Best mobile/sim arrangement for living overseas with regular uk visits

Johnnylad

We’re about to move to Kenya and are likely to get Kenyan SIM cards, but will be in the UK often enough to wait to keep our numbers.

looking for people’s opinions on the following options or their own better ideas!

1.
swap current UK contracts to cheap payg deals and simply put these sims back into iPhone when back in UK.

2. 
get some sort of dual sim. Can we port our UK phone number to an e-sim?

Any thoughts?

PHK

How often is often enough ? (You may run into problems with the need for regular usage)
Will you retain a UK address? (Without one you’ll be limited )

Johnnylad

At least once annually but for 3-4 weeks each time.
We’ll have a c/o address only.

PHK

You’ll need a pay as you go sim that will allow you to register via the c/o address. You could use an unregistered SIM but you wouldn’t be able to port your numbers) You’ll also need to use the phone more often than once a year. As they require a chargeable action or top-up every few months. 

I’m not sure if overseas usage would count towards the minimum usage requirements. I’ve heard people say that it doesn’t for some networks. 

Johnnylad

Thanks. I worried they might need regular use. 

Maybe we’ll just have to get new numbers