O2 roaming explained for international & EU countries

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

Alternatively, all O2 mobile customers can get the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 per day, which gives you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 63 international destinations outside the EU.

What's the best O2 SIM for roaming?

O2 eu roaming - after brexit, o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on, o2 travel bolt on, what’s the difference between the o2 travel bolt on and o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on, does o2 have a fair usage policy when roaming, will i be charged if i exceed my allowance when roaming with o2, can i get 5g when roaming with o2, can i roam for free in the eu with o2, how can i setup my phone to roam with o2, will i be charged if i go over my allowance when roaming with o2, can i tether to another device when roaming with o2, how can i get the o2 travel bolt on.

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 S24 and Apple iPhone 15 .

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, if your regular allowance is greater than 25GB, you cannot exceed 25GB per month when roaming in the EU.

If you go over your regular allowance, or you exceed the fair usage policy of 25GB per month, you will be charged £3.50 for each additional GB you use when roaming in the EU.

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:

  • Canary Islands
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • Vatican City

With the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you will get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts within 27 international countries.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is included at no additional cost with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It is not included with any 30 day SIM only plans or pay as you go plans.

If your 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:

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:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

If you’re not eligible for the free O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you cannot pay for it. However, you can purchase the similar O2 Travel Bolt On, which covers 63 international destinations for £6 per day. See below for more information.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available for £6 per day, and covers 63 international destinations.

Similar to the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 or by enabling it via your O2 account.

The £6 daily fee will automatically be charged when you use mobile data, make a call or send a text message. Using Wi-Fi or receiving calls and texts will not trigger the charge.

The moment the charge is triggered, you'll have access for 24 hours, until the trigger resets. There are no limits on the amount of consecutive days you can trigger the Bolt On.

It is important to note you must enable the O2 Travel Bolt On before you use data, make a call or send a text. If you don't enable the Bolt On, you won't be charged the £6 daily fee - instead, you will be charged at a standard roaming rate, which can be expensive.

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

The O2 Travel Bolt On works in the following 63 destinations:

  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominican Republic
  • Netherlands Antilles
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos
  • United Arab Emirates

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, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It 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 select tariffs.

On the other hand, the O2 Travel Bolt On is available to all pay monthly customers for £6 per day and works in 63 international destinations.

Both Bolt Ons give you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, the O2 Travel Bolt On comes with a 2Mbps speed limit.

If you’re using your allowance for free within O2’s Europe Zone, you cannot exceed 25GB data per month if your regular allowance is greater than this amount. If you go over this limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your allowance resets during the next month.

In addition, you cannot roam within the O2 Europe Zone for more than 63 days within a 4 month period - the offer is not intended for extended holidays. If O2 thinks you are abusing the free EU roaming policy, you will be given a 2 week notice, before a surcharge is applied:

The surcharge will be dropped when you return and stay in the UK for a reasonable time.

For the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, there is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use, however O2 states they may implement a temporary speed limit if your usage is deemed excessive. The O2 Travel Bolt On does not have a fair usage policy, however there is a permanent 2Mbps speed limit in place at all times.

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

If you exceed your data allowance or go over the 25GB limit when roaming for free in the Europe Zone, you will be charged £3.50 per GB, until your plan resets during the next month.

If you don't have an roaming Bolt On when travelling outside of Europe, or you're not in an eligible country, you will charged at a standard out of plan rate.

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.

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

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

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

For Android users:

  • Go to Settings
  • Go to Connections -> Mobile networks -> Roaming
  • Enable Data roaming

For iPhone users:

  • Go to Mobile data -> Mobile Data Options
  • Enable Data Roaming

If you're roaming in the EU and go over your data allowance or the 25GB limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your plan resets at the next month.

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.

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 TRAVEL to 23336 . Alternatively, you can purchase the Bolt On through your O2 account.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is available for free on selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only contracts and Volt plans. You may also choose it for free as an O2 Extra, with eligible plans.

