Before you start

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

Step-by-step

1
Activate an eSIM before flying, or buy prepaid on arrival
A US eSIM activates before you land so you have a working number immediately. Otherwise carrier stores, the three regional airports and big-box retailers sell prepaid SIMs. No identity registration is required at any point.
OnlineWho: YouDay 1
2
Check your handset is unlocked and band-compatible
Phones bought on contract abroad are frequently locked, and US band combinations trip up some regional models. With 3G shut down there is no fallback.
OnlineWho: You
3
Start prepaid rather than fighting a credit check
Postpaid runs a credit check. With no US file you will be declined or asked for a deposit of a few hundred dollars. Prepaid has no check and is usually cheaper for the same data.
OnlineWho: You
4
Consider an MVNO on the same towers
Mint Mobile, Visible, US Mobile and Google Fi resell capacity on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Same coverage for materially less.
Mobile appWho: You
5
Expect signal loss in deep Metro stations
WMATA has cellular coverage through the system, but the deepest stations — Forest Glen, Wheaton, Rosslyn — and some tunnel segments are patchy. Download before a long ride rather than assuming continuity.
Mobile appWho: You
6
Port rather than cancel if you switch later
Number portability is a legal right and works between carriers and MVNOs. Request the port from the new carrier — never cancel the old service first.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport for postpaid; 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

The US has no SIM registration at all.

Most countries in this app require passport registration to activate a SIM and several require biometrics. The US requires nothing for prepaid — which, in a city full of people arriving from countries with strict registration regimes, is consistently the first surprise.

Source: community-reported

The credit check is the barrier, not the documentation.

Carriers check credit before offering postpaid and a newcomer with no file gets declined or charged a deposit. Prepaid sidesteps it and usually costs less.

Source: community-reported

Three airports means three different arrival experiences.

DCA is minutes from downtown on the Metro; Dulles is on the Silver Line but a long ride; BWI is in Maryland and served by commuter rail. Having a working US number before you land matters more here than in a one-airport city, because the ground transport choice is genuinely complicated.

Source: community-reported

MVNOs use the same towers for meaningfully less.

Mint, Visible, US Mobile and Google Fi lease capacity from the big three. Coverage is identical; you give up priority during congestion and retail support.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Bringing a carrier-locked handset and discovering it on arrival.
Applying for postpaid with no credit file and facing a large deposit.
Assuming continuous coverage in the deepest Metro stations.
Cancelling the old carrier before requesting the port, and losing the number.
Relying on a foreign number for bank and government SMS verification.

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

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