EU Roaming in 2026: Calls, SMS and Mobile Data Abroad

If you travel from Austria to another EU country, you can generally use your phone much as you do at home. EU roaming rules normally prevent extra roaming charges, but exceptions apply, especially during long stays and when travelling by ship or plane.

In brief

• In the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, providers generally may not charge roaming surcharges (Roamingaufschläge).
• Minutes, SMS and data included in your tariff are deducted abroad in the same way as at home.
• The rules are intended for occasional travellers. A provider may charge a surcharge after a prolonged stay abroad.
• Satellite networks on ships and planes can result in additional costs.
• In a dispute, the RTR offers a free conciliation procedure (Schlichtungsverfahren).

What is roaming and what does “domestic prices” mean?

Roaming means that your phone connects to a mobile network other than your own provider’s network, for example when you are abroad. The provider pays the other network for this access, which was previously often passed on to customers as an additional charge.

In the EU and EEA countries, providers generally may not charge extra for calls to mobile or landline numbers, SMS or mobile data. This is the “roaming at domestic prices” principle (Roaming zu Inlandspreisen, also known as Roam like at Home). Where technically possible, you must also receive the same service quality as at home.

The protection applies to private individuals and entrepreneurs alike.

Where do the rules apply?

• All EU member states: roaming at domestic prices applies.
• Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA): roaming at domestic prices applies.
• Ships and planes using a terrestrial network: roaming at domestic prices applies.
• Ships and planes using a non-terrestrial network, such as a satellite network: domestic roaming prices do not apply and additional costs may arise.

There is an important distinction: calling a foreign number from Austria with an Austrian SIM card is not roaming and is therefore not covered by the roaming regulation. Consumer price limits still apply in such cases, but under different rules.

How much does phone use abroad cost?

If your tariff includes minutes, SMS and data, these are deducted in the EU in the same way as in Austria. If your tariff does not include a particular allowance, you pay the same price as you would domestically.

Calls forwarded to voicemail (Mobilbox) may not be charged while you are travelling in the EU or EEA. Leaving a message for the person you called is free. Listening to your voicemail, however, counts as an active call.

Using your phone on ships and planes

As soon as your phone connects to a satellite or another non-terrestrial network, domestic pricing no longer applies. In this situation, the provider must:

• offer a function that automatically blocks these connections;
• send a free information SMS when the connection is established;
• offer at least two free cost limits for data roaming. Data traffic must stop when a limit is reached unless you expressly request continuation.

These limits are activated by default for every contract, although you can opt out of them.

When can a provider charge a surcharge?

A surcharge may still be permitted in certain situations if you were informed in advance. There are three main cases:

1. Sustainability: if “Roam like at Home” is not economically sustainable for the provider, it may apply to the national regulatory authority for permission to charge a surcharge.
2. Fair Use: if, during a monitoring period of at least four months, you use roaming predominantly abroad and stay there predominantly, and you cannot prove a connection to the country where you concluded the contract when asked to do so.
3. Exceeding a data limit: some tariffs have a separate roaming data limit, which the provider calculates for each tariff using the prescribed formula.

The purpose of the rules is to protect people who travel occasionally, rather than people who predominantly live in another country.

How is the surcharge calculated?

• Outgoing calls: at most the first 30 seconds are charged as one unit, followed by per-second billing.
• Incoming calls: charged by the second.
• Data traffic: charged by the kilobyte.

Alternative roaming tariffs and tariffs without roaming

Providers may offer a separate roaming tariff or roaming package (alternative Verträge). In that case, they must explain which benefits you lose compared with the regulated tariff. Switching between the alternative and regulated tariff must be possible at any time, free of charge and within one day. A minimum contract period of no more than two months is permitted.

A provider is not required to offer roaming. Roaming cannot subsequently be added to a tariff without roaming. You must switch tariffs, which may not be possible at the desired time during a minimum contract period or may involve additional costs.

Where can you complain?

In Austria, the Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs-GmbH (RTR) is the conciliation body. First, submit your complaint to the provider in writing. If you disagree with the response, you can submit a request for conciliation to the RTR. The procedure is free and may help resolve the dispute without going to court.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay more for mobile data with an Austrian SIM card in another EU country?

Generally not: data included in your tariff is deducted in the same way as at home. An exception may apply if your tariff has a separate roaming data limit and you exceed it.

Is calling a foreign number from Austria with an Austrian SIM card roaming?

No. Calling abroad from Austria with an Austrian SIM card is not roaming and is not covered by the roaming regulation. Consumer price limits still apply.

What happens if I stay abroad for a long time?

If, during a period of at least four months, you use your phone predominantly abroad and cannot prove your connection to Austria when asked, the provider may charge a surcharge.

Do the rules apply in Norway or Iceland?

Yes. In addition to the EU, the rules apply in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Practical steps before and during your trip

1. Check which minutes, SMS and data your tariff includes.
2. Confirm whether your tariff has a separate roaming data limit.
3. Keep the provider’s information about roaming charges and fair-use conditions.
4. On a ship or plane, check which network your phone is using and disable non-terrestrial connections if necessary.
5. If you believe you were charged incorrectly, complain to the provider in writing first.
6. If the response does not resolve the issue, apply to the RTR for its free Schlichtungsverfahren.