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

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider’s data policy explained

author image

Share this with

Young man at beach bar looking at phone

We’ve all been there – the plane lands, you whip out your phone and then feel a moment of panic over whether to turn on data roaming.

Let alone agonising over how much it will cost to call home.

Depending on your contract, and your network, using your phone on holiday can be just the same as at home – or very pricey.

It’s all got so much more complicated since Brexit , as some companies reintroduced roaming charges .

The trick is to get clued up and sorted before you go, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Because when you’re hitting the beach for some much-needed R&R , fretting about your phone bill will just pile on the stress.

So if you’re on the O2 network, what’s included – and what isn’t?

Here’s what you need to know.

Is O2 free in Europe?

Woman using smartphone against Eiffel Tower in Paris on a sunny day

In its Europe Zone, O2 contracts work as they do in the UK – so you’ll get the same number of minutes, texts and the same data allowance (up to a limit of 25GB). You can use this for up to 63 days in any four-month period – more than this will trigger a ‘fair usage’ text and after that you could be charged £3.50 per GB for data, 3.3p per minute for calls and 1p per text.

If your data allowance is more than 25GB in the UK, it will be capped at that level in Europe – you can use more, but you’ll have to pay for it.

The Europe Zone also applies to pay-as-you-go – data will come out of your allowance or be charged as it would in the UK.

Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of data, texts are 1p and calls within these countries or back to the UK for 4p a minute.

Countries in the O2 Europe roaming zone are:

  • Canary Islands
  • Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus)
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Vatican City  

What’s the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone?

The ‘Travel Inclusive Zone’ is a list of 27 countries outside of the Europe Zone.

Tamarindo Beach and Estuary, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Countries in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone are:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone?

It’s offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in these areas (with no cap on the data).

It’s not available on 30-day sim-only tariffs or on pay-as-you-go.

What about outside the Travel Inclusive zone?

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

If you’re travelling outside of the Europe Zone and do not have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, then if you’re on pay monthly you can buy the the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day which gives unlimited minutes, texts and data in selected destinations.

O2 has a dedicated page where you can check to see if the country you’re visiting is covered. You can add the bolt-on by texting TRAVELON to 21300.

For pay as you go, it’s not offered, so you’ll be charged international roaming rates outside of the Europe Zone.

You can check international roaming rates on O2’s dedicated page – in the US, for example, data is a whopping £7.20 per MB on pay-as-you-go, and calls cost £2 a minute to make and receive.

MORE : List of WhatsApp changes in 2023 – from Chat lock to message edits

MORE : What you can and can’t pack in your hand luggage – from liquids to gadgets

MORE : Rhodes, rest and relax: The Greek island that saved me from burnout

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

Metro Travel presents... The Getaway Newsletter

Get need-to-know travel news, inspiration and advice from Metro every week.

Sign up here....

Privacy Policy

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

To the guy with curly hair, wearing black trousers and Dr Martens (I…
You were handsome, with dark skin and a sweet smile and reading Influence…

Get us in your feed

  • Welcome & News
  • Tech Support
  • Access For All
  • Pay Monthly
  • Pay As You Go
  • Business Customers
  • O2 Priority
  • Other Products and Services
  • Other Devices
  • Discussions & Feedback
  • How-to Guides
  • O2 Community
  • Welcome & News

Roaming on O2 - All you need to know

  • Subscribe to RSS Feed
  • Mark Topic as New
  • Mark Topic as Read
  • Float this Topic for Current User
  • Printer Friendly Page

