International roaming

Data usage is the amount of data your device uses when it uploads and downloads information from the internet. If you’re not sure how much data you might need, then use the Data Usage Calculator to help you estimate your data usage needs.

Visit www.telstra.com/mpm from your mobile or mobile broadband device to view your estimated International Data Usage. Accessing this website from your mobile when overseas doesn’t count towards your data usage.

You can also download the My Telstra App to track your roaming usage with our self-help tools. These tools are free to access in Australia and overseas.

To track your roaming usage on My Telstra app:

1. Download or open the My Telstra app
2. Tap on the Services tab in the bottom bar then find your service
3. If international roaming is enabled, you’ll see the word Roaming next to your mobile number
4. Select your service to view your usage in more detail.

Alternatively, to track your voice, SMS and data usage, simply dial #108# from your Telstra device. This feature is free to access when overseas.

When you arrive at your destination and turn on your device, you’ll receive an SMS from Telstra informing you that international roaming is active You will only be able to receive these notifications if your device can receive SMS notifications.

While you’re overseas, we’ll send you SMS alerts to keep you informed of your spend and usage if your device is capable of receiving SMS and you haven’t opted out of these messages.

We’ll send you alerts at 50%, 85% and 100% usage of your data allowance. If you exceed your daily data allowance when using a Data Plan or Pack, you’ll automatically switch to pay-as-you-go rates. When using data at our pay-as-you-go rates, we’ll send you an SMS every time you use $100 worth of data.

1. If you haven't activated your International Day Pass, you can activate it here.
2. Turn your mobile phone off and on again. This will re-establish a connection to the network.
3. Check the Network Selection or Operator Selection setting on your mobile phone. Make sure your network selection is set to Automatic. (Refer to your mobile phone's user guide)
4. If you’re located in a remote area, network coverage may not be available with an international carrier. You may need to wait until you move to an area with network coverage.
5. Check the Band Selection or Network Mode setting on your mobile phone. Make sure your Band Selection or Network Mode is set to ALL, or as many combinations as possible. If this doesn't work, try manually selecting one of the settings (Refer to your mobile phone's user guide). When you travel to a different country or return to Australia, make sure to change this setting back to Automatic.
6. If you're still having trouble, please contact us.

If you're calling a number outside the country you're in, make sure you're adding the + symbol and a country code before the phone number.

Various technologies are used to support voice calling including 2G/3G/4G and VoLTE. Voice calling may also depend on your mobile plan, device compatibility and network coverage in the area where you are attempting to make a call. Check with your device manufacturer to ensure compatibility for your specific device. VoLTE calls are also only possible in countries where we have an agreement with our roaming partner to use VoLTE.

If you can’t make calls with your Non-VoLTE capable device you may be able to manually select a 3G/2G network via your device settings (if such a network is available). Check the instructions below on how to do this on some popular devices.

To select a network manually on other devices or a different software version, check with your device manufacturer.

Non-VoLTE compatible devices may also be able to use OTT (Over The Top) calling apps or Wi-Fi calling for voice calls to Australia.

It's possible that your service might have international call barring. However, we'll need to troubleshoot the issue with you.

If you're still having trouble, please contact us.

If you need to call a phone number in another country from Australia, or if you’re overseas and need to call home, you may need to change the number that you dial and add in the [international access code], [country code], [area code] (if applicable). With a lot of networks starting to exit 3G and depending on your device and if the overseas network and Telstra have VoLTE over 4G agreements in place, you may be required to do this.

Calling overseas from your mobile phone in Australia

To make a call overseas using your Telstra mobile in Australia, you’ll need to dial: the [international access code], [country code], [area code] (if applicable), and the [phone number].

1. Enter the international access code  which is the + sign on your mobile phone. You can do this by holding down the ‘0’ button until the ‘+’ sign appears.
2. Enter the country code. A full list of country codes can be found on our international dialling codes page.
3. Enter the area code and then the phone number.

For example, if you want to call a number in the US, dial: +1 808 xxxx xxxx.

Calling Australia from overseas using your mobile phone

To make a call to Australia using your Telstra mobile number from overseas, you’ll need to dial: the [international access code], [country code], [area code] (if applicable), and the [phone number].

1. Enter the international access code which is the + sign on your mobile phone. You can do this by holding down the ‘0’ button until the ‘+’ sign appears.
2. Enter the country code. The country code for Australia is 61.
3. Enter the area code and then the phone number without the leading zero.

For example, for mobile dial +61 4 xxxx xxxx, and for landline dial +61 2 xxxx xxxxx.

Check your International Roaming settings in the My Telstra app

If you're on an Upfront Plan, you will only have the International Day Pass option.

Here’s how to get to your International Roaming settings:

• Open the My Telstra app or log in via your desktop into your account
• Go to Services
• Select your Mobile service
• Select view or manage your plan
• If your plan name has ‘upfront’, you are on an upfront plan. If it doesn’t, you are not on an upfront plan.

If you are not on an upfront plan, you will have access to the following day pass destinations

If your destination isn’t eligible for a day pass see here for pay-as-you-go options

If you’re on an Upfront plan

If you’re on an Upfront plan and your destination isn’t included in the International Roaming Day Pass, you’ll need to connect to local Wi-Fi or purchase a local carrier SIM card in order to use your phone overseas.
You won’t be charged any pay-as-you-go rates to use your phone overseas.

If you’re on any other Telstra plan

If you’re on any other Telstra mobile plan and your destination isn’t included in the International Roaming Day Pass, you’ll be charged pay-as-you-go rates to use your phone in that destination.

You also have the option to not use the Roaming Day Pass while in countries that are included in a Day Pass and to be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis instead, however will be far more expensive, and thus is not recommended, please read the rates below.

The rates for each country will vary and once you arrive in your destination, we’ll send you an SMS with the rates that you’ll pay.

If you don't want to pay-as-you-go, you can disable International Roaming in the My Telstra app by selecting your service, go to 'International Roaming' and select 'Manage'.

Here is how you can check whether you'll be charged pay-as-you-go-rates:

1. Open the My Telstra app
2. Go to Services
3. Select your Mobile service
4. Tap on Extras
5. Go to International Roaming

If you only have a Day Pass toggle available, you're on an Upfront Plan and won't be charged pay-as-you-go-rates. If you also see an International Roaming toggle and it's enabled, you will be charged pay-as-you-go rates if you visit a country that's not eligible for Day Pass.

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a SIM that’s built into compatible mobile phones, tablets, wearables and other technology.

It allows you to have multiple phone numbers connected to the same device using a digital eSIM profile.

There are a range of eSIM compatible devices. Check to see if your phone is listed.

If your phone uses a Telstra eSIM, make sure you check your settings and turn the service off before heading overseas if you do not want it to be active.

If your device has a physical SIM and eSIM, or multiple eSIM profiles, it can use up to two mobile services at the same time. By purchasing multiple Telstra services, you can make and receive calls and texts with two different mobile numbers and use mobile data, with two separate plans on the same device. The plans do not need to be identical and can be a combination of Pre-Paid and Upfront if you choose.

Dual SIM requirements, functionality and operation may differ between device models. Check with the device manufacturer for details.

You could have one international SIM card and one Telstra SIM card in your device. It could also mean your device can either take two physical SIM cards or a mix of e-SIM and physical SIM. The advantage of a dual sim device is that you can use a local sim card for calls but still be able to access messages and calls from your normal service, however you may still incur Telstra roaming charges.