How to Avoid International Roaming Charges: A Simple Guide for Australian Travellers

Nothing ruins the post-holiday glow quite like opening a phone bill that costs more than one of your hotel nights. The good news is that roaming bill shock is almost entirely avoidable. If you want to know how to avoid roaming charges, the short answer is this: decide how you’ll stay connected before you leave, switch off data roaming on your Australian SIM unless you’ve bought a travel pack, and watch out for the sneaky charges most people never think about, like voicemail and incoming calls.

You’re not the only one worried about it. In a 2025 Optus survey of more than 1,000 Australian travellers aged 18 to 54, 82% said they had experienced or were concerned about unexpected international roaming charges, and 64.4% said mobile data while travelling was very important to them. A few simple checks before departure can help you avoid an unpleasant surprise on your next phone bill.

What Is International Roaming?

Roaming is when your Australian phone is using an overseas mobile network rather than your usual network. According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), this works when your telco has an agreement with a network in the country you’re visiting, and your telco can charge you for data, calls and texts at rates that change from one destination to the next.

It usually happens in two ways:

• Pay-as-you-go roaming which charges for each call, text and megabyte at roaming rates. This is the one that causes most horror stories.
• A travel pack or roaming pass, in which you pay a fixed amount for a package of calls, texts and data per day or per trip.

Neither is automatically bad. The problem is when you end up on pay-as-you-go without realising it, which is surprisingly easy to do.

The Sneaky Ways Roaming Charges Happen

Most people are aware of the fact that streaming Netflix on hotel balcony data is a bad idea. Fewer realise that your phone can run up roaming charges overseas while it’s sitting in your pocket. The typical suspects include:

• Apps updating in the background. ACMA specifically cautions that apps that automatically update will incur charges when you're overseas, and photo backups to iCloud or Google Photos are voracious eaters, too.
• Voicemail. If someone leaves you a message while you’re away, the call may be diverted overseas and back again. Telstra, for example, says roaming charges apply when using MessageBank, both when messages are left and when you listen to them.
• Incoming calls. It feels unfair, but receiving a call while roaming can cost you too. Vodafone’s roaming page confirms that on pay-as-you-go roaming you’re charged for making or receiving calls.
• Turning your phone on when you land. ACMA also states that just turning on your device abroad could lead to charges if roaming is enabled.
• Cruise ships. Phones at sea can be linked up to on-board networks and ACMA cautions that roaming rates may be charged on board or in port.

The common thread? Many of these charges can arise without you actively using your phone, which is why a few minutes of preparation at home makes a difference.

How to Avoid Roaming Charges: Phone Settings to Change Before You Fly

Do this at home, preferably the night before you leave, while you're on Australian Wi-Fi and not in an arrivals hall trying to figure it out.

How to turn off data roaming on iPhone

Apple’s own support guide gives this path to turn off data roaming on iPhone:

1. Open Settings and tap Mobile (or Mobile Data).
2. If you have two SIMs or eSIMs, tap the line you want to change, usually your Australian number.
3. Tap Mobile Data Options.
4. Switch Data Roaming off.

On a dual-SIM iPhone, data roaming is configured separately for each line, so check your Australian and travel lines individually.

Using a travel eSIM? On an iPhone, select the travel eSIM under Settings → Mobile Data and consider switching off Allow Mobile Data Switching. Keep Data Roaming off on your Australian line unless your Australian telco plan requires it; follow the travel eSIM provider’s instructions for its own roaming setting.

How to turn off roaming on Android

Menus vary slightly between brands, but on a Google Pixel running Android 14 the steps are:

1. Open Settings and tap Network and Internet.
2. Tap SIMs, then the SIM you want to change.
3. Switch Roaming off.

On Samsung phones, you’ll usually find it under Settings, then Connections, then Mobile networks, then Data roaming.

Four more settings worth changing

• Turn off automatic app updates in the App Store or Google Play settings or only update apps on Wi-Fi.
• Configure photos to only backup over Wi-Fi in iCloud Photos or Google Photos.
• Ask your telco about voicemail. Some allow you to switch it off or alter its operation when you're away, thus preventing the unanticipated diversion fees.
• Download offline maps and entertainment before you go, as both ACMA and the consumer group ACCAN recommend.

Travel SIM vs Roaming vs Wi-Fi Only: Which Is Right for You?

After you have your settings in place, you need a plan on how to stay connected. Here’s a fair look at the three main options, without prices, because those change far more often than the pros and cons do.

When it comes to travel SIM vs roaming, the truth is it depends on how you use your phone. If you're just using maps, ride-share apps, messaging and the occasional video call, a travel SIM card or a travel eSIM typically offers more data for your dollar and you'll know exactly how much you've used before you're on the road. If you’re unsure which format suits your phone, our guide to eSIM or physical SIM for travel walks you through it.

On compatible dual-SIM phones, one option is to keep your Australian SIM active for SMS, such as bank security codes, and use a travel eSIM for data. Set the travel eSIM as your mobile-data line and, where available, turn off automatic mobile-data switching. Your Australian number may still incur charges for calls or voicemail, so confirm the rules with your telco before leaving.

Wi-Fi Calling Overseas: A Handy Backup

Wi-Fi calling overseas can be useful for staying in touch with home. Telstra, for example, says eligible customers can make and receive calls to and from Australia over Wi-Fi at no additional calling charge, while calls to other countries are handled differently. When travelling overseas, a Wi-Fi call can drop if you lose the Wi-Fi connection; making another call over an overseas mobile network may attract roaming charges. Check your own provider’s policy and compatible device settings before relying on Wi-Fi Calling.

What Your Telco Has to Tell You (and What to Do If You Still Get Bill Shock)

Australian telcos have international roaming obligations. Under the protections outlined by ACMA, your telco must:

1. Send you a message with roaming cost information when you arrive overseas
2. Send usage alerts when you reach 50%, 85% and 100% of a roaming pack’s included value
3. Let you opt out of roaming at any time, from any location, at little or no cost

Treat those alerts as an early warning, not an afterthought, because ACMA notes they can be delayed. If you still receive a bill you think is incorrect, reach out to your telco first. If you are unable to find a solution together, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is a free, independent service that can assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is international roaming?

International roaming is the ability to use your Australian phone on a mobile network in another country to make calls, send text messages and access data services. Your telco bills you for this via pay-as-you-go or a travel pack.

Does turning off data roaming stop all charges?

Not always. Turning off data roaming on your Australian SIM helps prevent mobile data roaming charges, but calls, texts and voicemail can still cost you. Aeroplane mode stops your phone connecting to mobile networks, and you can switch Wi-Fi back on if needed. To prevent unexpected charges from features such as voicemail diversion, ask your telco about blocking international roaming and adjusting voicemail settings before you leave.

Am I charged for incoming calls overseas?

Often, yes. Several Australian telcos charge for receiving calls while you’re roaming, especially on pay-as-you-go rates, and voicemail diversions can add extra charges. Before you travel, research your telco's roaming fees.

Is a travel SIM cheaper than roaming?

A travel SIM or eSIM is typically more cost effective than daily roaming charges for data-intensive trips and extended periods, and the cost is upfront. If you're traveling short distances and making a lot of phone calls on your Australian number, a telco travel pack might still be worth it.

Travel Smart, Come Home to a Normal Phone Bill

Roaming charges aren’t a mystery once you know where they hide. Make some tweaks before you go, select the right connection type for your usage and monitor those telco alerts. Then all you’ll bring home are good photos and a slightly sunburnt nose. When you’re ready, browse our travel SIM cards and eSIMs to find the right fit for your next trip.