Data Roaming in Europe: Rules, Tips and Best French Mobile Plans
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Data roaming in Europe is free for anyone on a French mobile plan, but only in certain countries, and only up to a set limit. Since the EU's Roam Like At Home rule came into force in June 2017, using your mobile while travelling across the EU and EEA costs no extra. That said, the UK, Monaco, Switzerland and several other countries fall outside this framework. Below is everything you need to know before your next trip.
Data roaming in Europe: at a glance
- Free: all 27 EU countries + Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA)
- Charges may apply: UK: most operators reintroduced roaming fees since January 2021
- Not covered: Monaco, Switzerland, Turkey, Andorra and all other non-EU countries
- Fair Use limits apply on every plan type, including unlimited data
What is data roaming?
Data roaming is when your mobile phone connects to a foreign network while you are travelling outside your home country. Instead of using your domestic network, your device latches on to a local operator abroad and routes calls, texts and mobile data through that network. Your French operator then bills you either at your standard domestic rate, or at a surcharge if a roaming agreement applies.
The term "roaming" covers all three types of mobile usage: voice calls, SMS, and mobile data (browsing, streaming, apps). Data roaming specifically refers to the use of mobile internet abroad, which tends to be the most expensive element when charges apply.
If you are new to mobile plans in France, our guide to mobile phone plans in France explains the different types of contract and which are best suited to expats. If you still need a SIM, read our guide on getting a SIM card in France.
Data roaming in Europe: the Roam Like At Home rule
Since 15 June 2017, the European Union's Roam Like At Home (RLAH) regulation has abolished extra charges for data roaming, calls and texts when travelling within the EU and the European Economic Area. Your French operator treats your usage abroad exactly as it would at home: the same rate, the same allowance, no roaming surcharge.
The rule applies in all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (via the EEA agreement). In July 2022, the European Union extended this framework until 2032 under Regulation (EU) 2022/612.
| Region | Countries included | Data roaming charges |
|---|---|---|
| EU 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, Moldova, Ukraine | ✅ Free (RLAH) |
| EEA | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | ✅ Free (RLAH) |
| UK | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | ⚠️ Charges likely |
| Non-EU Europe | Monaco, Switzerland, Turkey, Andorra, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Vatican City, Belarus | ❌ Charges apply |
Status based on EU Regulation (EU) 2022/612. Individual operator allowances may vary. Verified april of 2026
Get the right French mobile plan for roaming
Speak to an English-speaking advisor and find the best deal for your travel habits.
Get the right French mobile plan for roaming
Speak to an English-speaking advisor and find the best deal for your travel habits.
Fair Use Policy: how much data can you use while roaming in Europe?
Roam Like At Home is designed for travellers, not as a permanent substitute for a local SIM. To prevent abuse, every operator applies a Fair Use Policy (FUP): you must use your phone more in France than you do abroad over any rolling period. If your usage pattern suggests you are permanently roaming, for example, you have moved to another EU country but kept your French plan, your operator can contact you and, if the situation continues, apply a roaming surcharge.
Data roaming limits by plan type
How much data you can use abroad under RLAH depends on the type of French mobile plan you hold:
| Plan type | Roaming data allowance | What happens if exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| Limited data plan | Your full domestic data allowance, at no extra cost | Surcharges apply (EU-capped rates) |
| Unlimited data plan | A capped roaming allowance set by your operator (varies, check your contract) | Speed throttled or surcharges apply above the cap |
| Prepaid SIM | Your remaining credit divided by the EU wholesale data cap, your operator calculates and communicates this limit | Roaming data suspended until you top up |
Roaming allowances are set by individual operators within EU Fair Use Policy rules. Check your operator's website for your exact limit. april of 2026.
If you are on an unlimited data plan in France, your roaming data cap is typically several gigabytes per month, not truly unlimited. Your operator is legally required to tell you what the cap is and to notify you when you approach it.
What happens if you exceed your data roaming limit?
If you go over your Fair Use allowance, your operator must alert you before applying any surcharge. They will send a text message warning once you reach your limit. From that point, you can either stop using data, top up your allowance, or continue at the EU-regulated surcharge rate.
If your operator suspects permanent roaming, spending consistently more time and data abroad than in France over a four-month period, they can send a formal notice. You then have 14 days to respond or resolve the situation. Only after this process can they apply the additional charge. The surcharge rates are capped by the European Commission; your operator must publish these on their website.
