What is an ICCID: what the digits mean, where to find it, and how it differs from EID and IMEI

An ICCID is the unique serial number of one SIM card or of one eSIM profile. ITU-T Recommendation E.118 calls it the integrated circuit card identifier, and it always starts with 89. A provider uses it to tell your SIM or plan apart from every other one. Your phone number and your handset number are separate things.

What do the digits of an ICCID mean?

An ICCID is built from parts that carry fixed meanings, so it is not a random string. According to ITU-T E.118 (09/2025), the leading 89 is the major industry identifier that ISO/IEC assigned to ITU-T for telecommunications.

E.118 caps the MII, country code and issuer identifier at a combined maximum of seven digits. In practice, the opening digits of an ICCID therefore hint at which country's operator issued the SIM.

How many digits does an ICCID have?

ITU-T E.118 (09/2025) states that the primary account number, which is the ICCID, shall be 19 digits long. ETSI TS 102 221 stores the ICCID in the file EF ICCID as 10 bytes padded with F, which leaves room for up to 20 digits.

• Read the number exactly as the screen or the SIM shows it, and never trim or add digits.
• Some cards show a different length from 19 digits, so copy the whole string.
• If the last character is a letter, send it as shown.

Where do you find the ICCID on an iPhone?

According to Apple Support, open Settings > General > About and scroll down to see the EID, IMEI/MEID and ICCID in the SIM or eSIM section. Touch and hold a number to copy it.

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Tap About and scroll down to the SIM or eSIM section.
3. Touch and hold the ICCID and choose copy, so you can paste it into the support chat exactly.
4. With several lines, check whether the number you copied belongs to the travel eSIM or the main SIM.

On a Mac, select the iPhone in Finder (or in the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows) and click Phone Number under the device name to see the EID, IMEI/MEID and ICCID. The ICCID is not on the box, because Apple lists only the serial number, EID and IMEI/MEID on the packaging barcode; the ICCID belongs to the SIM, not to the phone.

Where do you find the ICCID on Android?

Android menus differ by maker and version (Samsung, Google Pixel and others), so no single path works on every phone. Start at Settings > About phone > SIM status, or ask the seller where your model shows it.

• Google Pixel: Google's help page lists the IMEI and EID at Settings > About phone > SIM status but does not mention the ICCID.
• Samsung: Samsung's SIM page shows Settings > About phone > Status information > SIM card status but does not mention the ICCID.
• If you cannot find it, use the number printed on the physical SIM or the one your provider shows in its email and order page.

What is the difference between ICCID, EID and IMEI?

The three numbers identify three different things: the SIM or profile, the eSIM chip and the phone. ITU-T E.118 notes that the EID, defined by GSMA, shall not consist of the major industry identifier 89, so an EID can never be mistaken for an ICCID by its prefix.

Google says a Pixel that supports both eSIM and a physical SIM has two IMEI numbers, and that a phone needs an EID before it can use an eSIM. The wider background is in the guide “What is an eSIM?”.

Why does support ask for your ICCID, and is it safe to share?

GSMA SGP.22 lists the ICCID as the identifier of a downloaded profile and includes it in the data used for download orders. A seller can therefore use it to find the exact profile and plan that belongs to you.

• Share the ICCID only with the provider or shop you bought the eSIM from.
• Do not post a screenshot of the About page publicly, because the same page also shows the EID and IMEI.
• Crop the image to the one number the support agent asked for.
• Apple advises having your IMEI or EID ready when you contact a carrier about eSIM setup.

What should you check about your SIM and data before you fly?

Before you fly, note the ICCID of your travel eSIM and keep it somewhere you can open without signal. If data fails on arrival, you can send the number to support quickly, and you should keep your main SIM on to receive bank OTP messages.

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