Telstra post-paid customers roam with the International Roaming Day Pass: a flat daily fee for data, calls and texts in more than 80 destinations. Pre-Paid customers buy a roaming pack instead, and anywhere the Day Pass doesn't reach is either pay-as-you-go or Wi-Fi only, depending on your plan. All prices below are in Australian dollars and come from Telstra's international roaming page, checked 3 October 2026.
The International Day Pass by zone
| Zone | Price per day | Included | Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | $5 | 2GB data, unlimited standard calls and SMS | New Zealand, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu |
| Zone 2 | $10 | 2GB data, unlimited standard calls and SMS | 80+ destinations, including the USA, Canada, the UK, most of Europe, Indonesia (Bali), Thailand, Japan, India, Singapore, Vietnam and the Solomon Islands |
| Zone 3 | $10 | No data; unlimited standard calls and SMS. Upfront plans only | Jamaica, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey |
Fiji sits in Zone 1 with New Zealand, so a week there costs half what the same week in Bali does. The "unlimited" calls and texts are to and from standard numbers. MMS, video calls, premium and satellite numbers are excluded and billed at pay-as-you-go rates.
When a Day Pass starts and ends
Once Day Pass is switched on for your service, it activates the first time you use your phone in an eligible destination: making or receiving a call, sending an SMS, or using data, including background data. Receiving an SMS does not trigger it.
When the day ends depends on your plan. On Telstra's Upfront plans a Day Pass lasts 24 hours from first use. On other plans it ends at 11.59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, whatever the local time is where you are. Unused data expires at the end of each day either way.
Running out of data
Extra data costs $10 for 2GB, valid for 31 days, in Zones 1 and 2. Upfront plans get an SMS offering the top-up. Other plans get the top-up added automatically, so a day of streaming can quietly cost $20 or more. The My Telstra app shows what you have used.
Turning Day Pass on and off
In the My Telstra app, select your service, then Extras and International Roaming, and turn Day Pass on. Telstra says it can take up to 2 hours to activate, so do it before you fly. The same screen lets you choose how you get low-data warnings.
You can leave Day Pass switched on when you get home; it doesn't charge in Australia. To travel without it, toggle it off in the same place. On an Upfront plan that means Wi-Fi only overseas. On other plans you fall back to pay-as-you-go rates, which Telstra itself says "can be far more expensive".
Pay-as-you-go rates without a Day Pass
If you are on a non-Upfront plan and your destination isn't covered, or you turn Day Pass off, Telstra charges $3 per MB of data and 75c per SMS. Voice is charged per minute and varies by country:
| Where you are | Telstra pay-as-you-go voice rate |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | $1.50/min |
| United Kingdom | $2.00/min |
| Fiji | $2.50/min |
| United States, Japan | $3.00/min |
| Indonesia (Bali) | $4.00/min |
| Cruise ships, airlines | $5.00/min |
At $3 per MB, a 50MB map download costs $150. That is why the Day Pass is the better deal on any day you use mobile data at all.
Telstra Pre-Paid: International Roaming Packs
The Day Pass is for post-paid plans. Pre-Paid International Roaming Packs work in 38 destinations:
- $10, 3 days: 400MB data, 15 SMS or MMS, 15 minutes of calls
- $15, 7 days: 2GB data, 25 SMS or MMS, 25 minutes of calls
- $25, 14 days: 4GB data, 50 SMS or MMS, 50 minutes of calls
The call allowance counts incoming and outgoing calls. A pack starts the moment you buy it, so Telstra advises waiting until you land. Install the latest My Telstra app before you leave, because you can't download it outside Australia. Telstra says Pre-Paid customers won't be charged pay-as-you-go rates overseas; outside the 38 destinations, or without a pack, you rely on Wi-Fi or a local SIM.
What a typical trip costs
- 4 days in Fiji: Zone 1, so 4 × $5 = $20.
- 14 days in Bali: Zone 2, so 14 × $10 = $140, plus $10 for every extra 2GB.
- 10 days across the USA and the UK: both Zone 2, so $100 with no SIM swap between countries.
For a long stay in one country, a local SIM or a travel eSIM usually costs less than daily passes, at the price of a temporary number. Check that your phone is unlocked before you rely on that plan.
Calling home over Wi-Fi
A Day Pass already includes calls back to Australia, so on a day you are paying for one, calls cost nothing extra. A calling app matters on the days you don't buy a pass: on an Upfront plan outside Day Pass destinations, on a long trip where you live on hotel Wi-Fi, or with a local SIM in your phone.
CallSky is our product. It calls landlines and mobiles over the internet with prepaid credit. On Wi-Fi the call isn't roaming; over mobile data overseas, the data starts a Day Pass like any other data use. Prices are in US dollars:
| Calling an Australian number from Bali | Cost per minute |
|---|---|
| Telstra, pay-as-you-go roaming | A$4.00 |
| Telstra, with a $10 Day Pass running | Included |
| CallSky over Wi-Fi (our product), rate checked | US$0.05 |
WhatsApp and FaceTime cost nothing beyond data when the other person has the app; for a landline in Australia, such as your bank, you need a calling app instead. Our guide to the best apps for Wi-Fi calling compares the options.
Common questions about Telstra roaming
Can I use Telstra Pre-Paid overseas?
Yes, with a Pre-Paid International Roaming Pack in one of 38 destinations: $10 for 3 days, $15 for 7 days or $25 for 14 days. Packs start as soon as you buy them, so buy one after you land. The International Day Pass is for post-paid plans only.
What if my destination isn't covered by Day Pass?
On an Upfront plan you can't roam there and need local Wi-Fi. On other Telstra plans you pay pay-as-you-go rates: $3 per MB of data, 75c per SMS and a per-minute voice rate that depends on the country. Telstra sends an SMS with the rates when you arrive.
Does the Day Pass work on a cruise ship?
No. Cruise ships use satellite services rather than a mobile network, so talk, SMS and data on board aren't covered by Day Pass. Telstra's pay-as-you-go rate for cruise ship services is $5.00 a minute for calls. Keep your phone in aeroplane mode at sea and use the ship's Wi-Fi if you need to get online.
When does a Day Pass day end?
On Upfront plans, 24 hours after you first use your phone overseas. On other plans, at 11.59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, regardless of the local time where you are.
Related guides
- Optus international roaming
- What is WiFi calling?
- Apps for cheap international calls
- How to make international calls
CallSky is our product. It calls 180+ countries on pay-as-you-go credit that never expires, with no subscription.