If you believe you have been incorrectly charged for data roaming within the EU, contact your operator's complaints department first. If the issue is unresolved, you can escalate to ARCEP (the French telecom regulator) or the regulatory authority in the country where the charge occurred. Our guide to telecom complaints in France walks you through the process step by step.
Data roaming in the UK after Brexit
The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, and the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. As a result, Roam Like At Home no longer applies to the UK. French operators are not required to offer free roaming in the UK, and most have reintroduced roaming charges for UK travel since 2021.
The situation varies significantly between operators. Some French plans (particularly mid- and high-range contracts from the major operators) include a UK data allowance as part of their European roaming package. Others charge per megabyte or require you to purchase an add-on before travelling. Always check your contract or your operator's website before travelling to the UK.
Travelling to the UK? Check before you go
UK roaming is not covered by the EU Roam Like At Home rule. Charges vary by operator and plan. Log in to your operator's app or check their website for your UK roaming allowance, or pick up a local UK SIM on arrival to avoid any surprise bills.
Travelling beyond the EU?
Some French plans include UK and international roaming — an advisor can find the right one for you, free.
Travelling beyond the EU?
Some French plans include UK and international roaming — an advisor can find the right one for you, free.
If you regularly need to call French numbers while in the UK, our guide to calling France from the UK covers the most cost-effective options.
Data roaming in Monaco and other non-EU countries
A number of European countries are not EU members and therefore fall entirely outside the Roam Like At Home framework. Travelling to any of the following means standard international roaming rates apply, which can be very expensive without prior preparation:
- Monaco: not an EU member; French operators typically charge standard international rates
- Switzerland: outside the EU and EEA; high roaming costs are common
- Turkey
- Andorra
- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
- Moldova and Ukraine — now included in RLAH since 1 January 2026 (Belarus remains outside the zone)
- San Marino, Vatican City
Travelling outside the EU? Use Wi-Fi or get a local eSIM
For short trips to non-EU countries, switch off mobile data and rely on Wi-Fi. For longer stays or frequent travel, a travel eSIM (see below) is almost always cheaper than paying your French operator's international roaming rates.
How to turn on (or off) data roaming on your phone
When you arrive in another EU country, your phone should connect automatically to a local network and use data roaming at no extra cost. However, if mobile data does not work abroad, or if you want to turn off data roaming to avoid accidental charges in a non-EU country, here is how to manage the setting on the two main operating systems.
How to turn on data roaming on iPhone (iOS)
- Open Settings
- Tap Mobile Data (labelled Cellular on US devices)
- Tap Mobile Data Options
- Toggle Data Roaming on or off
If you have two SIMs or an eSIM set up, make sure to check the roaming setting for each line separately. On iOS 16 and later, you can also find this under Settings > Mobile Service > [your SIM name] > Data Roaming.
Data roaming on or off?
Within the EU, leaving data roaming on is safe, RLAH means no extra charge. Turn it off before travelling to the UK, Monaco, Switzerland or any non-EU country unless your plan specifically covers that destination.
How to turn on data roaming on Android
- Open Settings
- Go to Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung devices)
- Tap Mobile Network
- Toggle Data Roaming on or off
The exact menu labels vary slightly between Android manufacturers (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.) but the setting is always within the Mobile Network or SIM settings menu. If you are using a dual-SIM Android phone, repeat the step for each SIM.
eSIM roaming: a smarter option for frequent travellers
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM card you install directly on your phone, no physical swap needed. For countries outside the EU Roam Like At Home zone (UK, Monaco, Turkey, the US, etc.), buying a local data eSIM before you travel is almost always cheaper than paying your French operator's international roaming rates. Most modern smartphones, including all iPhones since the iPhone XS and most Android flagships since 2020, support eSIM.
