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EU roaming: How to stay connected across Europe in 2026
EU roaming lets you use your home plan across 32 European countries at no extra cost. See the %%currentyear%% country list, fair use rules, and charges.
EU roaming, also known as Roam Like at Home, is a European Union-wide policy that lets you use your mobile plan in other European countries with the same quality and at no extra cost. The agreement covers every EU country, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova.
Read on to see which countries are covered, whether your plan is included, and what to do if it isn’t. If your provider charges for roaming, a Holafly eSIM for Europe keeps you connected instead.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges in Europe. Use local networks at local rates.
How does roaming in Europe work?
Roaming in Europe works automatically. When your phone connects to a network in another covered country, your operator bills you at domestic rates instead of roaming rates. There’s nothing to sign up for: turn on data roaming on your phone and your usage comes out of your normal allowance.
The rules, known as Roam Like at Home, took effect on June 15, 2017, and cover the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Ukraine and Moldova joined on January 1, 2026. In June 2026, the EU also opened talks to add the Western Balkans, and the scheme has been extended until 2032.
The rules follow your SIM, not your passport. An EU roaming SIM from an operator in any covered country gets free roaming in the other 31. Travelers from outside the EU can buy a prepaid SIM from a local operator and use it for EU roaming abroad, but the same fair use rules apply.
Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of November 4, 2026, and is subject to change.
Which countries are covered by EU roaming?
All EU roaming plans include the following countries:
| Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova. |
The Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira are covered too, along with France’s overseas regions: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint Martin. They’re part of the EU, so the same rules apply.
The UK, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are outside the rules. Some operators include them in their plans, and others charge extra, so check your coverage before you travel.
Roaming regulations within the EU
The rules protect you from EU roaming charges, but a few conditions apply when roaming EU countries:
- Data limit: Europe data roaming comes out of your home allowance, but that allowance can be capped. Unlimited data abroad isn’t guaranteed. On unlimited or very low-cost plans, operators can set a roaming data limit, as long as they tell you the limit in advance and alert you when you reach 80% of it.
- Fair use: EU roaming is meant for travel. If you stay abroad longer than at home and use roaming more than your home network over a four-month period, your operator can contact you and add a surcharge.
- Calls and texts: There are no volume limits on calls or texts. They cost the same as on your home plan.
Do UK citizens need to pay roaming charges in the EU?
Since January 1, 2021, the UK has been outside Roam Like at Home, so UK operators no longer have to offer free roaming. For UK roaming, EU trips now depend on your provider and your plan:
- Included at no extra cost: O2, BT, giffgaff and Lebara, with data caps that vary by provider
- Depends on your plan: Three, EE and Vodafone UK. Some plans include EU roaming, while others add a daily charge or require a pass
- Pass required: EU roaming VOXI, customers need a European Roaming Pass to use their allowances in Europe
If you’re comparing EU roaming UK plans and yours doesn’t include Europe, switching providers can keep you roaming free on future trips.
Do EU residents have data roaming costs in the UK?
The rules work the same way in reverse. Since the UK left Roam Like at Home, EU operators don’t have to include it in their plans. Some still offer free roaming in the UK and others charge extra, so check your plan before you travel: whether the UK is covered at all, and how much data, how many minutes and how many texts you get there.
Stay connected across Europe with Holafly
If your plan doesn’t include EU roaming, or charges you for every day abroad, a Holafly eSIM gets you online as soon as you land, with no roaming fees from your home provider and no physical SIM to swap. The eSIM for Europe covers multiple countries on one plan and installs in a few minutes. Your home SIM stays in your phone the whole trip.
Holafly Europe eSIMs come in plans that match the length of your trip. Before you buy, check the list of Holafly Europe countries on the product page, especially if your route includes the UK, Switzerland, or other destinations outside the EU rules.
If you travel often or stay longer, Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly eSIM subscription that covers 160+ destinations. It comes in Unlimited and Light tiers, and you can cancel anytime. Plans include Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data in 150+ destinations at no added cost, so you stay reachable if your main data runs out.
If you work on the road, Holafly Ultra is designed for travelers who can’t afford to drop offline. It offers dependable coverage, protection for your data, and support from real people when something goes wrong.
Unlimited data. Peace of mind.
Make sure you have travel data that's there when you need it most.
Traveling across Europe? Check out our guides on:
FAQs about EU roaming
Yes, if your SIM comes from an operator in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine or Moldova. Free roaming covers calls, texts and data at home prices, within fair use limits. UK SIMs aren’t covered, so what you pay depends on your provider. If your plan charges abroad, a Holafly eSIM for Europe avoids daily roaming fees.
Turn on data roaming in your phone settings. With an EU SIM, the Roam Like at Home rules then apply automatically. Some UK providers also require roaming to be enabled on your account, or a pass bought before you use data. With a Holafly eSIM, you install it before your trip and switch it on when you land.
Not inside the EU if your SIM is from a covered country. EU roaming charges are banned as long as you stay within fair use. Outside those rules, data roaming usually costs money through daily charges, passes or per-MB rates. A Holafly eSIM gives you data abroad for a price you pay upfront, with no surprise roaming charges.
Usually it’s one of three things: data roaming is switched off on your phone, roaming isn’t enabled on your account, or you’ve hit your provider’s roaming data cap. Near borders, your phone can also connect to a non-EU network, such as Andorra or Switzerland. Restart your phone and select a local network manually. A Holafly eSIM gives you a separate data connection as a backup.
It depends on your trip: how many countries you’ll visit, how long you’ll stay and how much data you need. Look for coverage across the whole EU plus any non-EU stops, like the UK or Switzerland. Holafly’s eSIM for Europe covers multiple countries on one plan, and Holafly Plans suits people who travel often.
Yes. Lebara UK includes EU roaming in all its SIM Only plans. You can use all your data if your plan has under 30 GB, or up to 30 GB on bigger plans. Most destinations outside the EU and India need an add-on. If you want coverage beyond Europe on one plan, Holafly Plans covers 160+ destinations.
O2, Three, Vodafone UK, BT, giffgaff and VOXI all offer roaming outside the EU, mostly through add-ons, daily charges or passes. Some higher-tier plans from O2, Three and Vodafone UK include selected worldwide destinations, and Lebara includes India. Holafly Plans covers 160+ destinations on one monthly subscription.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
