How to Use Your Phone Internationally & Avoiding Roaming Fees
AT&T WirelessSM
How to use your cell phone internationally
If you’re reading this article, you’re likely excited for an upcoming trip. Hotel and flights are booked. The itinerary and every place you want to see are finalized. But one important issue remains: how to stay connected via your cell phone when traveling abroad. Whether you’re traveling to Canada, Mexico, or far overseas, this article will explain your options. We’ll also share advice on how to use your cell phone internationally, how to do it affordably without overpaying, and how AT&T International Day Pass® will come in handy during your travels.
Info at a glance
- Can I use my mobile phone internationally?
- What is the low-cost way to use my phone overseas?
- What is AT&T International Day Pass and how do I activate it?
- Does AT&T International Day Pass turn on automatically?
- Can I use my AT&T cell phone for free in Canada?
- Can I use my AT&T cell phone for free in Mexico?
- Does AT&T charge for international calls and texts when calling from the U.S.?
Can I use my mobile phone internationally?
Yes, you can! But roaming rules and rates vary, so learn what to do before you travel and how to activate your international feature once you land. The last thing you want is to land at your destination and realize you have no service, or worse, come back from your vacation and get hit with unexpected charges on your bill.
Whether it’s for an emergency or simply to stay connected on land and at sea with your friends and family while traveling abroad, being able to call, text, and use your data is crucial. That’s where AT&T International Day Pass comes in.
What is the low-cost way to use my phone overseas?
Unexpected charges can rack up quickly. Think about each text message you send, phone call you make, and photo you share. Using social media and navigation apps also counts towards data usage. Luckily, you have several options to stay connected when traveling internationally without breaking the bank.
1. AT&T International Day Pass®
AT&T Wireless℠ customers with an unlimited plan can get great value abroad with International Day Pass. AT&T International Day Pass lets you use your phone as you do at home for $12 per day on land. Additional lines on the same account, used the same day, are $6 per line per day. This includes unlimited data,* talk, and text with your eligible AT&T Wireless unlimited plan. plus, International Day Pass covers more than 210 destinations.
If you’re taking a cruise abroad and plan to use your cell phone at sea, you can stay connected for $20 per day. This also includes unlimited talk, text, and data in port and on land excursions.
Learn more about staying connected with International Day Pass on land and at sea
When added to your unlimited plan. Coverage and data speed vary by destination and may be changed. After 500MB of data use within a 24-hour period, data speeds may be reduced to a maximum of 512Kbps on certain ships.
2. Pay-per-use prices for roaming
What does roaming mean? Roaming allows you to make calls, send texts, and use wireless data even when you're outside of your domestic network's boundaries. This means you can still access data, voice, and text when you’re traveling internationally, even without an international calling package like AT&T International Day Pass. But keep in mind that even though you’ll have access to data, voice, and texts, unless you have a travel package, you’ll be charged at pay-per-use rates. This means you’ll be charged for any usage that’s not covered by your domestic plan. These rates vary by destination, whether you’re using talk, text, or data, and whether the destination country is covered (some countries aren’t). And these charges can quickly add up.
Be sure to review the pay-per-use rates ahead of time. To turn on data roaming for international use, you’ll need to go to your phone’s settings. Activate both voice and data roaming to access cellular coverage.
If you’re traveling and don’t need to make calls, send texts, or use the internet, remember to turn off data roaming on your phone before you leave your home country. This will prevent your phone from automatically connecting to a local network and using data. You can still make calls and send texts over cellular or Wi-Fi®, but you won’t be able to use mobile data. Just make sure Wi-Fi is turned on in your device settings.
Pro tip
When you’re on the ground, if you don’t have service as soon as you land, turn off your phone and turn it back on. Restarting your device is a simple but effective way of attempting to connect to an international network.
3. Buy a local SIM card from the country you’re visiting
A SIM card is a tiny card in your phone that stores information about your mobile identity, such as your phone number and wireless services. SIM cards help you securely connect to your wireless provider to deliver a network connection. Think of SIM cards as a key that connects your phone with cellular networks; they can be physical or digital.
If your phone uses a domestic physical SIM card, you can swap it for an international card from the country you’re visiting. Remember that switching to an international SIM means you won’t be able to use your U.S. cell phone number until you switch back. And, you’ll have to pay for the international service separately from your U.S. wireless bill.
If your device supports an eSIM, you may be able to download and activate one for the country you’re visiting. This way, you don’t need to purchase a physical SIM card.
