topic Re: EE Roaming - Getting ready to use your phone abroad in Roaming

EE Roaming - Getting ready to use your phone abroad

Linzi_H — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:36:16 GMT

If you’re going abroad soon and want to use your device for calls, texts and data, here’s everything you need to know.

How do I set up roaming before going abroad?

If you have a pay as you go SIM, please make sure you use this within the UK first before heading abroad to activate roaming. This includes making a call or sending a text whilst connected to the EE Network.

If you're a pay monthly customer, you’ll need to make sure to activate roaming.
Follow one of the steps below:

Text ROAMING to 150 and follow the prompts.
Get in touch with our Mobile Guides to make sure your account is fully set up.

It can take up to 24 hours to activate on your account, so it's important to set it up before you travel.

Can I use my minutes, texts and data when abroad?

For the most accurate information for your contract, follow one of the steps below:

Visit our Roaming Costs help page. This will show you personalised roaming costs and add-ons.
Log into your EE account online, or EE app. Head to Manage> Roaming> Check your roaming costs.
Get in touch with our Mobile Guides to run through all available options.

Can I use my voicemail abroad?

If you wish to access your voicemail messages when roaming, here are some great tips:

You will need to set up a voicemail PIN before you travel.
If you would prefer not to receive voicemails when abroad text VM OFF to 150 before you travel. Once you're back in the UK simply text VM ON to 150.

To check potential charges for using your voicemail abroad, please visit our Roaming Costs help page.

How long can I use my phone abroad for?

The EE fair use policy includes you being a permanent resident in, or having a stable link to, the UK. We will consider you to have a stable link to the UK if, during any four-month period, you:

Spend a total of two months or more within the UK; or
Mainly use your inclusive voice, text or data usage allowances in the UK, rather than while you're roaming.

Full information on stable links can be found in the terms and conditions.

If you have any questions, tap 'Reply' below.

Re: EE Roaming - Getting ready to use your phone abroad

SuzBanes — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:33:15 GMT

Hi,

I want the opposite, why are there no help articles about this? I want to turn OFF all mobile data when I'm on holiday. I do NOT want any possibility of charges for calls, texts, or connecting to a network abroad. I ONLY want to use wi-fi. Can someone please give a simple solutions for this?

Should I just use airplane mode? But if I had to restart my phone, for example, airplane mode will turn off. And I've heard people say that even with mobile data and roaming turned off, they still got charges.

Please give me a clear and simple answer.

Re: EE Roaming - Getting ready to use your phone abroad

Peter_W — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:15:38 GMT

Welcome to the Community, @SuzBanes

Airplane mode is a great way of totally preventing any roaming connections going through your phone, but there are a few other options you can look at too.

The exact way to do this depends on your phone model, but many phones will have an option to block data roaming in your connection settings.

Another option is our spend caps - if you set this to no spend, it will stop the daily EU charge for roaming, but not prevent you opting into a pass.

Both of these options will only stop you getting online though, and will not block calls or texts.

Finally if you give our customer care team a call, they can fully disable roaming on your account, which would 100% prevent your phone from being able to connect to an international network.

Peter