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Roaming & calling abroad FAQs

Go Roam

Pay Monthly customers that joined or upgraded on or after 1 October 2021

Depending on your plan, you may have a number Go Roam passes included, have Go Roam built in. 

Run out of passes? You can either buy a Go Roam pass or pay a daily roaming charge to unlock your UK allowances in a Go Roam destination:  

  • £2 for Go Roam in Europe

  • £5 for Go Roam Around the World  

  • £7 for Go Roam Around the World Extra

Fair use policies apply. Full details can be found on our roaming support page.

Unlimited data can’t be used abroad. You can use up to 12GB of your allowance if you’re in Go Roam in Europe, Go Roam Around the World and Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations.  

If you use any data over this limit, it will be subject to a surcharge.  

The daily roaming charge is triggered as soon as you use any of your plan’s allowances in a Go Roam destination. For example:  

  • When you call a standard UK mobile or landline number

  • When you send a text back to the UK

  • When you make calls and send texts between Go Roam in Europe destinations  

  • When you use your data allowance. This includes using data over the fair use limit – up to your allowance.  

There are some chargeable events that are outside of your allowance and won’t trigger the daily roaming charge. They include:

  • Making calls and sending texts to international numbers (non-EU) from a Go Roam destination

  • Making calls and sending texts to EU and international numbers from a Go Roam Around the World and Go Roam Around the World Extra destination

  • Using data, texts, and calls when you’ve exceeded your UK allowance

  • Purchasing a Data Passport

For more information on charges outside of your allowance, please check our price guide.  

Pay As You Go customers

If you’re on Pay As You Go, there’s no charge to unlock your UK call, text, and data allowance in a Go Roam in Europe or Go Roam Around the World destination.

Go Roam works automatically when you arrive in a Go Roam destination, as long as: 

  • Data roaming is switched on in your device's settings 

  • You have a compatible device with the latest software downloaded. 

Pay As You Go customers

To use your Pay As You Go SIM abroad, you must first top up or add a Data Pack to your account. You must do this while you’re in the UK – if not, you won’t be able to use your services.

When you arrive in your roaming destination, you’ll get a text confirming the roaming charges there. Tap Roaming Charges to check them.

Don't forget, when you're calling or texting back to the UK, you'll need to replace the first 0 in the number you're calling or texting with +44. 

You can use up to 12GB of your data allowance while roaming in a Go Roam in Europe destination. Any usage over that amount but within your allowance is subject to a surcharge. There is no fair use limit for calls made to standard landline or mobile numbers or texts sent within our Go Roam in Europe destinations, or back to the UK. 

If you’re on a plan with unlimited data, you can use your device as a Personal Hotspot when roaming in Go Roam in Europe destinations. 

Got an Essential plan? You’ll need to change your price plan or buy an Add-on to use your device as a Personal Hotspot.

If you have a Pay Monthly account, you can use up to 12GB of your data allowance while roaming in a Go Roam Around the World or Go Roam Around the World Extra destination. Any usage over that amount but within your allowance is subject to a surcharge.

  • If you have unlimited texts, you can send up to 5000 texts back to UK landline and mobile numbers a month.
  • You can use up to 3000 minutes a month to call standard mobile and landline numbers in the UK.
  • If you go over your data, call, or text fair use limits for any 2 months in a rolling 12-month period, we may suspend your roaming services. That means you’ll no longer be able to use your device or allowances abroad.

You should also note:

  • You can't use your phone as a Personal Hotspot in our Go Roam Around the World or Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations.
  • You'll be able to stream, and connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), while in a Go Roam destination, but they may be slower than they are in the UK.
  • You can get a Data Passport with unlimited data for £5. Available in 89 destinations worldwide, once activated, you can enjoy unlimited data for 24 hours. And you can use it as you like – from tethering and streaming to connecting to VPNs. Find out more about Data Passports.
  • We may restrict your ability to use your data allowance for file-sharing, like peer-to-peer download services, and using certain sites to download or share large files. This is so that we can manage demand from overseas and make sure that everyone can use the service.
  • Use of a SIM card exclusively to receive inbound calls in a specific Go Roam destination may result in suspension of that SIM card. Our systems are designed to identify this automatically. If you believe your account’s been suspended incorrectly because of this, please call +44 7782 333 333.
  • In Go Roam destinations, we may use traffic management measures - known collectively as TrafficSense™ - to protect the network and to give customers the best internet experience. Find out more about TrafficSense™

On Pay As You Go with an active Data Pack or Add-on? You can use a portion of your data allowance while roaming in a Go Roam in Europe or Go Roam Around the World destination.  

