How to Buy a SIM Card in Niger in 2026

If an older guide sends you to Orange in Niger, look for Zamani instead: the former Orange Niger network now trades as Zamani Telecom, according to a February 2026 report. So when you look for a SIM in Niamey you will choose between Airtel, Zamani and Moov. A local SIM is cheap but must be registered with your passport, and fast mobile data is limited to the main towns. If you were looking for an eSIM on Airtel Niger, our pay-as-you-go eSIM runs on that network; this guide covers it, our Orange World eSIM, and the three local networks and what they cost.

Airtel, Zamani or Moov

All three sell prepaid SIMs. Sources disagree on which has the best coverage: one says Airtel reaches furthest across the country, another that the former Orange network gives reliable 4G in the towns. One guide says Moov offers more value for data than Airtel and Zamani. If you are working outside Niamey, ask your hosts or employer which network they use where you are going.

According to one guide, 4G is available only in Niamey, Agadez, Zinder and a few other places. Elsewhere expect slower data, or none.

Registration and the passport

SIM registration is mandatory and enforced. Visitors register with a passport; residents can use a NINA card. Unregistered lines can be cut off, so buy from an operator's own shop or an official agent who registers the SIM in front of you, rather than from a street seller.

What a SIM and data cost

The SIM card itself costs very little:

• One travel guide says the official price of a prepaid SIM is about $1, but airport sellers asked $10, and others $3.
• Other guides give about 300 CFA for an Airtel SIM, about 300 CFA with 250 CFA of credit for the former Orange SIM, and 500 XOF for a Moov SIM.

For data, one guide reports 2GB for 7 days on Moov for 1,000 XOF; another says bundles start at 1GB for 1,000 CFA. Ask at the shop for the current offers, and agree the price before you hand over cash at the airport.

Our eSIMs for Niger

The Orange World 20GB eSIM lists Niger in its coverage. It costs $28 for 20GB, valid 30 days from first use, with a French +33 number, 15 minutes of calls and 50 texts. There is no passport registration: you install it at home and it connects when you land in Niamey. The same eSIM covers Nigeria and more than 90 other countries if your trip continues.

The Global PAYG Data eSIM is the lighter option. It costs $20 with €17.50 of credit, works on the Airtel network in Niger, and charges only for the data you use. On arrival, set the network to Airtel by hand in your phone's settings. Credit you do not use stays on the eSIM for later trips.

Which to choose? Orange World suits a trip with calls and texts as well as data, and a fixed price for the month. The pay-as-you-go eSIM suits light use, or a short visit to Niamey where you will mostly be on hotel Wi-Fi. Both keep your own SIM in the phone. To receive bank codes on a separate number, the O2 SMS Only eSIM gives you a private UK +44 number for texts for $8 a month.

What to sort out before you travel

Check that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. Install our eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, leave it off during the flight, and switch it on when you land. Download offline maps for the areas outside the main towns, where data may be slow. If you will also buy a local SIM, keep your passport with you rather than packed away.

Comparing your options

Our recommendation

For a work trip or a visit of up to a month, install the Orange World 20GB eSIM before you fly: you have data and a number from the moment you land, without the registration queue. If you only need data for messages and maps, the Global PAYG Data eSIM on Airtel costs less. For a long stay or lots of local calls, add an Airtel, Zamani or Moov SIM from a shop in Niamey. Our eSIM installation guide takes you through the set-up, and all the plans are on the Niger eSIM page.