Chris_K

  • 161 Solutions

Community Manager

  • Mark as New
  • Report Content

Roaming_CommunityHeaders1.png

  • All forum topics
  • Previous Topic
  • « Previous
  • Next »

madasaf1sh

  • 2974 Solutions

on ‎17-03-2022 10:12

Cleoriff

  • 122183 Posts
  • 7456 Solutions

on ‎17-03-2022 12:27

Martin-O2

  • 94 Solutions

on ‎17-03-2022 16:30

slight_smile

on ‎17-03-2022 20:21

pgn

  • 35068 Posts
  • 1557 Solutions

on ‎17-03-2022 20:49

on ‎17-03-2022 21:12

on ‎17-03-2022 21:22

on ‎18-03-2022 11:29

on ‎18-03-2022 14:20

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

never-displayed

  • How can I trust callers from O2? in Access For All 19-03-2024
  • eSIM swap when in the EU in Tech Support 16-03-2024
  • USA visit number query in Access For All 10-03-2024
  • Default on Credit in Access For All 06-03-2024
  • Order confirmation sent to wrong email address in Tech Support 02-03-2024
  • O2 Community FAQs
  • 5 Reasons to Belong to the O2 Community
  • A step-by-step guide to registering on our forum
  • What's the O2 community and how to get started?
  • O2 Community Guidelines
  • O2 Community Terms and Conditions

Your cookie preferences

We use cookies and similar technologies. You can use the settings below to accept all cookies (which we recommend to give you the best experience) or to enable specific categories of cookies as explained below. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy .

Select cookie preferences

  • Performance
  • Functionality
  • Account Overview

Popular Search Terms

  • Samsung Galaxy deals
  • iPhone deals
  • SIM Only deals
  • Credit Cards
  • Pay as you Go
  • Uswitch.com >
  • Mobiles >
  • Reviews >

O2 international roaming FAQ

archie burkinshaw author image

Staying connected while travelling abroad can be tricky and often costly. However, O2 has one of the most extensive international roaming policies of the UK's major networks – helping them to make the most of their mobile services while overseas.

EU roaming without charges

One of the standout features of O2's international roaming policy is its commitment to providing EU roaming without additional charges. Currently, O2 is the only major network operator that has continued to offer EU roaming without fees for data, calls, and texts up to 25GB. This means customers can use their mobile phones just like they would in the UK when travelling to any of the 48 destinations within O2's Europe Zone.

Those 48 destinations are:

Canary Islands

Czech Republic

French Guiana

Isle of Man

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

Saint Barthelemy

Saint Martin

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Vatican City

O2 Fair Usage Limit

To ensure international roaming remains fair for all users, O2 has implemented a Fair Usage Limit (FUP). This limit is designed to prevent continuous and excessive use of services outside the UK in its Europe Zone. 

Customers can use O2's services for periodic travel, such as holidays or short breaks. However, if you use O2’s services outside the UK in the Europe Zone for 63 or more days within any four-month period – and cannot demonstrate significant use or presence in the UK – charges may apply after two weeks. The charges for Pay Monthly customers include £3.50/GB for data, 3.3p/minute for calls, and 1p/text.

Roaming limits for O2 tariffs

The roaming limits differ based on the customer's monthly data allowance:

Tariffs with more than 25GB of monthly data: Customers with a UK monthly data allowance exceeding 25GB will have a roaming limit of 25GB within the Europe Zone. Once the limit is reached, customers can still use data, but they will be charged £3.50 per additional gigabyte until they return to the UK, use up their UK data allowance, or reach their next bill cycle.

Tariffs with 25GB or less of monthly data: These tariffs are not subject to the 25GB roaming limit within the Europe Zone. However, customers who exhaust their UK data allowance while roaming abroad will need to purchase a data Bolt On to continue using data. 

What's included and not included

O2's international roaming policy includes making calls and sending texts within the Europe Zone (excluding the UK), receiving calls and texts in the Europe Zone, and using your monthly data allowance while in the Europe Zone. 

However, it does not include making calls or sending texts from the UK to countries outside of the UK, making calls or sending texts to premium rate numbers, directory service numbers, and some non-geographic numbers. 

Additionally, mobile broadband tariffs are only valid for use within the UK, and mobile data usage while on a cruise ship is subject to separate charges.