When your trip is over, and you return home to the U.S., go back into your phone’s settings and switch your domestic phone line back on. This simplicity and peace of mind make eSIM a worthy option. Learn more about what an eSIM is and how it works
Note: If you’re a frequent traveler and are willing to budget for the additional cost, you can even buy an unlocked cheap device (for example, a flip phone) just for international trips. Take that unlocked phone with you and buy a local SIM card once you arrive. Insert it into your device, and you’ll have a prepaid amount of credits to use for texts and data. Depending on the phone you buy, some advanced features (like 5G) may not work like they would on a smartphone. When you return home, just turn off the device until your next trip.
In summary, you can pay for an eSIM separate from your domestic unlimited cell phone plan. This may be ideal if you’re not planning to use your device much during your travels. You may have to limit your usage with the eSIM to minimize any possible overage charges, depending on the type of eSIM plan you bought. But, if you don’t want to worry about monitoring your voice, texts, and data usage, and want to use your phone and your number overseas the same way you do back home, then the $12 per day for AT&T International Day Pass is a better option.
What is AT&T International Day Pass, and how do I activate it?
AT&T International Day Pass lets you use your AT&T plan in other countries during land-only travel. For $12 a day, you can use your data, make calls, and send texts in over 210 places around the world.* You still only pay for the days you use your phone. Plus, you’ll never pay for more than ten days each month.
If you are on a cruise, the cost is $20 per day. This covers both when you’re at sea and when you’re on land during your cruise. You still only pay on the days you use your phone.
Without International Day Pass, you can still use your phone in other countries, but you’ll pay higher rates. Pay-as-you-go rates charge you for every minute, message, and megabyte you use. These costs can add up quickly and are hard to track.
To recap, International Day Pass makes it easy to use your phone abroad on land and at sea without worrying about extra charges. You pay the daily fee only on days you use your phone in an included destination. Plus, when traveling by land, you’ll never pay for more than ten days per line on your bill each month. This can save you money compared to buying a local SIM card or paying high roaming fees, especially if you are visiting several countries.
What if I’m traveling internationally with my family?
If you’re traveling on land with family, you can add more lines to your account for $6 per day for each extra line. This applies only when you use all lines on the same day in the 210+ supported land destinations. Also, note that the ten-day per-line billing cap applies to land usage only.
For example, if you visit one of the 210+ supported land destinations for two weeks, you’ll only pay for ten days per line. If you use the service at sea, charges will apply for each line and each day of usage at sea or at port and land excursions.
What if I’m traveling to multiple destinations?
If you’re traveling to different countries with AT&T International Day Pass, you only pay one daily fee per line per day for each 24-hour period. It doesn’t matter how many countries you visit during that time—you’ll still just pay one daily fee per line per day.
If you’re on a cruise, the daily rate is $20 per line. Once you leave the cruise and continue your travels on land, the rate changes to $12 per line per day for land only. You can keep using your International Day Pass as you move from the cruise to land, and you’ll only pay the land rate once you’re off the ship..
For example, if you visit France and Spain in the same 24-hour period, you only pay one daily fee. If you’re on a cruise and disembark in Italy, you’ll pay $20 while on the ship, then $12 per day on land for days used on land only.
*When added to your unlimited plan. Coverage and data speed vary by destination and may be changed
What should I do if my phone is stolen while traveling internationally?
When traveling abroad, staying connected is important for convenience and safety. But it’s also vital to be prepared for scenarios where you accidentally lose or your phone or it’s stolen. We’ve got helpful tips on safety measures you can take to help you prepare for your trip. Learn what to do once you’re sure your phone has been lost or stolen, how to get connected again for the rest of your trip, and more.
Does AT&T International Day Pass turn on automatically?
Yes, if you have International Day Pass on your line, it will charge automatically if:
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You have an eligible AT&T domestic plan
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Your destination is covered by AT&T International Day Pass
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You have a compatible smartphone
In any case, we recommend signing up for International Day Pass before you leave. This way, you can verify that your destination is indeed one of the 210+ places covered by AT&T International Day Pass. But, if you forget to add it, don't worry. We'll automatically add it when you arrive in an included destination and send you a text to let you know. You can then choose to opt out in the text, but having the option can help you avoid losing your connection or paying high rates. Remember, without an international feature, you will pay for each text message you send, each minute of incoming and outgoing calls, and each megabyte of data used at international pay-per-use rates. It's smart to know these rates before you travel.
Good to know
You’ll know your AT&T International Day Pass is active because you’ll get a text message confirmation when you arrive at your destination. There is no need to activate it. Your 24-hour access starts when you use your phone for calls, texts, or data for the first time abroad on any given day. If you don’t use it, you won’t get charged, but remember, apps use data in the background.
