choose a Europe or Global plan that lists it.
- Install everything at home on Wi-Fi. On the day, switch your cellular data line to the plan that covers where you are.
- Keep roaming off on your US line unless you've checked your carrier's price for that place.
Common questions
Does a France eSIM work in Monaco?
Not reliably. Inside Monaco, phones register on Monaco Telecom, and the Airalo and Saily France and Europe plans we checked on October 22, 2026 don't list Monaco. Add a Monaco eSIM (Airalo from $4 for 1GB / 3 days) or use a Global plan for a day trip.
Does a Spain or Europe eSIM work in Andorra?
No for the plans we checked. Andorra is outside the EU and isn't listed on Airalo's or Saily's Europe plans. Saily's Andorra eSIM was $3.99 for 1GB / 7 days and Airalo's was $4 for 1GB / 3 days on October 22, 2026.
Does a Europe eSIM work in Gibraltar?
Yes for Airalo's and Saily's Europe plans, which both list Gibraltar (Gibtelecom). A Spain-only plan doesn't list it, so add Gibraltar or use a Europe plan if you're crossing from the Costa del Sol.
Does a Spain eSIM work in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands are part of Spain and inside the EU roaming area, but Airalo sells a separate Canary Islands eSIM (Orange network) and its Spain page doesn't mention the islands. Buy the Canary Islands plan (from $4) or confirm with your provider's support before you rely on a Spain plan there.
Related guides
- Airalo France eSIM: which plan?
- Airalo Spain eSIM: which plan?
- Best eSIM for Europe: one plan for several countries
- Airalo eSIM not working: fixes by symptom
- eSIM by country: which plan for your trip
- Saily vs Airalo for Europe: which eSIM fits your trip
How we checked this: On October 22, 2026 we read the coverage lists and prices on Airalo's Europe, Monaco, Andorra, Gibraltar, Canary Islands and Spain pages, and on Saily's Europe, Monaco and Andorra pages. Monaco's network arrangement: the Government of Monaco's unified mobile network FAQ. Territories inside EU roaming rules: RTR (Austrian regulator) list of EU countries and territories. Coverage lists and prices change, so check the plan page before you buy. This page was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources.