Do I pay extra to use my phone in other EU countries with a plan from Poland?
In the EU and the EEA (also Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) you pay home prices for calls, texts and data: 'roam like at home'. It also applies in Moldova and Ukraine. Your provider may cap data at home prices under fair use.
With a plan from an operator in the EU or EEA, calls, texts and data in other EU and EEA countries are generally charged as at home, within fair-use limits. Other rules apply to plans from other countries; what applies with a plan from Poland is below.
📜 The rules in Poland
The details
- Your provider may charge extra only under its fair use policy or if UKE has allowed it to apply surcharges. Each time you cross a border you should get an SMS with roaming prices, even if they are 0 zł. (cik.uke.gov.pl)
- Near the border your phone may log on to a foreign network and you pay roaming rates; a network outside the EU/EEA costs far more. Set manual network selection, or switch off roaming or data roaming. (cik.uke.gov.pl)
- Roam like at home applies only to land-based mobile networks. On ferries or cruise ships using satellite networks, calls, texts and data are not covered. (cik.uke.gov.pl)
- Calling a foreign number from Poland is an international call, not roaming, and is charged under your provider's price list. (cik.uke.gov.pl)
UKE – wniosek o interwencję
Ask UKE to intervene if a provider fails to carry out, or wrongly carries out, a switch, number porting or number change, or may have broken the Pke. Send the request by post, e-Doręczenia, ePUAP or the PUE UKE form.
Prezes UKE – pozasądowe rozwiązywanie sporów konsumenckich (ADR)
Free out-of-court settlement of your dispute with a telecom provider, after you have filed a complaint with it.
🪜 Step by step
- Check your plan before you travelSee which countries your plan treats like home and whether it has a separate data allowance abroad.
- Read the welcome messageWhen you arrive, your operator usually sends a message with the prices and limits that apply.
- Watch the fair-use limitUnlimited or very large data plans can have a smaller allowance abroad. Above it, a surcharge can apply.
- Take care on ships, planes and near bordersThere your phone can connect to a network outside the usual roaming rules. Switch off roaming or use flight mode when in doubt.
📇 Who to contact
❓ Questions
What does fair use mean?
Operators may limit roaming at home prices to normal travel, not living abroad for good, and may cap data abroad on very large plans.
Which countries count as home?
That depends on your plan and on where your operator is based. The rules for Poland are on this page.
Are calls back home free?
Calls home usually cost the same as at home when roaming at home prices applies. Calls to other countries can cost extra.
📎 Sources
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