Roaming in the EU and beyond with Spanish and foreign SIMs

Key rules

• EU roaming: Your Spanish SIM is charged as at home for calls, texts and data in other EU/EEA countries.
• Fair use: Using a SIM mostly abroad can lead to a warning, then a surcharge capped at regulated wholesale rates.
• UK and non-EU: No EU rule gives you free roaming in the UK or other non-EU countries, so check your operator's zones and rates first.
• Moving to Spain: A foreign SIM is for temporary stays only; if you settle here, get a Spanish SIM.

In the EU, your Spanish SIM works as it does at home

Calls, texts and data on a Spanish SIM in other EU/EEA countries cost the same as in Spain. There is no roaming surcharge. This is now the law, and it runs until 2032.

The catch is fair use. Operators may check that you really live in Spain or have stable links here, and that you are not using a Spanish SIM permanently abroad or reselling it.

What the fair-use check looks like

If your SIM is used mostly abroad, and you are mostly abroad, your operator can look at your use over four months. It must warn you first. You then get 14 days to change how you use the SIM before any surcharge applies. The timeline below shows the steps.

Any surcharge is capped at the regulated wholesale roaming rate, so it cannot be a huge bill.

Data is where limits bite. Cheap or unlimited plans often set an EU data cap in GB, and it can be lower than your home allowance. Each operator sets its own caps, so read your tariff terms before a long stay abroad.

The UK and other non-EU countries

The UK is outside the EU rules, so no law obliges Spanish operators to give free roaming there. Many big operators still include the UK in their EU zone on most plans. Budget brands may charge extra or cap it. Check your operator's zone list for the UK before you go.

For other non-EU destinations, such as the US, Latin America, Morocco, Switzerland or Turkey, expect operator rates, daily passes or bundles. Some premium plans include the US or Latin America. Rates differ by operator and plan and change often. Buy a pass or bundle before you travel, or switch off mobile data roaming, so you avoid bill shock.

A foreign EU SIM in Spain

A foreign EU SIM works at home-country prices in Spain only for temporary travel. The same four-month check, warning and 14 days apply to its home operator, and a surcharge can follow if your use does not change.

If you move to Spain for good, you cannot keep a foreign SIM at domestic prices in the long term. Get a Spanish SIM. The FAQ below covers common cases.

Timeline and deadlines

• Operator sends a warning: If the SIM was used mostly abroad and you were abroad more than at home in that period

• Change how you use the SIM: You have 14 days after the warning to change usage

• Surcharge may apply: After the 14 days, if usage has not changed, capped at the regulated wholesale roaming rate

Frequently asked questions

Does my Spanish SIM work for free in the UK?

Not always, because the UK is outside the EU free-roaming rules since Brexit.

What does a Spanish SIM cost in the US, Morocco or Switzerland?

Outside the EU you pay your operator's own rates, a daily pass or a bundle. Some premium plans include the US or Latin America. Look at your operator's roaming rates before you travel, and buy a pass if one is offered.

Can I keep using my foreign EU SIM in Spain after I move here?

No, a foreign EU SIM only keeps home-country prices for temporary travel. If you live in Spain, your home operator can surcharge you after a warning, at capped wholesale rates. Get a Spanish SIM for daily use.