International roaming checklist (2024)

This international roaming checklist has everything you need to know before traveling abroad. To check available options for international roaming, review International roaming services.

Check your coverage, rates, and data service experience

We want you to know exactly what your service will be when you arrive at your destination. Here's how to check your coverage, rates, and how data is going to work on your phone:

1. Search each country you’re visiting at http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming.
   
   • If you have issues with the website, clear your cache, cookies, and browsing history.
2. Enter the country name and click Check Coverage. 
3. Review the calling and texting rates and data service experience (high-speed data allotment may vary by country and your plan). 
   • If a country isn't listed, there's no roaming agreement. You cannot use their device or T-Mobile SIM in that country. 

Your plan and optional plan add-ons

Many T-Mobile plans provide robust international roaming benefits. See everything we have to offer at T-Mobile.com > International Roaming.

• The international roaming experience may vary based on your T-Mobile plan.
  
• To check what plan you're on or to switch to a new plan, check out Manage your plan or you can log in to your T-Mobile account.  
  
• Looking for more data or calling when travelling abroad? Learn more about our international data passes with unlimited calling and even more high-speed data.
  

Confirm your device works

We want you to be able to step off the plane and use your phone without costly roaming fees. Here's how to check that your phone is ready:

1. Search each country you’re visiting at http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming.
   • If you have issues with the website, clear your cache, cookies, and browsing history.
2. Enter the country name and click Check Coverage. 
3. Scroll down to the 'See if your device works in [country name]' box.
4. Enter the name of the device > click Search. A message states if the device will work or not.
5. Review the international coverage map to set coverage expectations. Maps do not depict exact coverage and display the general availability of roaming partner networks. 

Additional details

• Your device must register on T-Mobile's U.S. network and make a call before it can be used internationally.
• You may need to turn on or turn off Data Roaming on your device.
  • Disable Data Roaming to avoid unexpected charges: Dial #ROF# or #763# and press Send.
  • Enable Data Roaming: Dial #RON# or #766# and press Send.
• Choose your device in our tutorials and check out the Connections & Network section for steps from your device's settings.

Travel on cruise ships and ferries

Cruise ship roaming is available on selected cruise lines and ferries. To find rates while traveling at sea:

1. Go to International Roaming page > Cruises
2. Check your Cruise/Ferry name in the box provided.
3. Navigate to See if your device is compatible and search for your device.

Tips to avoid higher charges

• We recommend that you turn off roaming while the ship is docked in a U.S. port. Otherwise, your phone may pick up the ship's network and you'll be charged cruise ship roaming charges for any usage. Once you're out to sea, you can then turn roaming back on and pay the respective usage for data, text, and voice.
• Calls placed over Wi-Fi to non-U.S. numbers are subject to the cruise ship rate.
• Calls placed while the cruise ship is at port can still connect the ship’s network and are subject to the cruise ship rates.
• Cruise ships are not covered by international data passes.

Arriving at your destination

• You will receive a free welcome SMS when you arrive and register on the roaming provider's network. 
• The welcome SMS will confirm your country experience, rates, and additional details when you arrive. 
• You will receive free notifications when incurring usage charges

Make calls while abroad

Incoming calls are routed automatically to your phone but placing a call while you're outside the U.S. works a little differently than when you're at home.

• Call a local number in the country you're visiting: Dial the plus sign + followed by the country code, city code, and number.
  • Press and hold the zero (0) key to add the plus sign.
  • If there's a zero (0) listed before city code, remove the zero.
• Call back to the U.S.: Dial +1, the area code, and the number
  • Example: +1-555-123-4567.
  • The plus sign replaces the need to use an IDD code. (It's the same to send a text message, too.)
• Emergency calls: Dial 1-1-2 when traveling internationally for emergency calls.
  • 9-1-1 may also be used in some countries in addition to 1-1-2.
  • If you're in doubt, check the local directory or other resources for the emergency number in that country.
• Toll-free: Numbers like 1-800 or 1-888 can't be guaranteed to work while abroad. Check into alternate numbers for any you may want to call while traveling.

Check voicemail & charges

While roaming internationally, you won't be charged for voicemails left in your inbox if your phone remains powered off or in airplane mode. However, you will be charged for the following:

• If your phone is on when you get an incoming call, even if you don't answer it and it goes to voicemail: The call is charged one minute for the call coming into the phone. (There are no charges at all if your phone is turned off.)
• If your phone is off and receives incoming voicemails: When you turn it on while you are roaming internationally, the call is charged one minute for the voicemail coming into the phone.
• If you call your voicemail from your mobile phone to listen to messages: That call will be charged at the international roaming rate of the country you're in.

If you don't want to be charged for listening to your messages, you can access your voicemail from a landline or other phone. You'll need your voicemail password (the one you selected during voicemail setup).

1. From a landline or other phone, call your mobile number and have it go to voicemail.
2. Interrupt your voicemail greeting by dialing * (the star key).
3. When it tells you to, enter your voicemail password.
4. Follow the menu options to check your voicemail messages.

Note: Keep in mind, that the landline or other phone you're using may charge you long-distance fees when calling your phone to get your messages. Check into that ahead of time so you know what to expect.

Contact T-Mobile while abroad

We'll still be right here if you need us while you're traveling. To give us a call:

• From your mobile device, dial +1-505-998-3793.
  • We won't charge you anything for this call, no matter where you are.
  • Go ahead and store this number in your phone's contact list for easy and quick dialing while you're away.
• From a landline (long-distance fees may apply), dial the International Direct Dialing (IDD) prefix for the country you're in, followed by +1-505-998-3793.