‘Roaming’ is when you use your mobile or other devices abroad to make calls, send messages or use the internet. Roaming can result in extra charges, so it’s important to check your package or speak to your provider before you go overseas.
Find out about roaming charges
Mobile phone companies must publish their roaming charges on their website. Your provider should be able to explain the relevant charges and any packages or discounts.
When you enter another country, providers must send you an automatic message (unless you’ve opted out) to explain any roaming charges or usage limits.
Top tips to save money while abroad
Set a bill limit
You can set a monthly spend limit on your bill. Once set, your mobile company must notify you when the limit is likely to be reached. They can only charge more than the limit if you agree to it. We have more tips on mobile bill limits.
Check for offers
Check if your provider has any roaming offers. They might offer a daily or weekly charge to use your usual home allowance or the option to buy bundles of calls, texts, or data for while you’re away.
Turn off data roaming
To help limit data usage, you can turn off data roaming on your mobile.
Use Wi-FI where available
If you want to regularly use the internet on your mobile, you could use local Wi-Fi hotspots instead of mobile internet. This is particularly useful for downloading maps, checking emails or using social media – all of which would use your mobile data if you weren’t using Wi-Fi.
Download before you go
To help avoid data charges, download any favourite playlists, podcasts or TV shows before you travel.
Don't forget the kids
Before you travel, check whether your children’s devices could receive roaming charges.
Avoid using lots of data
If you're not using Wi-Fi, avoid data-heavy activities like watching videos, uploading photos to social media or downloading music, and avoid opening large attachments.
Consider a different SIM
You might want to buy a SIM card for the country you are visiting or an ‘e-SIM’ (some mobiles can use virtual SIMs which allow you to use different mobile networks).
Other advice
Accidental or inadvertent roaming
If you are near a border region (for example Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland or Turkey and Greece) your phone might accidentally roam. This can happen when the mobile signal is stronger from the country across the border than the one you’re in. Providers must give you information on how to prevent this. They must also help you to reduce or limit your roaming costs while you’re in the UK. For example, some providers might not charge customers in Northern Ireland if their mobile roams to an Irish network.
Using your mobile on a ferry or cruise
On the coast or at sea, mobiles may not be able to connect to land-based networks and may instead connect to a ship’s satellite. Charges for this can be higher than normal roaming.
If you think you’ll use your mobile at sea, check with your provider for potential costs before you travel. You could consider manually selecting a preferred network while at sea to avoid satellite connections, but signals can vary and this will mean you wouldn't receive calls or texts when out of range of the network you’ve selected.
Ferry operators might also be able to offer advice on avoiding unexpected charges and information about any onboard wifi packages.
When your mobile might not work abroad
2G and 3G networks are gradually being switched off around the world. Each country has a different timetable for switch-off. If you’re travelling to a country where the switch-off has already begun, it might affect your roaming. In some cases, you might not be able to make calls or access data unless you are connected to Wi-Fi - especially if you have an older phone. Most UK customers already have 4G (and increasingly 5G) capable devices and their services are less likely to be affected. Speak to your provider before you leave the UK.
3G mobile networks are now switched off in the UK. We have published a guide to 2G and 3G switch-off in the UK.
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