International roaming explained
Learn how to set up and use international roaming to keep connected while abroad.
On this page
- Switch roaming on or off Jump to: Switch roaming on and off
- Roaming options in Zone 1 or Zone 2 Jump to: Roaming options in Zone 1 or Zone 2
- Get alerts about your roaming usage Jump to: Get alerts about your roaming usage
- Avoid unwanted costs when overseas Jump to: Avoid unwanted costs when overseas
- Contact us from overseas Jump to: Contact us from overseas
Switch roaming on or off
You can manage international roaming from your plan’s Mobile Settings, which is found under your plan’s details in My Account.
International roaming comes switched on automatically for SIM plans purchased after 12 December 2024.
To use roaming, you’ll need to activate data roaming in your mobile device’s settings before AGL international roaming will work. If you don’t want to use roaming, switch off data roaming in your mobile device’s settings.
Find this in your mobile device’s Settings app, under Mobile or Connections categories.
Charges may apply when you switch off roaming on the app, so we recommend you switch off data on your mobile device’s settings and use WiFi instead.
Switch roaming on or off in My Account:
- Log in to My Account and go to Overview.
- Scroll down to My Internet and Mobile to find your plan and select View details.
- Select Mobile Settings.
- Scroll down to Roaming and toggle International Roaming on or off. To save and apply this change, make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Next.
- On the next screen, select Confirm changes. It may take up to 24 hours for International Roaming to be switched on.
Switch roaming on or off in the AGL app:
Charges may apply for deactivating roaming, so we recommend you switch off data roaming in your mobile device’s settings and proceed using WiFi.
- In the AGL app go to Overview and select the Mobile tile for your plan.
- Under Settings, tap View Plan.
- Select Mobile Settings.
- Scroll down to Roaming and toggle International Roaming on or off. To save and apply this change, make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Next.
- On the next screen, select Confirm changes. It may take up to 24 hours for International Roaming to be switched on.
Prefer to chat? We can also switch roaming on or off for your Mobile SIM plan when you contact us. Start chat
Roaming options in Zone 1 and Zone 2
International roaming rates change depending on which country you’re in.
- Countries in Zone 1: $5 daily travel pass
- Countries in Zone 2: Pay as you go rates (PAYG)
Get alerts about your roaming usage
Depending on which Zone you’re in, we’ll send you updates about your roaming usage. Our roaming alerts will always specify the country we detect your roaming usage and the date and time this occurred.
In most cases, you’ll get roaming alerts within 48 hours of usage. We send alerts about your usage via SMS by default. To switch between SMS or email alerts, contact us.
- When you’re overseas and use service or data, we’ll send you an alert explaining that roaming is active in Zone 1. You’ll also have the option to switch off roaming (data charges may apply).
- We send alerts when you’ve used 50%, 85% and 100% of your data included in the $5 daily travel pass.
- If you exceed your included data, we’ll automatically top you up with another $5 daily travel pass and send an alert to let you know.
- When you’re overseas and use service or data, we’ll send you an alert explaining that roaming is active in Zone 2. You’ll also have the option to switch off roaming (data charges may apply).
- We send alerts at every $100 of usage with the total amount you’ve spent on international roaming.
- When you get your bill, you’ll receive a log of all your calls, SMS/MMS and data usage with your charges. While your usage and charges will be accurate, please note your bill won’t include information on any phone numbers you send an SMS/MMS to. These will display as “888 000 000” in your bill.
If you spend more than $500 on international roaming in one billing cycle, we'll automatically suspend it to avoid further charges. If you need to change this, contact us.
How we detect your roaming usage
Using data, making phone calls or sending and receiving SMS messages while overseas are all considered roaming usage.
Your roaming usage is shared to our network provider, Optus, by foreign carriers in your destination country. Once Optus receives these records, they share this with AGL so we can send you alerts.
Not receiving roaming alerts?
In extremely rare cases, roaming records may take up to 90 days to be delivered to Optus, and then our servers. In this instance, you won’t receive SMS alerts about your roaming usage.
Avoid unwanted costs when overseas
If you don’t want to use international roaming while abroad, here are our recommendations:
- Before you travel, disable data or mobile roaming on your mobile device’s settings app.
- Before you travel, switch off international roaming in your plan’s mobile settings from My Account.
- While travelling, disable mobile data from your mobile device’s settings to avoid accidental charges.
- While travelling, connect to WiFi where possible and use flight mode to avoid mobile costs.
