Travel Tips

Using Tesco Mobile abroad

Alex Beaney

15.05.24

Read time 2 minutes

Planning a trip? Whether it’s a sun-soaked beach holiday or a thrilling backpacking adventure, you’ll need to know if you can use your phone abroad.

In this handy guide, we’ll be taking a look at how Tesco Mobile works abroad. If you’re with the network, read on to find out whether you can use your phone in Europe and worldwide. And crucially, whether there are any roaming charges you need to know about.

And while you’re making your holiday preparations, make sure you check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise.

It could save you money on holiday spending, letting you pay and withdraw cash like a local in 150+ countries - and all for low fees and great mid-market exchange rates.

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

Check out Wise card 💳

Can you use your phone abroad with Tesco Mobile?

Tesco Mobile supports international roaming, so you can use your phone in 100+ countries worldwide.

Most devices are already set up to work abroad, so you shouldn’t have to adjust any settings or tell the network that you’ll be travelling.¹

However, you may have to pay roaming charges depending where you’re travelling to. In some destinations you can use your UK calls, minutes and data allowance for free. In others, charges will apply - these vary depending on the destination.

Using Tesco Mobile in Europe

Tesco Mobile has a list of what it calls ‘Home From Home’ destinations. These are mainly in Europe, and there are 48 in total.¹

You’ll know if you’re in one as you’ll receive a welcome text when you arrive, which will include a link to the Tesco Mobile Home From Home page. You can also check in advance.

In Home From Home destinations, you can use your UK allowances of calls, texts and data for free.¹ Essentially, you can use your phone as normal, just like you would at home.

If you exceed your allowance, you’ll pay the same standard rates as you would in the UK.¹

You can also call or text both mobiles and landlines in other Home From Home destinations.¹

Using Tesco Mobile worldwide

Travelling outside of the EU? If you’re with Tesco Mobile and use your phone abroad, you’ll have to pay roaming charges. You won’t be able to use your UK allowances.¹

These charges vary depending on the destination - we’ll look at some examples next.

Tesco Mobile international roaming charges

To give you an idea of how much you’ll pay for international roaming with Tesco Mobile, below are some of the charges for popular holiday and travel destinations outside of Europe:²

Destination	Making calls	Receiving calls	Sending texts	Receiving texts	Data
USA	£1.29 per min	£0.89 per min	£0.40	Free	£5 per MB
Australia	£1.29 per min	£0.89 per min	£0.40	Free	£5 per MB
Thailand	£1.49 per min	£1.49 per min	£0.40	Free	£5 per MB
Turkey	£0.79 per min	£0.69 per min	£0.40	Free	£5 per MB
India (Delhi)	£1.49 per min	£1.49 per min	£0.40	Free	£5 per MB

Ready to travel? Don’t forget your Wise card

Now that you’re all clued up on roaming with Tesco Mobile, it’s time to think about how you’ll spend during your trip.

The Wise card is the ideal travel companion, as it lets you spend and withdraw in the local currency in 150+ countries.

Your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend, without any margins or mark-ups. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Open a Wise account online and you can order your own Wise card for a one-time cost of just £7.

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

And that’s it - all the essentials you need to know about using Tesco Mobile abroad. If you’re in Europe, you can just pop your phone in your pocket, hop off the plane and start using your UK plan allowances for free.

But for other destinations, it could be sensible to turn data roaming off unless you’re happy to pay the charges.

Sources used for this article:

Tesco Mobile - Home From Home
Tesco Mobile - Roaming

Sources checked on 08-May-2024.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.