EE EU Roaming Charges Explained: What You'll Pay in 2026

If you are an EE customer planning to travel in Europe, the answer is yes — EE does charge for roaming in Europe, and for most customers the charge applies automatically from the moment you use your phone abroad.

EE was one of the first major UK networks to reintroduce European Union (EU) roaming charges after Brexit. Since 7 July 2021, customers who signed up on or after that date pay a daily fee to use their UK allowances in Europe. The charges depend on your plan type, when you signed up, and whether you have a roaming pass.

This guide explains exactly what EE EU roaming costs in 2026 are, which plans include free roaming, what the available passes cover, and how EE Europe roaming compares with a Europe eSIM alternative. Before travelling, always verify current charges at ee.co.uk or text ROAM to 150 as EE periodically updates its roaming structure.

Quick Answer: Does EE Charge for Roaming in Europe?

EE EU Roaming Charges at a Glance

What Is EE EU Roaming?

Mobile roaming means using your phone on a network outside your home country. When you travel to Europe with an EE Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, your phone connects to a local partner network in each destination country. EE EU roaming is the service that allows this connection and determines what you pay for it.

Before Brexit, EE customers could use their UK allowances across EU countries at no extra cost under the EU's Roam Like at Home regulations. Once the UK left the EU, UK mobile networks were no longer bound by these rules and could reintroduce charges for EU usage.

EE moved quickly. From 7 July 2021, new and re-contracting customers lost automatic free EU roaming. Customers on plans that predate July 2021 retained free roaming under their original contract terms, but the majority of current EE customers fall under the new paid-roaming structure.

The difference between domestic and roaming usage is straightforward. In the UK, your minutes, texts, and data are covered by your monthly plan. In Europe, the same allowances are accessible, but a daily charge applies first, unless your plan specifically includes roaming or you have purchased a pass. Understanding roaming in Europe and EE charges means knowing exactly which plan category you fall into before you fly.

EE Roaming Charges in Europe in 2026

Understanding EE European roaming means knowing which customer type you are.

Pay Monthly (Contract Customers)

If your EE contract started on or after 7 July 2021, a daily charge of £2.47 applies for each day you use your phone in EE's Europe zone. This triggers the moment you make a call, send a text, or use data. Receiving a call or a text also triggers the day's charge. Once the daily charge is applied, you can use your standard UK allowances for the rest of that 24-hour period, subject to a fair use cap of 50GB per billing month.

Some plans may carry a slightly different daily rate. Verify your specific rate by texting ROAM to 150 before departure.

You do not pay for days when you do not use your phone at all.

The Republic of Ireland is included in EE's Europe zone but is treated as UK domestic usage. Calls, texts, and data used within the Republic of Ireland are included in your UK allowance with no daily charge.

UK consumers should also note that a £45 monthly spending cap on mobile data roaming charges was introduced as a consumer protection post-Brexit. Check with EE whether this protection currently applies to your contract before travelling.

Pay As You Go (PAYG) Customers

PAYG customers with an active 30-Day plan or Saver plan can opt into one of two add-ons when they arrive in Europe. EE sends a text on arrival offering:

• £2.50 per day to use UK allowances
• £10 per week to use UK allowances

If you do not opt in, or if you do not have an active plan, the standard pay-per-use rates apply:

• Calls: 70p per minute
• Texts: 30p per text
• Data: £3 for 500MB

These standard rates add up very quickly. A 10-minute call costs £7 at standard rates versus being covered by the day's £2.50 charge if you have an active add-on.

Plans with EU Roaming Included

Not all EE customers pay the daily charge. The following groups have EU roaming included without additional daily fees:

• Customers on contracts started before 7 July 2021 (original contract terms protected)
• Customers on Smart, Max, All Rounder, or Full Works plans started before 29 August 2024 who selected the Roaming Pass EU as an Inclusive Extra
• Customers on Essentials Plus, All Rounder, or Full Works plans taken on or after 29 August 2024, which include the Roam in EU add-on as standard

If you are unsure which category applies to you, text ROAM to 150 before departure. EE will confirm your roaming setup for your destination.

Countries Included in EE Europe Roaming

EE's Europe zone covers 47 countries and territories. All 27 EU member states are included, plus European Economic Area (EEA) countries and several additional destinations.

EU countries included (all 27)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

EEA countries included

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.

Additional destinations

EE's Europe zone also includes several non-EU territories such as the Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira. The full current list of all 47 destinations is available at ee.co.uk/roaming. Always check before travelling if your destination is not a mainstream European country.

