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Optus international roaming: Rates, plans, and how it works
How does Optus international roaming work? Learn more about using your phone abroad with Optus international roaming plans, prices, and more.
If you’re planning to travel abroad from Australia and want to ensure your internet connection is uninterrupted, understanding international roaming is essential.
Whether you’re an existing Optus customer or interested in Optus’ international roaming and want to know how you can use your phone abroad, Optus offers various plans, rates, and options to help you stay connected while travelling overseas.
From Optus roaming passes to standard roaming rates, there are multiple ways to manage your roaming usage based on your destinations and data needs. This guide will cover everything you need to know about international roaming Optus services, plus a practical alternative – an eSIM for travel – that provides smarter connectivity while abroad.
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What is Optus international roaming?
Optus international roaming allows you to stay connected and use your Optus SIM or Optus eSIM for calls, texts, and mobile data as you travel abroad. This service is available to both postpaid and prepaid customers, although features and pricing may vary depending on your plan type.
Optus offers three international roaming plans for postpaid users:
- Optus Daily Roaming
- Optus Roaming Pass
- Standard Roaming
Optus Daily Roaming and Optus Roaming Pass offer roaming access in specific eligible destinations for a flat daily fee. On the other hand, the Standard Roaming plan includes paying per minute for calls and higher charges to access data depending on the destination. This plan only applies if an Optus customer does not opt in for any options.
For prepaid customers, Optus offers Prepaid Roaming packs. These include four add-on features that customers can purchase to use their prepaid SIM abroad. Packs can vary from data only to calls, messages, and data packs.
Optus roaming destinations
Optus roaming is not a one-size-fits-all service; the list of destinations depends on whether you’re a postpaid or prepaid user and even varies between plans.
| Plans | Zones | Destinations included |
|---|---|---|
| Optus Daily Roaming | 1 | Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam |
| Optus Roaming Pass | 1 | Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam |
| Standard Roaming | 1-2 | Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Cote D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen. Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Kiribati, Laos, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, St Barthelemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos |
| Prepaid Roaming packs | 1 | Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam |
Optus Daily Roaming and Optus Roaming Pass are available in over 110 Zone 1 destinations.
Optus’ Standard Roaming is available for over 170 Zone 1 (Portugal, Australia, Sweden, Denmark) and Zone 2 destinations (South Africa, India, Turkey, Mexico).
Meanwhile, the Prepaid Roaming packs are only available in Zone 1 countries.
Before making your purchase, double-check that the plan you’re interested in covers the destination you’re travelling to.
Optus roaming charges
Charges for each international roaming plan start at:
- Optus Daily Roaming: $5 AUD per day
- Optus Roaming Pass: $10 per day
- Standard Roaming: $1.50/minute for calls, $0.50/texts sent, $1/MB
- Prepaid Roaming packs: $1/MB or $2/MB in maritime or aerospace
Optus international roaming plans: A breakdown
Before taking a closer look at each Optus international roaming plan and analysing which plan might be best for you, here’s a brief side-by-side comparison:
| Plan | Optus Daily Roaming | Optus Roaming Pass | Standard Roaming | Prepaid roaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/day | $10 for 24 hours | – | $5-20 for 1-14 days |
| Destinations | 110+ (Zone 1) | 110+ (Zone 1) | 170+ (Zone 1 and Zone 2) | 110+ (Zone 1 only) |
| Data | 5 GB/day | 1 GB for 24 hours | $1 per 1 MB ($2 per MB at sea or in-flight | 1-10 GB |
| Call | Unlimited/day | Unlimited for 24 hours | Rates depend on the country | 100-700 minutes |
| Text | Unlimited/day | Unlimited for 24 hours | Rates depend on the country | 100-700 texts |
Here are some more details on each option in terms of pricing and talk, text, and data allowance:
Optus Daily Roaming
Optus Daily Roaming is the most popular option travellers tend to choose. However, it is only available for customers on the following plans:
- Optus Choice Plus
- Optus Plus Family
- Optus Plus Promo
- Business Choice Plus
You can find out if you’re on either of these plans by going into the settings on the My Optus app. You can use your mobile in over 110 Zone 1 destinations if you’re eligible for this plan. You’ll get a daily allowance of 5 GB of data, with unlimited calls and texts for $5/day.
Optus Roaming Pass
For most Optus customers on certain postpaid plans, you can purchase a 24-hour roaming pass in the same 110+ zone 1 countries as the Optus Daily Roaming plan. For $10/day, you’ll get 1 GB of data allowance per 24 hours and unlimited calls and texts.
Standard Roaming
Optus’ Standard Roaming option only applies if you’re not eligible for the other plans: these include the Optus Daily Roaming, Optus Roaming Pass, or Prepaid Roaming packs.