O2 Travel Inclusive Zone and O2 Travel Bolt On

For travellers seeking even more extensive coverage and flexibility, O2 offers a couple of options:

1. O2 Travel Inclusive Zone

If you have a O2 Travel Inclusive Zone included in your tariff, you're in luck. This feature provides you with unlimited minutes, texts, and data roaming privileges in 27 destinations worldwide. Among the covered locations are popular destinations like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, ensuring that you stay connected without worry during your international adventures. The full list of destinations included in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone can be found here.  

2. O2 Travel Bolt On

If O2 Travel Inclusive Zone isn't part of your current plan you can still enjoy communication while abroad by adding the O2 Travel Bolt On to your account. For £6 per day Bolt On grants you unlimited minutes, texts, and data roaming access in 63 destinations worldwide. To explore the full list of destinations covered by the O2 Travel Bolt On, follow this link .

3. Virgin Media O2’s Volt

If you have a Virgin Media broadband connection and an O2 mobile contract, you can access the Inclusive Zone at no extra cost in all Plus Plans and Volt bundles which allows you unlimited data, texts and calls in 27 international destinations as well as in Europe. 

In the event that you're not eligible for O2 Travel Inclusive Zone and haven't opted for the O2 Travel Bolt On, or you find yourself roaming in a destination not encompassed by these services, O2's standard roaming rates will apply.

Read more...

person using their mobile phone in the evening outside

Best network for roaming 2024 - Uswitch

All networks have their own packages for those going away either on holiday or business. Here's we break them down & find the best.

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

What are mobile roaming and data roaming charges? - Uswitch

Using your phone while travelling overseas can result in some pretty serious charges if you're not careful. Here's what you need to know about mobile roaming and data roaming charges.

EU roaming guide - Young woman travelling by car in the mountains using smartphone

EU roaming charges explained - Uswitch

Since Brexit, UK networks have slowly begun reintroducing EU roaming charges. If you want to have access to data, calls and text during your next trip overseas, here's what you'll be charged.

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider's data policy explained

W e’ve all been there – the plane lands, you whip out your phone and then feel a moment of panic over whether to turn on data roaming.

Let alone agonising over how much it will cost to call home.

Depending on your contract, and your network, using your phone on holiday can be just the same as at home – or very pricey.

It’s all got so much more complicated since Brexit , as some companies reintroduced roaming charges .

The trick is to get clued up and sorted before you go, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Because when you’re hitting the beach for some much-needed R&R , fretting about your phone bill will just pile on the stress.

So if you’re on the O2 network, what’s included – and what isn’t?

Here’s what you need to know.

Is O2 free in Europe?

In its Europe Zone, O2 contracts work as they do in the UK – so you’ll get the same number of minutes, texts and the same data allowance (up to a limit of 25GB). You can use this for up to 63 days in any four-month period – more than this will trigger a ‘fair usage’ text and after that you could be charged £3.50 per GB for data, 3.3p per minute for calls and 1p per text.

If your data allowance is more than 25GB in the UK, it will be capped at that level in Europe – you can use more, but you’ll have to pay for it.

The Europe Zone also applies to pay-as-you-go – data will come out of your allowance or be charged as it would in the UK.

Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of data, texts are 1p and calls within these countries or back to the UK for 4p a minute.

Countries in the O2 Europe roaming zone are:

  • Canary Islands
  • Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus)
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Vatican City  

What’s the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone?

The ‘Travel Inclusive Zone’ is a list of 27 countries outside of the Europe Zone.

Countries in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone are:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua 
  • United States
  • Yemen 

Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone?

It’s offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in these areas (with no cap on the data).

It’s not available on 30-day sim-only tariffs or on pay-as-you-go.

What about outside the Travel Inclusive zone?

If you’re travelling outside of the Europe Zone and do not have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, then if you’re on pay monthly you can buy the the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day which gives unlimited minutes, texts and data in selected destinations.

O2 has a dedicated page where you can check to see if the country you’re visiting is covered. You can add the bolt-on by texting TRAVELON to 21300.

For pay as you go, it’s not offered, so you’ll be charged international roaming rates outside of the Europe Zone.