Note on the Republic of Ireland: The Republic of Ireland is included in EE's Europe zone but treated as domestic usage. No daily charge applies for calls, texts, or data used there.

Note on Switzerland: Switzerland is not an EU or EEA member and is not included in EE's standard Europe zone. Standard international roaming rates apply if you travel to Switzerland. Check ee.co.uk before departure.

Note on Turkey: Turkey is not included in EE's Europe zone. Standard international rates apply.

Note on non-mainstream European destinations: Destinations outside EE's Europe zone, including Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Georgia, and parts of the Western Balkans, carry different international roaming rates. Check ee.co.uk before travelling to any destination not on the confirmed 47-country list.

EE EU Roaming Pass Explained

EE offers the Roam Abroad Pass as a monthly add-on designed to make EU roaming more cost-effective for regular travellers.

Important note on EE's Roaming Refresh: EE updated its roaming pass structure in 2025. Some pass options and pricing were changed as part of this review. The details below reflect the most recently confirmed publicly available information, but may have been updated. Verify current Roam Abroad Pass pricing and terms at ee.co.uk or by calling 150 before purchasing.

What it includes:

• Use your standard UK minutes, texts, and data allowances in the EU and EEA
• Also covers the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand
• Available on eligible pay monthly plans

Cost: £25 per month added to your monthly bill.

Fair use cap: 50GB of data per billing month (25GB for PAYG customers). If you exceed this, you can purchase a 500MB data add-on for £3.

How to activate

The Roam Abroad Pass can be added through the EE app or by calling EE on 150. On some plans, it is available as an Inclusive Extra that can be selected as part of your plan's benefits.

Is it worth it? At £2.47 per day without a pass, seven days in Europe costs £17.29. The monthly pass costs £25 and covers unlimited days in a billing month. If you spend more than approximately ten days in Europe in a month, the pass delivers better value than daily charges.

EE Roaming Packages Compared

EE offers several EE roaming packages depending on your contract type and usage needs.

For most UK travellers on a week-long holiday, the daily charge of £2.47 adds approximately £17.29 to the bill over seven days. For a fortnight, that is approximately £34.58. The Roam Abroad Pass at £25 per month makes financial sense for any trip of more than ten days in a billing month.

EE Roaming Charges in Europe vs Other UK Networks

O2 currently stands out as the only major UK network that still includes EU roaming without a daily charge on most pay-monthly plans, subject to a 25GB fair-use data cap. Three's Go Roam service covers 71 destinations, including EU countries, but roaming inclusions vary by plan, and Three has updated its policy — check current Go Roam terms before assuming coverage is free. Vodafone operates a zone-based system with varying daily rates.

EE's daily rate of £2.47 is broadly in line with Vodafone's charges for equivalent destinations. For travellers who roam frequently in Europe, O2 currently offers more competitive EU roaming terms. Plan prices, UK network coverage, and call quality should all be compared before switching networks purely for roaming.

EE Roaming vs Europe eSIM

An alternative to EE EU roaming is a travel eSIM for Europe. Rather than relying on your UK carrier's roaming service, an eSIM Europe plan is a separate prepaid data plan installed on your phone that connects directly to local European networks.

For travellers who primarily need data, an eSIM for Europe is often more cost-effective than paying EE's daily roaming charge. A five-day trip in Europe costs approximately £12.35 in EE daily roaming charges. A comparable Europe eSIM prepaid data plan from Jetpac can cost less and be activated before departure.

To use a Europe eSIM, your phone must support eSIM technology. Go to Settings on your phone and look for an EID (Electronic Identifier) number to confirm compatibility. Most phones from 2018 onwards support eSIM, but confirm before purchasing any eSIM plan.

Jetpac is the best eSIM for Europe for UK travellers, with coverage across all 200+ destinations on prepaid 5G with multi-network switching. Unlimited hotspot sharing, voice calls from USD 1.99 for 5 minutes, and 24/7 WhatsApp and email support. For a full comparison, read our guide to eSIM vs roaming and find out how to use your iPhone in Europe without roaming charges.

The main trade-off with an eSIM is calls and texts. Most travel eSIMs are data-only, meaning calls and texts to standard numbers still require your EE SIM. Running both simultaneously on a dual-SIM phone is the most practical approach: keep your EE SIM active for calls and texts, use a Jetpac eSIM for data.

Is EE Roaming Worth It?

The answer depends on how long you are travelling and how much data you use.

#1. For weekend trips (2-3 days)

The daily charge adds £4.94 to £7.41 to your bill. For a weekend trip with light data needs, paying the daily charge is the simplest option. An eSIM is worth considering if you need significant data for navigation and streaming.

