Australia Post international roaming. How does it work and what’s the cost?

Australia Post is more readily associated with handling the delivery of physical packages and letters both domestically and internationally. However, they also offer options for digital communication through their AusPost Mobile services.

If you’re on the hunt for the ideal mobile roaming solution for your next trip but unsure where to begin, AusPost’s offerings may be worth considering.

In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into their available options, looking at package types, costs, destinations, inclusions and more that you can expect through this government-owned enterprise.

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Australia Post mobile international roaming. What is it and how does it work?

International roaming with AusPost allows you to make and receive calls and texts and access the internet while overseas for a set fee at AusPost’s usage rates.¹ This means you receive a predetermined amount of talk time, texts and web access per fee paid.

Roaming is achieved by enabling connection with foreign phone networks through AusPosts arrangements with local network providers.

Using your existing compatible phone, you simply insert an activated SIM for their international roaming plan and use your phone as you would normally in Australia.

The only caveat is that there are usage limitations with AusPost that you may not experience with your everyday mobile provider within Australia.

International roaming packages available through Australia Post mobile

Currently, Australia Post offers one basic package for international roaming, this is their AUD$15 International Roaming Plan.¹

This roaming plan provides you with:

• 100 minutes of standard talk time
• 100 SMS and
• 100 MB of data

Once activated you have 30 days of roaming access in which to use the available data, text and talk or until it runs out, whichever comes first.

While other mobile plans are available with this provider, these do not include international roaming and this service cannot be added.²

Internet data & coverage internationally with Australia Post roaming

100MB of data is included in the AusPost roaming plan giving you access to the internet while there is a sufficient balance remaining.¹

Be mindful that this coverage is affected by both uploaded and downloaded data and is equivalent to just 0.1GB of data.

This may be sufficient for anyone requiring access to check emails or perform some Google searches but will be instantly used up if streaming music, movies or similar.

What does it cost to use Australia Post mobile service abroad

A purely prepaid service, AusPost offers its International Roaming plan for $15 per 30 days of roaming access. This is the minimum charge for using this service.

However, as noted above, this is limited to a pre-set number of texts, MB and call time.

Additional $15 top-ups offering the same inclusions can be repeatedly purchased to restore access as needed and the 30-day window for usage is renewed with each top-up.¹

At the time of writing, there are no available subscriptions or contract options for international roaming with AusPost.

How do you activate roaming with Australia Post?

To activate your AusPost International Roaming access, you will need the following³:

• Your pre-purchased SIM card from AusPost
• A valid form of photo ID such as your license or passport
• Your chosen mobile device

Then, from the AusPost Mobile website, navigate to ‘Activate SIM’.

You will be directed to enter your activation key on the back of your SIM card and select to either add this SIM to an existing AusPost mobile account or create a new one.

Once in your account, follow the remainder of the instructions provided and your SIM will be activated.

Destinations eligible for international roaming with Australia Post

AusPost offers roaming access in over 90 countries worldwide.¹ Please note these are subject to change and should be checked directly with AusPost before purchasing to ensure this product meets your needs.

Below are all the eligible countries where roaming is currently available through AusPost’s international prepaid SIM.⁴

AusPost Roaming Plan Regions/Continents	Eligible Countries
Europe	Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (UK), Vatican City (Holy See)
Asia	Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan Province of China, Thailand, Tajikistan, Vietnam
Oceania	Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (Western), Solomon Islands, Timor, Tonga, Vanuatu
North, South & Central America	Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States (USA), US Virgin Islands
Middle East	Israel, Republic of Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Africa	South Africa

Details correct as seen online on 29 January 2024

How to track roaming usage with Australia Post

To monitor your usage while travelling for roaming and calls/texts you can log into your AusPost account that you created when activating your SIM.⁵

AusPost will also send usage notifications via SMS at 50%, 85% and 100% of each inclusion allowance. Additional messages will be sent to alert you at 5 and 1 day before your allowance expiry period.

Once your call, data or SMS allowances have been used in full, the service will cease to function (aside from receiving SMS messages). Additional top-ups will be required to reactivate the service.⁵

What to keep in mind before you travel.

• While it is recommended to activate your SIM before departing, we suggest not doing this too early as your 30-day usage window begins at the moment of activation.
• If you elect to port an existing number from an alternate provider during activation this will deactivate your everyday SIM.
• If you do not top-up your SIM before the 30-day expiry period service will be automatically suspended but can be reactivated for up to 6 months thereafter.⁶
• Internet access is required to top-up your SIM via your AusPost account, which may cause difficulties if your data limit has already been used.⁷
• While an inexpensive option to set up, the data limit on this plan is quite low, which could make it unsuited to your needs or see you regularly spending on top-ups.

Contacting Australia Post

To get in touch with AusPost regarding their international roaming service you can speak with them at:

• 1300 196 916 between 8.30 am and 6 pm AEST Monday to Friday or between 9 am and 2 pm AEST Saturdays.
• If overseas you can call +613 9119 5091 between the same hours listed above.

There is also a live chat service through which you can also speak with a customer care representative if needed.

FAQs about international roaming with Australia Post

What network does Australia Post Mobile use?

Within Australia, AusPost uses the Optus network to facilitate calls, texts and data access.⁸

Overseas carriers may vary, please contact AusPost directly for more details regarding this before travel if required.

Where can I buy an AusPost SIM card?

To access Australia Post’s range of mobile services, including international roaming, a SIM card can be purchased at any AusPost outlet or via their website.

What happens if I travel to a destination that is not eligible?

As per AusPost’s website, if a destination is not eligible for roaming as per their service guidelines, you can only receive texts or make emergency calls (to 112).²

Do all phones accept AusPost SIM cards?

As Australia Post Mobile plans are operated through the Optus 3G/4G network any phone that operates on this network will work with an AusPost SIM.⁸

For devices locked to another network such as Telstra or Vodafone, you will need to contact them to obtain assistance in unlocking your device.

Travel wisely — Give the Wise Account and Debit Card a try

Now that you have a better understanding of Australia Post mobile international roaming options, you may be wondering how to minimise international card charges. The Wise Account is an international payment and account that facilitates international spending at the mid-market rate.

With a Wise Account you can hold money in over 40 currencies and spend it in over 150 countries. Whenever you exchange currencies it’s done using the mid-market rate with a low conversion fee shown upfront.

To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it for local payments. If you don’t have local currency, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a low conversion fee.

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Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. AusPost – Roaming Plan
2. AusPost – Plan Limitations
3. AusPost – Activate
4. AusPost – Plan Summary pg. 1
5. AusPost – Usage
6. AusPost – Suspension of Service
7. AusPost – Topping Up Your Sim
8. AusPost – Network

Sources checked on: 29 January 2024