You can check international roaming rates on O2’s dedicated page – in the US, for example, data is a whopping £7.20 per MB on pay-as-you-go, and calls cost £2 a minute to make and receive.

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

For even more unmissable travel news, features and inspiration in your inbox each week, sign up to Metro's The Getaway newsletter

Using your phone on holiday can be pricey – know before you go (Picture: Getty Images)

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  • News & Views
  • Innovation Hub
  • Responsible Business

Clear and confusion free roaming with Virgin Media O2

Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2

A year and a half ago Virgin Media O2 proudly became the odd one out by not following the other major mobile networks in reintroducing EU roaming fees. All O2 and Virgin Mobile customers travelling to Europe have continued, and will continue, to roam like home regardless of whether rules and laws have changed post-Brexit.

In the current economic climate and with summer holiday season upon us, many families will be flocking to popular European destinations for a well-earned break.  Worrying about whether you can afford to use a phone while away is bonkers, and our research has shown that a quarter of Brits don’t realise they may need to pay additional mobile charges while roaming in Europe. To ease some of this pain, last year we helped save our customers an estimated £3 million per week in EU roaming charges.

Yesterday, Ofcom proposed new rules to ensure any applicable roaming charges are made clear to consumers when they head abroad. We believe that it’s important for consumers to have clear and transparent information about roaming and will continue to send alerts to our customers when they first touchdown in another country, at multiple points when they near their airtime limit and again when they reach it.

Some commentators have pointed out that we have a data ‘fair usage’ cap on roaming. We do, and we’ve never hidden this. This is the case with all operators, and it’s designed to stop abuse of roaming by a tiny minority who might be living abroad for an extended period. The key difference with Virgin Media O2 is that any of our customers with consumer contracts won’t be charged a thing up to their standard UK data limit, or the 25GB cap if their data plan is higher than that when visiting Europe – no other mobile network can say the same.

Now I realise this is an industry full of jargon, so understandably some people will worry about hitting that 25GB limit. Let me break it down. This is a hefty amount of data. It’s equivalent to 595 hours of WhatsApp voice calls, streaming more than 6,000 songs or using Google Maps while driving for 208 days straight.

I know a mobile phone is an essential item when at home or abroad, but the reality is 99% of people will never get close to that 25GB limit. And for those that do, they will receive a clear message before they get to that point outlining their options and any charges that could apply.

Beyond Europe, we have O2 Travel Inclusive Zone included at no extra cost in all Plus Plans and Volt bundles which allows millions of our customers to enjoy unlimited data, texts and calls in 27 international destinations as well as in Europe. A full list of international destinations can be found here . For those without this included in their plan, we offer an O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day, providing unlimited services in 63 destinations across the globe. The countries included are listed here .

For anyone about to head off on holiday who isn’t an O2 or Virgin Mobile customer, we recently teamed up with Roman (Roam On) Kemp to provide a few tips that might help you avoid some of the holiday turbulence caused by EU roaming charges. Of course, for a first-class roaming experience O2 is your best destination.

Let’s keep on roaming on.

Subscribe for Alerts

  • Financial results
  • Press releases

By completing this form, you agree to Virgin Media O2 using your details for the intended purpose.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

More articles

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

Press release

18 March 2024

Virgin Media O2 has successfully deployed 4G and 5G smart poles on top of its existing fibre network in a UK first…

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

14 March 2024

With new research revealing there are around 18 million* unused consoles stashed in cupboards and drawers across the UK, Virgin Media O2…

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

11 March 2024

From today until 17th March 2024, Virgin Media is offering new customers the opportunity to get their hands on a 43” LG…

(anything related to Virgin Media specific services)

(anything related to O2 specific services)

  • Accessories
  • Wearable Tech
  • Wi-Fi and Networking
  • Entertainment
  • Small Business
  • Digital Magazine
  • Best Phones
  • Best Laptops
  • Best VPN Services
  • Best Antivirus

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence .

How does roaming work on O2?