#2. For one-week holidays (7 days)

Daily charges total £17.29 for seven consecutive days of use. An eSIM Europe plan for a week is available for less from several providers. For a family of four, seven days of EE roaming costs approximately £69.16 — a Europe eSIM per person may save meaningfully.

#3. For multi-country trips

EE's roaming covers 47 destinations on the same daily rate. No country-specific rate changes within the Europe zone. A regional eSIM Europe plan from a provider like Jetpac covers multiple countries on a single plan with no switching required.

#4. For frequent travellers

If you travel to Europe for more than ten days in a billing month, the Roam Abroad Pass at £25 per month is more cost-effective than daily charges. If you travel frequently throughout the year, comparing O2's inclusive EU roaming plans against EE is worth doing.

#5. For heavy data users

The 50GB fair use cap is generous for most travellers. If you are working remotely and streaming heavily, verify whether your UK allowance is sufficient before departure.

How to Activate EE European Roaming?

Step 1: Check your eligibility.

Text ROAM to 150 before leaving the UK. EE will confirm your roaming setup and whether a daily charge applies. Check whether your plan includes free roaming or whether you need to purchase a pass.

Step 2: Enable roaming on your device.

Ensure data roaming is switched on in your phone settings. On iPhone: go to Settings, then Mobile Data, then Data Roaming, and toggle on. On Android: go to Settings, then Connections, then Mobile Networks, then Data Roaming, and enable. Menu names vary slightly by Android manufacturer and software version.

Step 3: Purchase a pass if needed.

If your plan does not include free EU roaming and you want to use a pass rather than pay per day, add the Roam Abroad Pass through the EE app or by calling 150 before departure. Monthly passes cannot be applied retroactively to days already charged.

Step 4: Set a spend cap.

EE allows customers to set a spending cap on roaming in the EE app. Set this before departure to avoid unexpected charges. You will receive notifications at 80% and 100% of your data allowance while abroad.

Step 5: Monitor usage.

Check your data and allowance usage in the EE app while travelling. If you exceed your allowances, purchase a 500MB data add-on for £3 to continue using data without reverting to standard pay-per-use rates.

5 Common EE Roaming Problems and Solutions

Roaming is not working on arrival. Text ROAMING to 150 before you leave the UK to activate roaming capability on your account. If this was not done, contact EE on 150 via a Wi-Fi calling connection or ask someone to contact EE on your behalf. Restart your phone after enabling roaming.

Problem #1 - Unexpected daily charges

Solution: EE roaming charges apply when you use your phone in any way. A received call, a sent text, or any data use triggers the day's £2.47 charge. If you want to avoid the charge on a given day, turn off mobile data and do not make or receive calls. Switch off voicemail if you do not want calls reaching your device. Incoming calls may still trigger the daily charge.

Problem #2 - Exceeded data allowance abroad

Solution: If you use more than 50GB in a billing month while roaming, your roaming data slows or stops. Purchase a 500MB data add-on for £3 via the EE app or by texting ADD DATA to 150.

Problem #3 - Coverage issues in specific destinations

Solution: If you experience a weak signal, manually select a different available network. Go to Settings, then Mobile Network, then Network Operators, then search manually and select an alternative network from the available list.

Problem #4 - Charged for Switzerland or Turkey

Solution: Switzerland and Turkey are not in EE's Europe zone. Standard international rates apply for both countries. Check the EE roaming calculator at ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs before travelling to any destination outside the confirmed 47-country Europe zone list.

Problem #5 - Cruise ship and in-flight roaming

Solution: Cruise ship and in-flight Wi-Fi roaming operate on separate satellite networks and are not covered by EE's EU roaming zone rates. These charges can be significantly higher. Turn off mobile data and roaming when boarding a ship or aircraft to avoid satellite roaming charges.

Is There a Cheaper Way to Stay Connected in Europe?

EE EU roaming is a straightforward option for occasional travellers on short trips where data needs are light. The daily charge is predictable and requires no additional setup beyond texting ROAMING to 150 before departure.

For longer trips, family holidays, or anyone who relies on data heavily while travelling, EE roaming charges add up quickly. A fortnight in Europe on daily EE EU roaming charges comes to £34.58 per person. A Europe eSIM prepaid plan from Jetpac costs less, activates before you fly, and covers the same destinations without daily charges. For UK travellers who want to avoid roaming charges entirely, a Europe eSIM is the most practical alternative.

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FAQs

Does EE charge for roaming in Europe?