If you use your phone abroad to access the internet, make calls, or send texts, you’ll be subject to standard roaming rates. This means paying per minute for calls, per MB for data, and per text. Rates depend on where you travel; here’s a range of what charges to expect: between $1.50-4 per minute for calls, $0.50-1 per text sent, and $1-2 per MB of data.
Prepaid Roaming packs
For users with prepaid SIMs, Optus offers four add-on features or packs. You can choose from various packs based on your needs, including data-only packs, calls, messages, and data packs, and calls and messages-only packs.
Here’s a table breaking down each of Optus’ Prepaid Roaming packs for a clearer picture:
| Pack | Talk, Text Data pack 1 | Talk, Text Data pack 2 | Travel Credit | Data Only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Validity | 1 day | 7 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Destination | Zone 1 countries only | Zone 1 countries only | – | Only eligible as an add-on in 10 countries |
| Price | $5 | $35 | $10 | $20 |
| Data | 1 GB | 7 GB | Credit can be used for data | 10 GB |
| Calls | 100 minutes | 700 minutes | Credit can be used for calls | – |
| Text | 100 calls | 100 calls | Credit can be used for texts | – |
While Optus’ Prepaid Roaming packs can be helpful in select destinations, they come with limited data, short validity periods, and require manual activation. Not all countries are supported — the data-only pack only covers 10 countries. And let’s face it: in a digitalised world where our most popular apps consume the most data, you’ll definitely need more than 10 GB for 14 days. Usage beyond your allowance can result in high charges.
For frequent travellers, remote workers, or digital nomads, Holafly Connect offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution. With coverage in over 170 destinations, three monthly plan options — including an unlimited data plan for just $64.90 (~$100 AUD) — and unlimited hotspot tethering, Holafly Connect eliminates the hassle of constantly buying short-term roaming add-ons.
It’s ideal for those looking to stay connected abroad without worrying about roaming usage, restricted service, or unused data limits.
How to turn on international roaming for Optus
If you’re on an eligible plan, Optus Daily Roaming activates automatically as soon as your device detects you’re abroad. The same applies when your plan is eligible for Optus Roaming Pass.
You can track your usage through the My Optus app, which will be shown on your home screen dashboard. Optus also sends you alerts when you’re close to your limits. Or you can use a data calculator to accurately estimate how much data you’ll use on your trip.
If you’re not on an eligible plan for Optus Daily Roaming or Optus Roaming Pass, and you haven’t purchased any Prepaid Roaming packs, Standard Roaming rates will apply automatically.
Do you need to turn on data roaming for Optus international plans?
Yes, you must have data roaming turned on in both your My Optus settings and your phone. If you don’t turn it on, your roaming plan will not be activated, and you won’t have access to your data, texts or calls allowance. You’ll only need your data allowance, however, to access the internet; calls and texts do not use data.
How to turn on data roaming in an iPhone:
- 1. Go to Settings.
- 2. Tap Mobile Service.
- 3. Tap your primary number.
- 4. Scroll down and toggle the Data Roaming button.
How to turn on data roaming in an Android device:
- 1. Go to Settings.
- 2. Tap Network and Internet or Connections.
- 3. Tap Mobile network
- 4. Turn Data roaming on.
An alternative to Optus roaming: Unlimited data with Holafly
Optus offers various international roaming options, but there are limits. For example, Optus Daily Roaming and Optus Roaming Pass are only accessible if you’re already on an eligible plan.
While Standard Roaming is financially feasible for a 1-2 day trip, paying varying rates depending on your destination for 3 days or more will take a toll on your wallet. Finally, Optus’ Prepaid Roaming packs are expensive when you compare them to eSIM services like Holafly.
| Plans | Validity | Data | Destinations | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optus Daily Roaming | 24 hours | 5 GB | 110+ | $5 per day |
| Optus Roaming Pass | 24 hours | 1 GB | 110+ | $10 for 24 hours |
| Standard Roaming | – | Pay per MB | 170+ | $1 per 1 MB |
| Prepaid Roaming | 14 days | 10 GB | 10 countries | $20 |
| Holafly eSIMs | 1-90 days | Unlimited | 200+ | As little as $2 AUD per day |
Holafly eSIMs offer unlimited data in over 200 destinations at extremely affordable prices, making them a smarter alternative to roaming passes or prepaid packs. For example, here are the prices alongside trip days for Holafly’s most popular eSIM for Europe:
- 1-day trip: $10 AUD
- 4-day trip: $20
- 8-day trip: $49
You have the flexibility of matching your plan to your vacation duration, so you never have to pay for any days you don’t use. With 24/7 customer support, no SIM swapping, a dedicated Holafly app for both iPhone and Android, and instant connection as soon as you land, it doesn’t get better than this.
Match your eSIM to your vacation
Choose a plan lasting between 1 and 90 days so you never pay for days or data you don't use.
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Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
