O2 roaming - International & EU roaming with O2 explained

By Adrian Vincent - 19 Jul 2022, 17:50 O2 roaming - International roaming with O2 explained

You can roam and use O2 within most countries around the world.

You can use your regular allowance for free within 48 European countries, with a data fair usage policy of 25GB per month.

With selected O2 Refresh and selected O2 SIM only plans, you will get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, which allows you to use unlimited data, 120 minutes and 120 texts in 27 international destinations outside the EU.

Alternatively, you can get the O2 Travel bolt on for £6 per day, which gives you unlimited data, 120 minutes and 120 texts in 104 international destinations outside the EU.

What's the best O2 SIM for roaming?

You can use your allowance for free within the EU with all O2 SIMs.

You can find the cheapest O2 SIM Only deals by using our comparison tools. O2 SIMs will work with all phones, including the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 and Apple iPhone 15.

O2 EU roaming - after Brexit

O2 EU roaming - after Brexit

With O2 Europe Zone, you can continue to roam for free and use your allowance within the EU.

O2 Europe Zone is included with all plans at no additional cost.

O2 are one of the few networks which will not introduce charges for roaming within the EU after Brexit.

In accordance with the fair usage policy, you cannot exceed 25GB data per month if your plan has an allowance greater than 25GB data per month. If you exceed this limit, you will be charged £3.50 for each additional GB you use.

You must also be considered a permanent UK resident. You cannot roam within qualifying European countries for excessive or consecutive periods at a time.

You can use your allowance for free within 48 European destinations:

  1. Austria
  2. Azores
  3. Belgium
  4. Bulgaria
  5. Canary Islands
  6. Croatia
  7. Cyprus
  8. Czech Republic
  9. Denmark
  10. Estonia
  11. Finland
  12. France
  13. French Guiana
  14. Germany
  15. Gibraltar
  16. Greece
  17. Guadeloupe
  18. Guernsey
  19. Hungary
  20. Iceland
  21. Ireland
  22. Isle of Man
  23. Italy
  24. Jersey
  25. Latvia
  26. Liechtenstein
  27. Lithuania
  28. Luxembourg
  29. Madeira
  30. Malta
  31. Martinique
  32. Mayotte
  33. Monaco
  34. Netherlands
  35. Norway
  36. Poland
  37. Portugal
  38. Reunion
  39. Romania
  40. Saint Barthelemy
  41. Saint Martin
  42. San Marino
  43. Slovakia
  44. Slovenia
  45. Spain
  46. Sweden
  47. Switzerland
  48. Vatican City

O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is included at no additional cost with selected O2 Refresh and selected O2 SIM only plans:

If you plan doesn't include the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, you can choose it as your O2 Extra with the following plans:

Type Eligibility
Phone contract 30GB+ tariffs
12 month SIM Only contract 30GB+ tariffs
24 month SIM Only contract 30GB+ tariffs

With the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you will get 120 minutes, 120 texts and unlimited data per day, usable in 27 international countries.

If you go over 120 minutes or 120 texts, you will be charged at the O2 international rate for the country you are in.

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, excessive usage may see your data speeds temporarily restricted.

The following 27 international countries are covered by the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On:

  1. Argentina
  2. Australia
  3. Botswana
  4. Canada
  5. Chile
  6. Colombia
  7. Costa Rica
  8. Ecuador
  9. El Salvador
  10. Greenland
  11. Guatemala
  12. Guinea
  13. Guyana
  14. Honduras
  15. Madagascar
  16. Mexico
  17. Myanmar
  18. New Zealand
  19. Nicaragua
  20. Panama
  21. Paraguay
  22. Peru
  23. Rwanda
  24. United States
  25. Uruguay
  26. Venezuela
  27. Yemen

If you’re not eligible for the free O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you cannot pay for it. Instead, you can purchase the similar O2 Travel Bolt On, which covers 104 international countries for £6 per day. See below for more information.

O2 Travel Bolt On

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available for £6 per day, and covers 104 international countries.

Similar to the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you get 120 minutes, 120 texts and unlimited data per day.

You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting O2TRAVEL to 23336. Alternatively, you can purchase the Bolt On through My O2.

You’ll automatically be charged £6 for each day you use data, minutes or texts within one of the 104 qualifying countries.

If you go over 120 minutes or 120 texts, you will be charged at the O2 international rate for the country you are in.

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, excessive usage may see your data speeds temporarily restricted.