Important: The amount of data you can use will depend on your active Data Pack or Add-on. You can find out more about Roaming Abroad on Pay As You Go.

If you’re traveling to a non-Go Roam destination, you won’t be able to use your UK allowances. Instead, you’ll be charged the standard roaming rates which vary depending on destination. Visit our Roaming Abroad page to find out more.

Pay As You Go

Our Pay As You Go plans don't automatically come with an inclusive allowance. You can get an allowance for use in the UK and in our Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World destinations by buying an Add-on or Data Pack. These are subject to our fair use policies.

Otherwise, when roaming in our Go Roam in Europe destinations, you'll be charged at: 

  • 35p per minute 

  • 15p per text 

  • 10p per MB. 

Usage in Go Roam Around the World and Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations may cost more – see our roaming page for details.

Using your Go Binge allowance in Go Roam destinations

Got Go Binge as part of your plan? You can use it in any of our Go Roam destinations, if you’ve got data left in your monthly allowance. If you’ve used up your data allowance, you won’t be able to do this. Our fair use policies still apply when using Go Binge.

Buy a Go Roam Pass 

If you’re on Pay Monthly, unlock your allowances and get up to 2 days roaming free with a Go Roam pass. 

Get yours before you go or while you’re abroad. You can buy as many as you like and they’ll be ready to use when you need them.  

Find out more about Go Roam

Buy a Data Passport 

Available in 89 destinations worldwide, a Data Passport gives you 24 hours of unlimited data for £5. 

Buy as many as you like before you go abroad so they’re ready to use when you need them. Or buy while you’re away. 

Find out more about Data Passports

Use Wi-Fi for data and calling

You may be able to connect to local Wi-Fi where you’re staying. Use apps like WhatsApp to place calls over Wi-Fi.

Buy a local SIM

We don’t lock any devices you buy from us. This means you can buy a SIM card to use in your location. Just make sure to check local charges first, so you know it’s cheaper to use.

Switch on flight mode

If you’re easily tempted to use your device, flight mode will help reduce your usage. It also doesn’t affect GPS, so you’ll still be able to get directions if you’re travelling.

Avoid heavy data apps

Browsers, streaming and social apps all download pictures and videos to your device automatically, using a lot of data. These apps include, but aren’t limited to: 

  • Spotify
  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Chrome
  • Facebook 
  • Instagram

If you check the app settings, you may be able to restrict what they can download without your permission. 

Download, don’t stream

When you have Wi-Fi, take the opportunity to stock up on your favourite music, videos, and podcasts. This will help you to stay entertained without using any data.

Spend Cap and Worldwide roaming data limit

We don't think you should spend more than you want to when using your data abroad. To help manage your costs, we've set a worldwide data roaming limit of £45 plus VAT per month. You can change this limit by contacting us.

Find out more about our worldwide roaming data limit.

You can also manage your spending abroad by setting a Spend Cap. This will apply to all out of allowance charges both in the UK and while roaming abroad. It also includes the daily roaming charge which unlocks your plan’s allowances in Go Roam destinations for 24 hours. 

Already got a Spend Cap? It’ll already apply to any roaming charges for calls, texts, or data. 

Please note: If your Spend Cap’s set to £0 or you reach your Spend Cap limit while in a Go Roam destination, you won’t be able to: 

  • Make calls 
  • Send texts 
  • Use data 

Find out more about changing your Spend Cap.

If you're having trouble using your device abroad, make sure you have: 

  • data roaming switched on in your device settings

  • international roaming switched on in your account

If you can't switch international roaming on in your account, get in touch so we can help.

