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Telstra international roaming: Plans, prices, and how to use your phone abroad
With Telstra international roaming, you can use your phone abroad. Learn more about Telstra's roaming day passes, prepaid packs, charges, validity, and allowances.
As a Telstra customer, you can access various roaming options that let you use your phone abroad. But which packages can you use, and are they worth the price?
This guide covers everything you need to know about the different Telstra international roaming plans and rates. We also offer an alternative way to stay connected internationally for less: unlimited data travel eSIM.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges on holiday. Use local networks at local rates.
What is Telstra international roaming?
Telstra offers an international roaming service to eligible customers, allowing them to use their primary Australian Telstra eSIM or SIM to text, call, and stay connected while travelling outside Australia. This is possible through partnerships with foreign carriers.
It’s worth noting that since Telstra acquired Boost in December 2024, Boost now operates on the full Telstra network. However, despite this connection, Telstra and Boost remain separate providers, and their international roaming plans are not interchangeable.
Coming back to Telstra’s international roaming options, there are three distinct categories of plans, including:
- International roaming Day Pass
- Pre-Paid International Roaming Packs (for pre-paid users)
- Pay-As-You-Go
Telstra international roaming destinations
Roaming destinations available depend on your roaming plan. Telstra’s international roaming Day Pass plan covers three zones and 80 destinations in regions such as Africa, the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and Europe.
| Zones | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (Western), Tonga, Vanuatu |
| 2 | Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Greenland, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States of America, Uruguay, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor (Leste), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos*, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Armenia, Austria, Belarus*, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Solomon Islands |
| 3 | Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Jamaica |
Telstra’s Pre-Paid International Roaming Packs are available in 38 countries with your Telstra pre-paid mobile plan.
| Europe | Asia | Oceania | North America |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom | China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand | Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (also known as Western Samoa), Tonga, and Vanuatu | Canada and the United States of America |
Telstra’s default Pay-As-You-Go plan (when not on an International Roaming Day Pass or Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack) is available in 161 destinations, including Egypt, Morocco, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, France, Italy, Spain, Fiji, and French Polynesia.
Before purchasing a Telstra roaming plan, double-check to ensure the destination you’re travelling to is a part of your chosen plan.
Telstra international roaming charges
Charges for each international roaming plan range from:
- Day Pass: $5-10 per day
- Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack: $10-25
- Pay-As-You-Go: $3 per MB, 75c per text, and $1.50-5 per minute on call
Here’s a more detailed review of each plan and associated charges for various popular destinations.
Telstra international roaming plans
As mentioned, Telstra offers three international roaming options for staying connected while travelling abroad. This side-by-side comparison of each plan’s features, including validity, destinations, price, and allowance, will help you decide.
| Plans | Day Pass | Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack | Pay-As-You-Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $5-25 (based on Zones) | $10-25 | $3 per MB, 75c per SMS, $1.50-5 per minute (based on destination) |
| Validity | 1 day | 3-14 days | – |
| Destinations | 80+ (based on Zones) | 38 destinations | 161 destinations |
| Data | 2 GB | 400 MB – 4 GB | – |
| Calls | Unlimited | 15-50 minutes | – |
| Text | Unlimited | 15-50 SMS or MMS | – |
Now, let’s look at each plan more closely to determine the best fit for your needs.
Telstra Day Pass
This international roaming day pass is eligible for Telstra customers who maintain Upfront and non-Upfront phone plans.
The packages are split into three options. The Zone 1 plan costs $5/day and covers only destinations in Oceania. Zone 2 costs $10/day, covering 80+ global destinations. With both Zones 1 and 2, you’ll receive 2 GB of daily data, which is trackable via the My Telstra app, alongside unlimited SMS and calls.
However, it’s essential to know that Zone 3 destinations do NOT offer a data allowance, only calls and texts. Plus, they are only available for Upfront plans. Here’s a quick breakdown of the specifications in full:
| Zones | Price | Data | Talk | Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5 | 2 GB per day | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| 2 | $10 | 2 GB per day | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| 3 | $10 | – | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Telstra Day Pass plans can take 15 minutes to 2 hours to activate. It’s also crucial to remember that each time you activate your day pass, it is valid for 24 hours. If you turn off your roaming before the 24 hours is up, you will still be charged for the 24-hour period.