Jim Martin

Before you jump on a plane or a ferry, it pays to know exactly what the score is when you use your O2 (or Virgin Mobile) SIM in a country other than the UK. Do calls, text and data come out of your allowances or will you be slapped with a hefty bill just for checking Facebook?

We’ve got all the answers you need.

Can I roam on my O2 SIM?

Yes. But whether or not you’ll be charged depends upon where you’re going, how you pay and also which tariff you’re on.

O2 Travel is what you need to use your calls, text and data abroad, and you can log into your O2 account to see whether you have it as part of your package. Alternatively, dial 202 on your phone and just ask the customer service team.

To opt into O2 Travel, sign in to My O2 and then add the O2 Travel Bolt On. It doesn’t cost anything to do this: you will only be charged if you trigger the Bolt On by making a call, sending a text or using data in a country that’s outside of the Europe Zone .

Despite having removed them in 2017, following Brexit, three of the big four UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges across the EU. However, on 10 January 2022, Virgin Media O2 ‘s Chief Commercial Officer for Mobile, Gareth Turpin, confirmed that “we [Virgin Media O2] will not be reintroducing roaming fees in Europe for customers on O2 or Virgin Mobile.”

This means O2 (and Virgin Mobile) customers are in the best position, in terms of European roaming charges are concerned, as they don’t have really worry about them.

Note: Don’t forget to enable data roaming in your phone’s settings, otherwise, your apps and browsers will tell you there’s no internet connection.

Roaming in Europe

If you’re heading to Europe, great news. You don’t need to worry as your phone will work just like it does in the UK. Any calls or texts you make will come out of your normal allowance, and the same goes for data from your bundle.

Just check O2’s Europe Zone to make sure your destination country is included.

If you’re on a pay-as-you-go bundle, check out the included countries here (the list is different to the Pay Monthly list). Note that Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco and Switzerland are excluded for PAYG customers. You can get 100MB of data for these destinations for £1.99 per day.

Also, note that using mobile data on a cruise ship isn’t covered, but you should be able to use the ship’s own Wi-Fi. Making and receiving calls on a ship costs £2 a minute, and sending each text costs 50p.

Roaming outside Europe

If you have a tariff that gives you free O2 Travel in the Inclusive Zone, the following countries are included and you won’t be charged for calls, texts or data as long as you don’t go over your usual allowance:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

If you don’t have free O2 Travel on your tariff, then you’ll need to opt into O2 Travel (you can also do this by texting O2TRAVEL to 23336) before you head abroad.

You’ll be charged £4.99 per day, but only on the days that you ‘trigger’ the Bolt On. That means the first call you make, text you send or data you use will start O2 Travel for that day, which runs from midnight to midnight based on the capital city of the country you’re in.

How does roaming work on O2?

What does O2 Travel include?

For your £4.99 per day, which you’ll be billed if you’re not eligible for the ‘Inclusive Zone’ or Europe, you get 120 minutes, 120 text and unlimited data.

O2 says there’s no cap on data at all, but that “speeds may vary” which, reading between the lines, means you’ll see a slow-down in your connection speed if you’re using more than the amount in O2’s fair use policy.

Is O2 good value for roaming?

Considering EE, Three and Vodafone have all reintroduced roaming charges – even within Europe – since Brexit went into effect, Virgin Media O2’s decision to abstain from reintroducing them is a huge win for customers; especially those who like to travel and are likely to find themselves hopping around Europe.

If you’re off to a destination where you can’t use your allowances, you might be able to get a better deal than the £4.99 per day charge for O2 Travel.

Pop into a phone shop – or pre-book online – and pick up a local pre-pay SIM when you arrive at your destination. This is often a way to use your phone – especially mobile data – for a much-reduced cost. Some operators even sell ‘tourist SIMs’ for exactly this reason. Do your research before you go and you could save a lot.

There are disadvantages of doing this, including the fact that people won’t be able to call you on your normal number while you’re using a different SIM. Of course, if you have a dual-SIM phone, then that’s not an issue, but do watch out if you intend to keep your O2 SIM in a phone, so people can contact you, as you might be charged for receiving calls and texts if you’re outside of the inclusive zones.

