How long does it take Apple to approve a carrier for Apple Watch eSIM?

If you want your watch to be a cellular watch, then yes, move to a carrier which supports Apple Watch, makes the most sense.

Ps: IdrisSeabright offered some excellent insight into this. There are carriers here in the US who use Verizon - T-Mobile - AT&T services as NVMO providers, who do not support Apple Watch, while the actual carriers do. This is what one often gets with budget carrier services.

This is a user to user only forum and no one here is associated with Apple. We have no inside knowledge of if or when a carrier will support Apple Watch. From my research, it's on the carrier to work with Apple to put in the infrastructure to be able to support Apple Watch. But again, as we all users like you, we cannot answer your question with any authority.

If I were in your situation, I'd move my cellular service to a carrier who supports Apple Watch and not wait for some day in the future your carrier may or may never support Apple Watch.

Christian Sømme wrote:

In Norway, we have three physical mobile phone network operators that (are forced to) allow other carriers to provide services within their networks. Swedish Telia is approved for Apple Watch eSIM, but the carrier Chilimobil is not – even though it operates in exactly the same network. This indicates that the approval has to do with paperwork and not the network itself.

It sounds like you’re saying that Chilimobil uses Telia’s network. This means they probably have to pay Telia for the privilege. It’s also possible that they offer service at a lower price than Telia. They may simply have razor thing profit margins and not want to/be currently unable to afford to update their systems to support the Apple Watch set up (which isn’t just a straight up activate an eSIM situation). In most cases, Apple Watches are sharing a number with an iPhone. This requires changes in carrier’s billing and call routing systems. So, it’s possible, Apple has nothing to do with why Chilimobil doesn’t offer this feature.

Yes, carriers always point to Apple when there is a problem, even when the issue isn’t Apple. I say this based on my experience working for a major U.S. carrier for over twenty years.

You've very welcome and best wishes to you as well!