Telstra Pre-paid International Roaming
You can also buy a pre-paid roaming plan through the My Telstra App. These Pre-paid International Packs are eligible for customers with a Telstra pre-paid mobile plan and are available in 38 countries. You can also purchase these packs once you arrive at the destination.
These roaming packs are suitable for travellers who are looking at more extended stays, ranging from one to two weeks. There are three international roaming packs to choose from: 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day validity.
| Pre-paid International Packs | Validity | Price | Data | Talk | Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack 1 | 3 | $10 | 400 MB | 15 minutes | 15 SMS |
| Pack 2 | 7 | $15 | 2 GB | 25 minutes | 25 SMS |
| Pack 3 | 14 | $25 | 4 GB | 50 minutes | 50 SMS |
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution to your connection worries on an extended vacation, Holafly Connect might be the answer.
28 days with Telstra will give you 8 GB for $50. A month with Holafly Connect comes in at $39.90 for 10 GB or $64.90 for unlimited data
Pay-As-You-Go
Pay-As-You-Go only applies if you’re not on Telstra’s Day Pass plans or haven’t activated any Pre-paid International Roaming Packs. These can get quite expensive and are only feasible for a quick stop at another destination.
Telstra’s pay-as-you-go rates are $3 per MB and 75c per text message. Their voice rates per minute vary from region to region: $3 per minute for Canada, $1.50 for South Africa, $2 per minute for Malaysia, and $2 per minute for Italy.
How to add an international plan to Telstra
You can activate Telstra’s Day Pass roaming plans or a Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack through the My Telstra App. Here are the steps:
- Open the My Telstra App.
- Tap My services
- Tap Extras > International Roaming
- Toggle the Day Pass option to turn it on
Pre-paid packs will activate as soon as you purchase them, so doing this once you reach your destination is the best option. However, finding a good WiFi connection might still be an obstacle.
Do you need to turn on data roaming for Telstra international plans?
Yes, data roaming must be turned on for international roaming plans to work, especially if you want to use mobile data while abroad. Without enabling data roaming in your mobile phone’s settings, your device won’t connect to international networks for internet access, even if you’ve purchased an international roaming plan or pre-paid pack.
Here’s how you can turn on data roaming to activate international roaming on your cell phone:
How to turn on data roaming in an iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Mobile Service.
- Tap your primary number.
- Scroll down and toggle the Data Roaming button.
How to turn on data roaming in an Android device:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Network and Internet or Connections.
- Tap Mobile network
- Turn Data roaming on.
How to avoid high Telstra global roaming costs
International roaming rates can add up easily when travelling abroad, especially if you’re unaware of how roaming works. After going through Telstra’s various options, here are some further tips to help you keep your roaming costs under control.
Know where you’re covered
Before using Telstra overseas, always check if your destination is included in Telstra’s roaming zones. Even if you have an active roaming plan, you’ll be subject to expensive pay-as-you-go rates if you use your phone in a non-eligible destination.
Monitor your data usage
Telstra’s Day Passes and Pre-Paid International Roaming packs have data limits. To avoid extra charges and overages, turn off background data, disable international roaming when you’re not using your phone, turn off auto-updates, and download maps and entertainment before your trip. Voice calls and text messages do not use data.
Consider a smarter eSIM alternative like Holafly
If you’re planning a holiday abroad, relying on international roaming plans can become costly and restrictive, especially with capped data and country limitations. Holafly eSIMs offer unlimited data in over 200 destinations, allowing you to stay connected without worrying about data limits or surprise fees.
eSIMs typically don’t include traditional text or voice call allowances, but you can easily stay in touch using apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, and Facebook.
As a digital SIM, you don’t need to swap physical SIMS, visit stores to register local SIMs, or interrupt your regular number for messaging apps like WhatsApp. Plus, you can easily extend your plan by adding more days from the Holafly app if needed.
Overall, it’s an ideal solution for travellers who want a stress-free, budget-friendly way to use their phone abroad.
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International eSIMs, local networks. Enjoy the best of both worlds with Holafly.
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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!
