Keep Your French Number in Thailand for €2/Month: The Complete Free Mobile Expat Guide 2026
How to keep your French phone number in Thailand with Free Mobile's €2/month plan. Receive banking SMS, WiFi Calling, 2FA codes. Complete tested solution by a French expat in Thailand. Full iPhone and Android tutorial.
Author
The Problem Every Expat Knows
When you move abroad, losing your French phone number quickly becomes a nightmare: impossible to receive banking validation SMS, clients can't reach you, administrative procedures get blocked... Most French carriers charge a fortune for roaming or suspend your line after a few months abroad.
The Perfect Solution: Free Mobile's €2/Month Plan
Free Mobile offers a plan that completely changes the game for digital nomads. For only €2 per month, you keep your French number active indefinitely, no matter where you are in the world.
How Does It Actually Work?
- Subscribe to the Free €2/month plan (€0 if you already have a Freebox)
- Activate the international option in your customer area (free)
- Connect to WiFi from anywhere in the world
- Receive all your SMS instantly
- Make and receive calls via WiFi Calling as if you were in France
IMPORTANT: Roaming Must Be Enabled but Cellular Data Abroad via Mobile Network Must Be Disabled
How to Enable WiFi Calling on iPhone
To activate WiFi calling and receive your French calls anywhere in the world:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap Cellular
- If you have dual SIM, choose your French line (under the SIM section)
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling
- Enable Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone
Once enabled, you'll see "Wi-Fi" in the status bar. All your calls will then automatically go through WiFi when you're connected.
How to Enable WiFi Calling on Android
Quick setup for Android:
To activate WiFi calling and receive your French calls anywhere in the world:
Samsung
- Open Settings
- Go to Connections
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling
- Enable Wi-Fi Calling
Other Android (Xiaomi, OnePlus, Pixel, etc.)
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the 3 dots ⋮ in the top right
- Go to Settings > Calls
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling
- Enable Use Wi-Fi Calling
Alternative (if you can't find the option):
- Settings > Network & Internet
- SIM cards > Choose your Free SIM
- Wi-Fi Calling > Enable
My Personal Setup After 1 Year of Use
I use a two-phone system that works perfectly:
Phone 1 - The French One:
- Free Mobile SIM at €2
- Always connected to WiFi
- WhatsApp with my French number
- Receiving banking SMS and validation codes
- Client calls via WiFi Calling
Phone 2 - The Local One:
- Thai SIM (AIS/True/Dtac)
- Unlimited local data (300-500 THB/month)
- Hotspot for the French phone if needed
- Local apps (Grab, food delivery, etc.)
Concrete Daily Advantages
✅ Instant banking validation: Receive all your SMS codes for online payments and banking logins
✅ Professional credibility: Your French clients call you on a normal 06/07 number, no extra cost for them
✅ Zero explanation needed: No need to explain you're working from Asia if you don't want to
✅ Administrative procedures: Keep the same number for CAF, taxes, social security, etc.
✅ Two-factor authentication: All your accounts with SMS 2FA remain accessible
Extra Tips
- WiFi Calling: Check that your phone is compatible (all recent smartphones are)
- Call quality: With a good WiFi connection, quality is identical to a normal call
- Battery: Airplane mode + WiFi saves enormous battery
- WhatsApp Business: Keep your French professional number to reassure your clients
Why This Is a Game-Changer
Before this solution, digital nomads had to either:
- Pay €50-70/month for an international plan
- Lose their French number (catastrophic for business)
- Juggle with complex VoIP solutions
Now, for the price of a coffee per month, you keep your French anchor while enjoying your expat life.
How to Subscribe?
- Go to Free mobile
- Order your SIM card (delivery possible to a relative in France)
- Activate the €2 plan
- In your customer area, activate "International" and "WiFi Calling" options
- Leave with peace of mind!
My Verdict After 1 Year
This is clearly THE essential phone hack for any French person moving abroad. For €24 per year, you keep your number, your professional accessibility, and your peace of mind for all your French administrative procedures.
Honestly, at this price, even if you only use it for banking validation SMS, it's already worth it.
And you, did you know this trick? Share your own phone tips in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Free Mobile Work in Thailand?
Yes, the Free Mobile €2/month plan works perfectly in Thailand via WiFi Calling. You receive your SMS and calls as long as you're connected to WiFi. Mobile data roaming is not included in the €2 plan, but that's not a problem since everything goes through WiFi.
Can You Keep Your French Number When Living Abroad?
Absolutely. With the Free Mobile €2/month plan, your French number stays active indefinitely, even if you live abroad for years. Unlike other French carriers that suspend lines after a few months without connection to the French network, Free keeps your line active as long as the plan is paid.
Free Mobile or International Plan: Which to Choose?
For an expat who has WiFi access (which is the case for 99% of digital nomads), the Free €2 plan is largely sufficient. International plans at €50-70/month only make sense if you need mobile data abroad permanently. For SMS reception and WiFi calls, the €2 plan does exactly the same thing.
How to Receive Banking SMS in Thailand?
With the Free Mobile €2/month plan and WiFi Calling enabled, you receive all your SMS instantly in Thailand, including banking validation codes (3D Secure, strong authentication). You just need to be connected to WiFi. It's the simplest and cheapest solution to never miss a banking code.
Does WiFi Calling Work on All Phones?
WiFi Calling is compatible with the vast majority of recent smartphones: all iPhones since iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy (S, A, Note), Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and most Android phones released after 2018. Check in your network settings if the Wi-Fi Calling option is available.
Alternatives to Free Mobile for Expats
If the Free €2 plan doesn't suit you, here are the possible alternatives:
- Free €19.99/month plan: Includes 25 GB roaming data in 70+ countries (including Thailand). Ideal if you travel often and need mobile data.
- SFR RED International: Plans with included roaming, but more expensive and less flexible.
- VoIP apps: WhatsApp, Skype, or Google Voice for calls, but you don't keep your French number for validation SMS.
- International eSIM: Solutions like Airalo or Holafly for data, but they don't replace your French number.
Our recommendation: The winning combo for a French expat in Thailand is the Free €2/month plan to keep your French number + a Thai local SIM (AIS, True, or DTAC) for local data at around 300-500 THB/month (€8-14).
Official Resources
- Free Mobile — plans and WiFi Calling activation
- Service-Public.fr — your phone rights as a French expat