The O2 Travel Bolt On works in the following 104 destinations:

  1. Albania
  2. Anguilla
  3. Argentina
  4. Aruba
  5. Australia
  6. Austria
  7. Bahamas
  8. Barbados
  9. Belarus
  10. Belgium
  11. Bermuda
  12. Botswana
  13. Brazil
  14. British Virgin Islands
  15. Bulgaria
  16. Canada
  17. Cape Verde
  18. Cayman Islands
  19. Chile
  20. China
  21. Colombia
  22. Costa Rica
  23. Croatia
  24. Cyprus
  25. Czech Republic
  26. Denmark
  27. Dominica
  28. Dominican Republic
  29. Ecuador
  30. El Salvador
  31. Equatorial Guinea
  32. Estonia
  33. Finland
  34. France
  35. French Guiana
  36. Germany
  37. Gibraltar
  38. Greece
  39. Greenland
  40. Grenada
  41. Guadeloupe
  42. Guatemala
  43. Guernsey
  44. Guyana
  45. Honduras
  46. Hong Kong
  47. Hungary
  48. Iceland
  49. Indonesia
  50. Ireland
  51. Isle of Man
  52. Italy
  53. Jamaica
  54. Japan
  55. Jersey
  56. Latvia
  57. Liechtenstein
  58. Lithuania
  59. Luxembourg
  60. Madagascar
  61. Malaysia
  62. Malta
  63. Martinique
  64. Mexico
  65. Moldova
  66. Monaco
  67. Montenegro
  68. Montserrat
  69. Myanmar
  70. Netherlands
  71. New Zealand
  72. Nicaragua
  73. NLD Antilles
  74. Norway
  75. Panama
  76. Paraguay
  77. Peru
  78. Poland
  79. Portugal
  80. Reunion
  81. Romania
  82. Rwanda
  83. San Marino
  84. Slovak Republic
  85. Slovenia
  86. South Africa
  87. Spain
  88. Sri Lanka
  89. St. Kitts
  90. St. Lucia
  91. St. Vincent
  92. Suriname
  93. Sweden
  94. Switzerland
  95. Thailand
  96. Trinidad & Tobago
  97. Turkey
  98. Turks & Caicos
  99. United Arab Emirates
  100. Uruguay
  101. USA (excl. Alaska & Hawaii)
  102. Venezuela
  103. Yemen
  104. Zambia

What’s the difference between the O2 Travel Bolt On and O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On?

What’s the difference between the O2 Travel Bolt On and O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On?

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is free with selected O2 Refresh and selected O2 SIM only plans, and works in 27 international countries. You cannot buy the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On if you are not eligible for free, however you can choose it as an O2 Extra with certain tariffs.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available to all pay monthly customers for £6 per day and works in 104 international countries.

Both Bolt Ons give you 120 minutes, 120 texts and unlimited data per day.

Does O2 have a fair usage policy when roaming?

If you’re using your allowance for free within O2’s Europe Zone, you cannot exceed 25GB data per month, even if your plan gives you an allowance greater than 25GB per month.

In addition, you cannot roam within the O2 Europe Zone for more than 63 days within a 4 month period.

If you go over the fair usage policy, you won't be able to use your allowance. You will be charged for any services you use at the following rate:

Service Cost
Data £3.50 / GB
Minutes 3.3p / minute
Texts 1p / text

You'll receive a text message warning just before you're about the exceed the fair usage policy.

For the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On and O2 Travel Bolt On, there is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use, however excessive usage may see your data speed temporarily restricted.

Will I be charged if I exceed my allowance when roaming with O2?

Will I be charged if I exceed my allowance when roaming with O2?

If you exceed your allowance when roaming for free in the Europe Zone, or exceed your Bolt On allowance when roaming internationally outside Europe, you will be charged at the standard out of plan rate for the country you are in.

The out of plan rate is typically expensive, and varies between countries. For full charges, see O2 roaming rates

The following shows the O2 out of plan rates within a few international destinations.

Country Data Making calls Receiving calls Sending texts Receiving texts
Australia £7.20 / MB £2.00 / minute £2.00 / minute 50p / text Free
Canda £7.20 / MB £2.00 / minute £2.00 / minute 50p / text Free
India £7.20 / MB £2.00 / minute £2.00 / minute 50p / text Free
New Zealand £7.20 / MB £2.00 / minute £2.00 / minute 50p / text Free
USA £7.20 / MB £2.00 / minute £2.00 / minute 50p / text Free

Can I get 5G when roaming with O2?

No, 5G is only available within the UK on selected O2 plans. The maximum signal you can get when roaming with O2 is 4G.

FAQs

Can I roam for free in the EU with O2?

Yes, all O2 customers can use their regular allowance for free with O2 Europe Zone, covering 48 European destinations.

How can I setup my phone to roam with O2?

Before roaming with O2, you must enable roaming in your phone’s settings.

For Android users:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Go to Connections -> Mobile networks -> Roaming
  3. Enable Data roaming

For iPhone users:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Go to Mobile data -> Mobile Data Options
  3. Enable Data Roaming

Will I be charged if I go over my allowance when roaming with O2?

Yes, if you go over your allowance or Bolt On allowance, you will be charged the out of plan rate for the country you are in.

This amount can be very expensive, so make sure you plan ahead to avoid any unwanted charges.

Can I tether to another device when roaming with O2?

Yes, you can tether to as many devices as you like when roaming with O2. Any regular data limitations that apply when roaming will also apply when tethering while roaming.

How can I get the O2 Travel Bolt On?

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available with all pay monthly plans for £6 per day. You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting O2TRAVEL to 23336. Alternatively, you can purchase the Bolt On through My O2.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is available for free on selected O2 Refresh and selected O2 SIM only contracts.

Both Bolt Ons come with 120 minutes, 120 texts and unlimited data per day. However, they each cover different destinations.