If you have SIMs with other operators, check out our other guides:

  • What you need to know about roaming on EE
  • What you need to know about roaming on Vodafone
  • What you need to know about roaming on Three

Author: Jim Martin , Executive Editor

02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.

Recent stories by Jim Martin:

  • Best antivirus apps for Android 2024
  • Are refurbished phones good & should you buy one?
  • Do you need antivirus for iPhone?

alertify

Explore the world with Alertify. Get roaming news, tips, and the tech to travel without limits.

  • Telecom operators
  • Telecommunications

logo

O2 launches new tariffs and roaming at no additional cost in 75 countries

O2 has announced the launch of a new set of ‘Plus Plan’ tariffs and roaming at no additional cost in 75 countries including Spain, Malta and Portugal. More about the o2 roaming plan find out below.

SIM card e SIM shop

Customers can choose an O2 Extra such as six months of Disney+, Amazon Music Unlimited or 12 months of Audible or Amazon Prime Video.

O2’s Plus Plan tariffs also give cu stomers a three-year warranty. The warranty is eligible for customers who purchase their phone on a 12-month contract.

Virgin Media O2 CCO Gareth Turpin said: “ We’re always looking at how we can give customers even greater value with more of the things that matter to them. o2 roaming plan

“With Plus Plans, customers can now get a variety of additional benefits including international roaming and additional protection for their phone with a three-year warranty, giving them even more reasons to choose O2.”

Stay connected on your travels with O2 02 roaming plan

If you’re travelling within our Europe Zone, your minutes, data (subject to a fair usage limit) and texts will work just as they do at home. If you’re travelling outside of our Europe Zone, then O2 Travel is the perfect way to stay connected when you’re on holiday. It lets you use the internet while you’re away, without worrying about overspending.

If your UK monthly data allowance is over 25GB, you’ll have a Roaming Limit of 25GB when roaming in our Europe Zone. This means you can use up to 25GB of your allowance at no extra cost – we’ll text you if you’re getting close to the limit, and again if you reach it. You can still use data if you reach our Roaming Limit, but you’ll be charged at £3.50/GB.

The  O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On , included with selected O2 Refresh and SIM only tariffs, lets you roam in 75 destinations at no extra cost. Your data, minutes and text allowances will work in our Europe Zone, just like they do at home. And you’ll get a daily allowance of 120 texts, 120 minutes, and data roaming, in 27 of our international O2 Travel destinations, including USA, Australia and New Zealand. So you can keep track of what’s going on at home, and share all your holiday pics, from the other side of the world.

If you’re not eligible, you can still pay a single, fixed daily rate for O2 Travel. That’ll get you the 120 minutes, 120 texts and all the data you need. There’s no upper usage limit on data, but data speeds might vary.

Take a look below to see which countries we cover, or see Pay Monthly Europe Zone inclusions and Pay As You Go Europe Zone inclusions for full details.

If you have a Spend Cap, the price of this Bolt On will not be included within your Spend Cap.

Like this? "Sharing is caring!"

Image thumbnail

40% of US Still Prefer Cash Payments

United group to acquire greek's wind hellas as their latest acquisition.

Image thumbnail

RELATED POSTS

global roaming market

Retail Roaming Market: Roaming Subscribers to Reach 1.25 Billion Globally

5G roaming traffic

5G roaming traffic soars on BICS’ network

KT shared roaming service

KT provides shared roaming service for 5 users

IMAGES

  1. O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On 🔴 2023 Updated

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  2. O2 roaming

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  3. Virgin Media Volt Review: Broadband & TV Bundles With O2 SIM Card

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  4. Solved: O2 Travel in Inclusive Zone bolt-on

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  5. O2 Contract with O2 Travel Inclusive (75 Free Coun...