When am I charged and billed for AT&T International Day pass?
AT&T International Day Pass starts the first time you use data, send a text, or make or receive a phone call when abroad. That’s when you’ll be charged the daily fee. Remember, some apps use data in the background, so turn off cellular data or switch to airplane mode if you don’t want to be charged on a specific day.
Daily fees are added to your bill at the end of your billing period. After you reach ten daily fees for a line in one billing period, you can keep using that line for the rest of the billing cycle without any extra charges (applies for land travel only).
Once I add AT&T International Day Pass to my phone, do I have to sign up for the service every day to use it
No, you don't have to sign up (opt in) to AT&T International Day Pass every day. Unless you remove it, it starts automatically when you use data, make a call, or send a text in a covered location.
Can I use AT&T International Day Pass on a cruise ship?
Yes, International Day Pass is now available on land and at sea. If you’re taking a cruise abroad and plan to use your cell phone on land and at sea, you can stay connected for $20 per day. This includes unlimited* talk, text, and data on land and at sea. After 500MB of data per day at sea, data speeds reach up to a maximum of 512Mbps.
With this plan, you stay connected in over 210 destinations and on more than 400 cruise ships. You also pay only for the days you use. If you're still traveling after your cruise, you can keep using the International Day Pass for $12 per day on land only.
*When added to your unlimited plan. Coverage and data speed vary by destination and may be changed.
Do I need to remove International Day Pass after my trip ends?
You don't need to remove International Day Pass when you come home. It’ll stay on your line, but you won't be charged while you're in the U.S. You'll be ready to use your phone on your next trip to one of the 210+ supported destinations. You won't be charged for International Day Pass until then.
What do I do if I have a service issue while traveling abroad?
Most international service issues can be fixed by turning your phone off and on. If you’re having trouble using data, check that the data roaming feature is on. You can see this in your device settings. If you’re still having problems, call AT&T international customer care at +1.314.925.6925. This is a free call from your AT&T cell phone.
Is the International Day Pass always the best option for international calling?
AT&T International Day Pass is a great deal if you’re traveling to one of the 210+ included destinations. You should consider the daily fee and whether it fits your phone usage plans and number of people traveling. If you plan to stay in one of the 210+ covered destinations for a long time, the $12 daily fee can add up, but it’s almost always a lower cost than pay-per-use charges.
Remember
On days you don't need International Day Pass, make sure you turn off your cellular connection. That will prevent you from incurring the daily charge without intending to. You can still use Wi-Fi for data, messaging apps, and more.
Can I use my AT&T cell phone for free in Canada?
When traveling to Canada, your phone will work just like it does in the United States. As long as you have an AT&T Wireless unlimited plan, Canada is included in your coverage area. You won't need to pay extra roaming charges or buy any special travel packages for traveling to that destination. However, remember that roaming may be at 2G speeds.
Can I use my AT&T cell phone for free in Mexico?
With an AT&T Wireless unlimited domestic plan, you can use talk, text, and data in Mexico without extra roaming charges. Your phone will work the same as it does in the U.S., but roaming may be at 2G speeds. If you're traveling to countries other than Mexico (and Canada), you'll need to use roaming with pay-per-use charges or sign up for AT&T International Day Pass.
Does AT&T charge for international calls and texts when calling from the U.S.?
Have friends and family around the world? You can stay in touch for less with AT&T International Calling for $15 per month, per line.* AT&T International CallingSM provides you with unlimited calling from the U.S. to 85+ countries and discounted calling to 140 additional countries.
If you don't need unlimited calling, you can pay as you go. However, these rates are higher.
Learn how to call and send texts to international numbers from the U.S.
Remember, if you have an AT&T Wireless unlimited plan, it includes texts to over 200 destinations. And, you can call or text Mexico or Canada from the U.S. at no extra charge.
*Requires a domestic postpaid wireless plan that includes unlimited talk. Pay-per-use rates apply to calls made to other countries.
More articles and information
AT&T International Day Pass
Traveling internationally? Learn how AT&T helps you to stay connected with data, talk, and text while you’re abroad.
Using your AT&T cell phone in Mexico
Planning a trip to Mexico? Learn five tips for using your cell phone in Mexico with an AT&T unlimited wireless plan.
Using your AT&T cell phone in Canada
Planning a trip to Canada? Learn five tips for using your cell phone in Canada with an AT&T unlimited wireless plan.