Roaming networks abroad.

Go Roam works on other operators' networks. We have arrangements for each destination, and you'll automatically roam onto the right network. As you're roaming on another operator's network, the coverage may not give you the same level of signal you're used to back home. When you go online, data speeds may be slower as well.

Maritime and airline networks aren’t included in Go Roam and you’ll be charged standard roaming rates to connect to them.

Important: If you’re near a port, it can be easy to accidentally connect to a ship’s network. So, make sure you’re connected to a national network instead.

This can also happen if you’re near the border of another country. If you roam onto a network that isn’t included in Go Roam, you’ll be sent a text to let you know what roaming rates to expect. 

Problems calling UK numbers.

When you're abroad, you can't call numbers that begin with 070, 09 or 118 directory services. You can call 08 numbers, but this will come out of your allowance. If you don't have an allowance, calls to 08 numbers will cost up to £1.40 per minute.

This is when your device connects to a network in another destination without meaning to. This can happen if you live or travel close to a coastline – where you can connect to a maritime network – or an international border. 

Connecting to another network may mean you pay higher roaming charges – you’ll be sent a text to let you know what they may be. To stop this from happening, switch off data roaming in your device settings. 

Find out how to switch off data roaming.

You can check roaming costs on our roaming abroad page. ​

Inadvertent roaming in Northern Ireland

If you live near the Northern Irish border, you may roam onto a network in the Republic of Ireland, without meaning to. 

To make sure no inadvertent charges are applied to your bill, we’ve excluded the Republic of Ireland from our monthly fair usage limit of 12GB. So, you can use your data without worrying about going over that limit.  

There are no fair use limits for making calls or sending texts while roaming in a Go Roam in Europe destination. The Republic of Ireland is also excluded from the daily roaming charge.

You can only use Go Roam for periodic travel, like holidays or short breaks. To make sure all customers can benefit from roaming, we’ve put the following rules in place for extended periods of roaming: 

If you spend 2 complete months in 1 or more Go Roam destinations in a rolling 12-month period, we have the right to suspend international roaming services on your account.  

This means you’ll no longer be able to use your device or allowances abroad. We’ll let you know in advance if this is likely to happen. 

This restriction won’t apply if you travel to a destination not included in Go Roam during your full 2 months abroad.  

If your international roaming services have been suspended and you’re back in the UK, please contact us to unblock them. 

Go Roam Passes

Go Roam passes let you unlock your UK allowances for 24 hours in over 160 Go Roam destinations. You can buy them before you go or while you’re abroad and you can buy as many as you like. They’ll be ready to use when you need them. 

You can buy a selection of Go Roam in Europe, Go Roam Around the World, or Go Roam Around the World Extra passes. If you buy a combination, the first pass to be used will depend on your location. 

For example, if you’re in a Go Roam in Europe destination, your Go Roam in Europe pass will be used first.

Pay Monthly customers  

Data usage is capped at 12GB of data a month. This limit applies when roaming in a Go Roam in Europe, Go Roam Around the World, and Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations. 

This limit doesn’t apply if you’re roaming in the Republic of Ireland.

Pay As You Go customers  

Got an active Data Pack or Add-on? You can use a portion of your data allowance every month while roaming in a Go Roam in Europe or Go Roam Around the World destination.

On a Value or Complete plan and joined or upgraded after October 2021 and before 22 June 2025? 

You may have Go Roam passes included in your plan. The number of passes will depend on your plan type and duration:

  • 12-month Value plan – 14 Go Roam passes 
  • 24-month Value plan – 28 Go Roam passes 
  • 12-month Complete plan – 28 Go Roam passes 
  • 24-month Complete plan – 56 Go Roam passes

Each pass is valid for 24 hours. 

Your inclusive passes will be available for the minimum term of your plan. 

Got a Value or Complete plan and joined or upgraded after 22 June 2025? 

Go Roam’s built into your plan – you don’t need a pass to enjoy Go Roam. 