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

  6. O2 Contract with O2 Travel Inclusive (75 Free Coun...

    02 travel zone inclusive bolt on

VIDEO

  1. usainbolt vs yuvrajsingh friendly race #shortsfeed #shorts

  2. Entering Zone 2 In Pacific Drive

  3. Raging Bolt Lost Zone??

  4. Marble Zone

COMMENTS

  1. O2

    If you bought a 12 month sim only tariff of 100GB and above on or after 3 September 2020, you'll be eligible for O2 Travel in our Inclusive Zone. If you are upgrading to a sim only tariff of 30GB - 99GB on or after 5 November 2020, you'll be able to choose O2 Travel in our Inclusive Zone as your Extra. If you have bought any other sim only ...

  2. O2 roaming explained for international & EU countries

    With selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans, you also get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, which allows you to use unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 27 international destinations outside the EU. Alternatively, all O2 mobile customers can get the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 per day, which gives ...

  3. Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone data policy ...

    Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of ...

  4. Roaming on O2

    With our O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you get a daily allowance of 120 calls, 120 minutes and data roaming in 27 additional destinations (our Inclusive Zone) including USA, Australia and New Zealand. You you can find all of the the included destinations here. Destinations included in our Travel Inclusive Zone

  5. O2 international roaming FAQ

    O2 Travel Bolt On. If O2 Travel Inclusive Zone isn't part of your current plan you can still enjoy communication while abroad by adding the O2 Travel Bolt On to your account. For £6 per day Bolt ...

  6. Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider's data ...

    Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of ...

  7. What does O2 Travel Inclusive bolt on actually cover? : r/O2UK

    You get three months of "O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On". The only area of the website that even mentions Malaysia is the "O2 Travel Bolton" which has a similar name (Less the word "inclusive") but costs £6 a day. And if you're going beyond our Inclusive Zone you can still subscribe to our full O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day in selected ...

  8. Clear and confusion free roaming with Virgin Media O2

    Beyond Europe, we have O2 Travel Inclusive Zone included at no extra cost in all Plus Plans and Volt bundles which allows millions of our customers to enjoy unlimited data, texts and calls in 27 international destinations as well as in Europe. A full list of international destinations can be found here. For those without this included in their ...

  9. How Does Roaming Work on Virgin Media O2?

    To opt into O2 Travel, sign in to My O2 and then add the O2 Travel Bolt On. It doesn't cost anything to do this: you will only be charged if you trigger the Bolt On by making a call, sending a text or using data in a country that's outside of the Europe Zone.. Despite having removed them in 2017, following Brexit, three of the big four UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges across the EU.

  10. Stay connected on your travels with O2 02 roaming plan

    You can still use data if you reach our Roaming Limit, but you'll be charged at £3.50/GB. The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, included with selected O2 Refresh and SIM only tariffs, lets you roam in 75 destinations at no extra cost. Your data, minutes and text allowances will work in our Europe Zone, just like they do at home.

  11. Understanding Volt Benefits

    O2 Travel Inclusive Zone, where you can roam in 75 destinations at no extra cost. View your supercharged data allowances and O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On in My O2. Plus, if you take out a phone on a new O2 Custom Plan you can get big savings on your Airtime and double data. This is all on top of lightning-fast speeds, reliability and great ...

  12. Free EU Data Roaming Abroad

    If you don't have the O2 Travel inclusive Zone bolt-on or O2 Travel, you'll pay our standard rates. If you don't have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone bolt-on or O2 Travel, you'll pay our standard rates: Calls: £2/min: Texts: 50p/text: Data: £7.20/MB: If you're on our new billing platform you'll be able to buy one of our data roaming bundles: 100MB:

  13. Plus Plans

    * Plus Plans worth up to £269 terms: Total figure based on comparison of inclusive Plus Plan benefits vs standard cost if added to a Custom Plan, consisting of: (i) O2 Travel Inclusive Zone bolt-on (average cost £2pm - calculated over 36 months), (ii) O2 Switch Up (usual cost £3.99pm - calculated over 36 months), (iii) an additional ...