You can find our full comparison of eSIM providers available in France on our eSIM in France guide. Below is a summary of the main providers with dedicated pages on Selectra:
| Provider | Countries covered | Europe plans from | Selectra guide | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 190+ countries | 1 GB /3 days for €4.50 | ||
| Holafly | 170+ countries | Unlimited 5 days for €18.90 | ||
| Saily | 150+ countries | 1 GB /7 days for $4.99 | ||
| Ubigi | 190+ countries | 3 GB /7 days for €7 | Ubigi review | |
| Roamless | 100+ countries | 1 GB /30 days for $5.45 | Guide coming soon | |
| GoMoWorld | 170+ countries | 2.5 GB /7 days €3.99 | Guide coming soon |
eSIM pricing varies by destination and data volume. Prices should be verified directly on each provider's website. Selectra receives a commission on some purchases. april of 2026.
Best French mobile plans for roaming in Europe
If you travel frequently within the EU, choosing a French mobile plan with a generous European data allowance will save you far more than any eSIM. The plans below are among the most competitive for EU roaming, pay close attention to the number of gigabytes included in the European zone, as this varies considerably between operators and plan tiers.
 Forfait SFR 200 Go 5G No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
200
GB
5G |
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100 Go in Europe/Overseas
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19,99€/month with no predefined duration.
SIM card: 10€ |
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 Forfait Sosh 300Go 5G No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
300
GB
5G |
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View offer
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50 Go in Europe/Overseas
|
20,99€/month with no duration condition.
SIM card: 10€ |
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 Série Limitée Orange 120Go 5G No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
120
GB
5G |
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50 Go in Europe/Overseas
|
20,99€/month with no duration condition.
SIM card: 10€ |
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 Forfait Bouygues 130Go 5G No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
130
GB
5G |
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View offer
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130 Go in Europe/Overseas
|
21,99€/month with no duration condition.
SIM card: 5€ |
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Forfait SFR 250 Go 5G+ No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
250
GB
5G |
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100 Go in Europe/Overseas
35 Go depuis 71 pays hors UE |
26,99€/month with no predefined duration.
SIM card: 10€ |
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Forfait Bouygues 150Go 5G No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
150
GB
5G |
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View offer
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150 Go in Europe/Overseas
30 Go depuis 10 pays hors EU Multi-SIM |
34,99€/month with no duration condition.
SIM card: 5€ |
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Forfait Voyage 180Go 5G+ No commitment |
Unlimited calls
Unlimited SMS/MMS |
180
GB
5G |
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View offer
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180 Go in Europe/Overseas
40 Go depuis 75 pays hors EU |
34,99€/month for 12 months then 44,99€/month
SIM card: 10€ |
Non-exhaustive selection of offers, sorted by ascending price. Learn more about our scoring methodology
Not sure which plan is right for you?
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Not sure which plan is right for you?
Our advisors can help you find the best French mobile plan for your travel habits — free.
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Frequently asked questions about data roaming in Europe
What is data roaming?
Data roaming means using mobile internet on a foreign network while travelling outside your home country. Your phone connects to a local operator abroad, and your French provider bills you either at your normal rate (within the EU under the Roam Like At Home rule) or at a surcharge (in non-EU countries like the UK or Monaco).
Is data roaming free in Europe?
Yes, within the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, data roaming is free under the EU's Roam Like At Home rule. Your French mobile plan is used at the same rate as at home. However, a Fair Use limit applies: if you have an unlimited plan, your roaming data will be capped at a set allowance communicated by your operator.
Does data roaming work in the UK from France?
Not automatically. Since the UK left the EU, the Roam Like At Home rule no longer applies. Most French operators have reintroduced charges for UK travel since January 2021, though some higher-tier plans still include a UK data allowance. Check your specific plan before travelling, charges vary significantly between operators.
Should I turn data roaming on or off when travelling?
Within the EU and EEA, it is safe to leave data roaming on, no extra charges apply under the Roam Like At Home rule. Turn data roaming off before travelling to the UK, Monaco, Switzerland or any non-EU country, unless your plan explicitly covers that destination or you have purchased a local eSIM for that trip.
How do I turn on data roaming on my iPhone?
On iPhone, go to Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options > Data Roaming, then toggle it on. On iOS 16 and later, the path may be Settings > Mobile Service > [your SIM name] > Data Roaming. If you use an eSIM and a physical SIM, check the setting for each line separately.
Is Monaco included in EU roaming?
No. Monaco is not an EU member state and is not covered by the Roam Like At Home rule, despite being surrounded by France. Standard international roaming rates apply when using your French mobile plan in Monaco. If you visit frequently, a travel eSIM or a dedicated add-on from your operator will be more cost-effective.