Yes, for most customers. If your EE contract started on or after 7 July 2021, a daily charge of £2.47 applies for each day you use your phone in Europe. PAYG customers can opt into a £2.50 per day or £10 per week add-on. Essentials Plus, All Rounder, and Full Works plans taken from August 2024 include EU roaming at no extra daily charge.

What are EE roaming charges in Europe in 2026?

EE roaming charges in Europe for pay-monthly customers are £2.47 per day. PAYG customers pay £2.50 per day or £10 per week via an opt-in add-on. Without an add-on, PAYG standard rates are 70p per minute, 30p per text, and £3 for 500MB of data. Verify current charges at ee.co.uk before travelling.

Which countries are included in EE Europe roaming?

EE's Europe zone covers 47 countries and territories, including all 27 EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The Republic of Ireland is included but treated as domestic usage with no daily charge. Switzerland and Turkey are not included and carry different international rates.

What is the EE EU Roaming Pass?

The Roam Abroad Pass is EE's monthly add-on costing £25 per month. It covers the use of UK allowances in the EU, EEA, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, subject to a 50GB fair use data cap per billing month. It can be added via the EE app or by calling 150. Verify current pricing and terms at ee.co.uk as EE updated its pass structure in 2025.

How do I activate EE roaming abroad?

Text ROAMING to 150 before you leave the UK to enable roaming on your account. Ensure data roaming is switched on in your device settings. If your plan carries a daily charge, no further action is needed; the charge applies automatically when you use your phone in Europe.

Is EE roaming free in Europe?

Not for most current customers. EU roaming is still free for customers on contracts started before 7 July 2021. It is also included for customers on Essentials Plus, All Rounder, or Full Works plans taken from 29 August 2024. All other current customers pay £2.47 per day or a monthly pass.

Are EE roaming packages worth it?

The Roam Abroad Pass at £25 per month is worthwhile if you spend more than approximately ten days in Europe in a billing month. For shorter trips, daily charges of £2.47 total £17.29 for seven days and £24.70 for ten days, making the monthly pass the more economical option for any trip over ten days.

What happens if I exceed my roaming allowance?

If you exceed the 50GB fair use data cap while roaming, your data access is restricted. Purchase a 500MB data add-on for £3 via the EE app or by texting ADD DATA to 150 to restore access.

Is a Europe eSIM cheaper than EE roaming?

For most travellers who primarily need data, yes. A five-day trip costs approximately £12.35 in EE daily roaming charges. A comparable eSIM Europe prepaid data plan is often available for less. The trade-off is that most eSIMs are data-only. Running both your EE SIM for calls and a Jetpac eSIM for data simultaneously on a dual-SIM phone is the most practical approach.

Can I use my UK allowance while roaming in Europe on EE?

Yes, subject to the daily charge and fair use cap. Once you pay the £2.47 daily charge, your standard UK minutes, texts, and data allowances are available for the rest of that 24-hour period, up to a maximum of 50GB per billing month.

Does EE roaming cover Switzerland?

No. Switzerland is not part of EE's Europe zone and is not covered by EE's standard EU daily charge or the Roam Abroad Pass. Standard international rates apply for Switzerland. Check current Swiss roaming charges at ee.co.uk before travelling.

Which is the best eSIM for Europe?

Jetpac is the best eSIM for Europe for UK travellers. It covers 200+ countries on a single prepaid 5G plan with multi-network switching, unlimited hotspot sharing, voice calls from USD 1.99 for 5 minutes, and 24/7 WhatsApp and email support. For more details, read our guide on avoiding roaming charges and how to use data roaming on or off while travelling abroad.

Disclaimer

This blog is for educational purposes only. All the information mentioned in this blog is sourced from publicly available, reliable sources and data. EE's roaming charges, passes, plan inclusions, and zone coverage are subject to change. All figures cited, including the £2.47 daily charge, £25 Roam Abroad Pass, £2.50 PAYG daily add-on, and £10 PAYG weekly add-on, are based on publicly available information at the time of writing in 2026 and may have been updated. Always verify current EE roaming charges at ee.co.uk or text ROAM to 150 before travelling. Country zone inclusions are subject to change. Switzerland and Turkey rates should be verified directly with EE before travel. Cruise ship and in-flight satellite roaming is not covered by EE's Europe zone rates. The £45 spending cap on mobile data roaming is a historical UK consumer protection. Verify whether it currently applies to your contract with EE. Jetpac is not responsible for EE's pricing decisions, network variations, or connectivity issues. No product endorsement of EE or any competing network is implied or intended.