EU Roaming with a German SIM — Roam Like at Home Explained

Since June 2017, the EU "Roam Like at Home" regulation (EU Regulation 2022/612, the latest update to the original 2015/2120 framework) allows consumers in EU and EEA member states to use their mobile plan in other member countries at domestic rates. This page explains how this applies to German SIM cards, what fair-use policies limit roaming, and what travellers outside the EU/EEA should expect.

Roam Like at Home (RLAH) Regulation

The core principle of RLAH is that when a consumer travels within the EU or EEA, they can use their domestic mobile plan — including data, calls, and SMS — without additional roaming surcharges. The operator cannot charge more than the domestic tariff rate for services used in another EU/EEA country.

RLAH applies to:

• All EU member states (27 countries including Germany)
• All EEA countries: Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein
• Operators may voluntarily extend RLAH coverage to the UK (post-Brexit), Switzerland, or other non-EU countries — this is not legally required

The regulation was extended and strengthened by EU Regulation 2022/612, which applies until at least 2032 and introduced tighter fair-use provisions and quality-of-service requirements.

Which Countries Are Covered

The following countries are covered under RLAH for German mobile consumers (as of 2026):

Note: some German operators (e.g. Telekom Magenta) voluntarily include the UK and Switzerland in their roaming zones at domestic rates; this is a commercial decision, not a legal requirement. Check your specific tariff.

Fair-Use Policy (Roaming Datenvolumen)

To prevent abuse of RLAH (e.g., consumers from high-cost countries buying cheap SIMs in lower-cost EU countries), the regulation permits providers to apply a fair-use policy (FUP) to data roaming. German providers calculate the fair-use roaming data volume using a formula based on the domestic data price:

The minimum roaming data allowance = 2 × (domestic monthly charge ÷ retail roaming data wholesale price cap)

In practical terms, this means:

• On a tariff with 10 GB domestic data, the fair-use roaming allowance is often in the range of 5–10 GB depending on the tariff price.
• Budget tariffs with very low monthly fees (e.g., €5/month) may have significantly smaller roaming data allowances — sometimes as low as 1–2 GB — even if the domestic data allowance is larger.
• Premium tariffs with higher monthly fees typically offer equal or near-equal roaming data to domestic data.

After the fair-use roaming data is exhausted, the provider may charge a small surcharge per MB (currently capped at €0.002/MB under EU regulation) or throttle the roaming data speed.

Data Usage Abroad — How It Works

When your device connects to a foreign EU/EEA network, it registers on a partner network (roaming partner). Your domestic operator has roaming agreements with network operators in each country. Data usage is metered against your RLAH roaming data allowance (which may be smaller than your domestic cap).

To avoid unexpected charges:

• Check your roaming data balance before and during the trip via the provider app or *100# USSD code (varies by operator)
• Enable roaming data usage notifications (most providers send an SMS when 80% and 100% of the roaming allowance is used)
• Be aware that roaming data typically does not renew mid-billing-cycle; it follows the same monthly reset as domestic data

Calls and SMS While Roaming

Under RLAH, calls and SMS made from an EU/EEA country are charged at domestic rates:

• Calls within an Allnet-Flat: included at no extra charge while roaming in the EU/EEA
• SMS within an SMS-Flat: included at no extra charge
• Calls to domestic numbers from abroad: included if the tariff includes an Allnet-Flat
• Receiving calls: Free in the EU/EEA (previously charged; now prohibited under RLAH)

Calls to local numbers in the country you are visiting (e.g., calling a French landline from France using your German SIM) are charged as international calls — these are not covered by Allnet-Flat unless the tariff explicitly includes international calls.

Roaming Outside the EU/EEA

Outside the EU/EEA, roaming is governed by individual provider agreements and is not regulated by EU rules. Charges vary significantly by country and provider. Common arrangements include:

• Day-passes (Tagesoptionen): A fixed daily fee for a limited data allowance in a specific country or world zone.
• Zone pricing: Operators group countries into zones with different per-MB or per-minute rates.
• Speed-throttled international roaming: Some providers include basic data roaming (at throttled speeds) in certain world regions at no extra charge.

The EU mandatory billing limit of €59.50 (incl. VAT) applies globally — once a consumer reaches this spending limit on data roaming outside the EU, the provider must cut off data roaming unless the consumer explicitly opts to continue.

Prepaid SIM Roaming Specifics

Prepaid users face the same RLAH rights as postpaid users, but with some practical differences:

• Some very basic prepaid tariffs (particularly entry-level PAYG) may not include EU roaming by default. The provider must explicitly state if roaming is excluded.
• The roaming data allowance on prepaid monthly packages is calculated the same way as postpaid — but on very cheap packages it may be very small.
• Topping up abroad is possible via the provider app or website, but ensure your payment method works internationally.

Pre-Travel Checklist

• Confirm your destination is covered by RLAH (EU/EEA or voluntary extension)
• Check the specific roaming data volume for your tariff
• Enable data roaming on your device settings
• Enable roaming usage alerts in your provider app
• Note the maximum billing limit for non-EU roaming
• Save your provider's international contact number for support