If you have an Advanced or Lite plan, Go Roam isn’t built into your plan and Go Roam passes aren’t included. But you can unlock your UK allowance – and get up to 2 days roaming free – when you buy a Go Roam pass. 

You don’t need to do anything to activate your Go Roam passes. They’ll work automatically when you arrive in a Go Roam destination. You just need to make sure data roaming’s switched on in your device settings.

When you arrive in your roaming destination, you’ll get a text confirming the roaming charges in that country.

The Go Roam Pass is triggered as soon as you use any of your plan’s allowances in a Go Roam destination. For example:

  • When you call a standard UK landline or mobile number 

  • When you send a text back to the UK

  • When you make calls and send texts between Go Roam in Europe destinations 

  • When you use your data allowance. This includes if you use data over our fair use limit – up to your allowance

You can purchase a Go Roam Pass using the Three app or by calling us on +44 7782 333 333 - standard roaming rates apply.

If you don’t buy a Go Roam pass and are still roaming, the following daily roaming charges apply: 

  • Go Roam in Europe - £2
  • Go Roam Around the World - £5
  • Go Roam Around the World Extra - £7

If you’re travelling to a destination not included in Go Roam, you won’t be able to use your UK allowances there. Instead, you’ll be charged standard roaming rates, which vary depending on the destination. You can find out more on our roaming abroad page.

4G Calling Abroad

Some roaming partners are reducing their 2G and 3G coverage, meaning 4G Calling Abroad will become more important across the industry worldwide.

We always try to ensure there’s still a roaming agreement in place for destinations where this takes place. However, if you don’t have a 4G Calling Abroad enabled device, you may not be able to connect when in a destination whose roaming partner networks only support 4G via VoLTE roaming.

To stay connected when you’re here, you’ll need a 4G device and 4G Calling Abroad enabled in your phone or tablet settings.

Please remember that having a 4G devie isn’t enough – check that your device has the latest software installed and that 4G Calling Abroad is enabled in the settings. 

Most international operators now exclusively support 4G and 5G. 

If you're connected to 4G data service but are unable to make or receive calls or texts, it's likely that you have a 4G capable device, but either: 

  • the software hasn’t been released yet, or 

  • you haven't updated the latest software version to enable this. 

Here’s a guide for the scenarios that may impact you:

If you’re connected to 4G data, but can’t make or receive calls or texts:

  • Use web-based applications to make/receive data calls and send messages, whilst remaining on the 4G data service.

  • Manually search for the other provider to connect to 2G – although coverage may be limited.

If you have no service (zero signal):

Providing you are in a suitable coverage area:

  • Manually search for the other provider to connect to 2G – although coverage may be limited.

If your current device doesn’t have 4G Calling Abroad capabilities and you would like to switch to one that does, check out your upgrade options.

In the event all our roaming partners close their 2G and 3G network in a destination, you won’t be able to use voice services, including emergency calls, if your device isn’t 4G Calling Abroad enabled. In these circumstances, you will need to call the emergency services using a fixed phone or an alternative mobile device which is 4G Calling Abroad enabled.

You’ll be able to make calls as normal if:

  • Our roaming partners support 2G or 3G connectivity.
  • 4G Calling Abroad is active in your destination and you have an enabled device.

To check if your device has 4G Calling Abroad enabled: 

  • Go to our device support page
  • Search for your device
  • Tap Specification
  • Scroll down to Network 

Important: Having a 4G device isn’t enough. You must check that it has the latest software installed and that 4G Calling Abroad is enabled in the settings. 

  • Normal text relay won't be affected

  • Emergency text relay will be unavailable

  • Directory information services will be blocked, as with 3G roaming

  • E-Call is a data service therefore will be unaffected by 4G Calling Abroad

The times and dates of calls or texts made over 4G Calling Abroad will show on your monthly bill. They will be in UK real time and not in the time zone of the destination they were made in.

Premium rate access, spend alerts, roaming alerts and payment services all remain the same.

There are no extra charges from 4G Calling Abroad.

As Mobile Broadband is a data only service the activation of 4G Calling Abroad won’t impact it.

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