How to Change Telstra International Roaming Settings

To stop Telstra from charging you the $10 daily roaming fee, you must disable the International Day Pass via the My Telstra app or turn off 'Data Roaming' in your phone’s settings. For the best experience, switch to a travel eSIM before you leave Sydney or Auckland to land with local data immediately.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of landing in Denpasar or Heathrow, switching off airplane mode, and immediately receiving a text from Telstra: "Welcome! We've activated your International Day Pass. That'll be $10 for the next 24 hours." If you are away for two weeks, that is $140 gone—money that could have been spent on a decent dinner in London or a few days of surfing in Indonesia. Managing your Telstra international roaming settings is the first step to reclaiming your travel budget.

Understanding the Telstra International Day Pass

Telstra’s default setting for most post-paid customers is the International Day Pass. It sounds convenient—and it is—but it is also one of the most expensive ways to stay connected. For $10 a day ($5 in New Zealand), you get 2GB of data. If you go over that 2GB, they charge you another $10 for another 2GB.

The trap isn't just the cost; it’s how it triggers. Even if you only send one WhatsApp message or your phone background-refreshes an app, the full $10 charge is applied for that 24-hour window. If you're heading off on a long-haul adventure, these costs stack up faster than the jet lag.

How to Change Telstra Roaming Settings in the App

If you want to stop the charges at the source, you need to dive into the My Telstra app. Here is the step-by-step process for most Australian users:

1. Open the My Telstra App: Log in with your Telstra ID.
2. Select Your Service: Tap on the mobile number you are taking overseas.
3. Navigate to Extras: Look for the 'International Roaming' section.
4. Manage Settings: Here, you can see if the Day Pass is active. You can choose to disable it entirely, but be warned: if you disable the Day Pass and still use data, Telstra will charge you 'Pay-As-You-Go' rates, which are astronomical (think dollars per megabyte).

The smarter move is to keep the Day Pass off and use a dedicated travel solution like an AussieRoam eSIM for your data needs. This allows you to keep your Telstra SIM active for emergency texts (which are usually free to receive) while using a different 'pipe' for all your Instagramming and Google Maps navigation.

Changing Settings on Your Device

To ensure your phone doesn't accidentally talk to a foreign tower using your Telstra SIM, you need to adjust your handset settings.

For iPhone Users

1. Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data).
2. Under the SIMs section, tap on your Telstra SIM.
3. Toggle Data Roaming to OFF.
4. If you have installed a travel eSIM, ensure that is selected as the Cellular Data source while keeping the Telstra line on for 'Default Voice Line' if you need to see who is calling.

For Android Users

1. Go to Settings > Connections.
2. Tap on Mobile Networks.
3. Toggle Data Roaming to OFF.
4. In the SIM Manager, make sure your travel eSIM is set as the preferred SIM for mobile data.

Before you head off, make sure to check if your phone is ready for eSIM technology, as most modern iPhones and Samsungs are perfectly capable of running two SIMs at once.

Why Aussies are Switching to Travel eSIMs

Using an AussieRoam eSIM means you bypass the Telstra middleman. Instead of paying Telstra to 'rent' space on a network in Japan or Thailand, you are connecting directly to local providers like Softbank or AIS. This usually results in better speeds and significantly lower costs.

Our data-only plans don't give you a local number, which is actually a blessing. It means no annoying telemarketing calls from home while you're trying to enjoy a sunset. You keep your WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger tied to your Australian number, but the data flows through the local eSIM.

Feature	Telstra International Day Pass	AussieRoam Travel eSIM
Daily Cost	$10 (Fixed)	One-time payment
Data Allowance	2GB per day	Total bundle (e.g., 10GB or 20GB)
Trigger	Automatic on use	Manual activation
Network	Telstra Partner	Local Tier-1 Carriers
Best For	Short 1-2 day trips	Trips 3 days or longer

Coverage Realities: Cities vs Rural

When you use Telstra roaming, you are at the mercy of whichever local carrier Telstra has the cheapest roaming agreement with. In Europe, this is usually fine in major cities like Paris or Berlin. However, once you hit the countryside, you might find your signal dropping out while locals around you are streaming video.

With a dedicated travel eSIM, you are often hitting the same towers as the locals. In Indonesia, for example, having access to the Telkomsel network is the difference between having 4G at a beach club in Canggu and having no signal at all. If you're planning a trip to the Island of the Gods, check out our Uluwatu Surf Guide: Best Breaks for Every Level for tips on where to find the best waves (and the best signal).

Arrival at the Airport: Sydney, Auckland, and Beyond

The best time to change your Telstra international roaming settings is while you are sitting at the gate in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland.

1. Download your AussieRoam eSIM using the QR code provided.
2. Follow the setting it all up guide to label your SIMs (e.g., 'Primary' for Telstra and 'Travel' for your eSIM).
3. Turn off 'Data Switching' on your iPhone to prevent it from jumping back to Telstra if the eSIM signal gets weak.
4. Once you land in the UK, simply toggle the travel eSIM to 'ON' and your Telstra data roaming to 'OFF'.

By the time you've walked from the plane to immigration, you'll be connected. No queuing at a kiosk in Heathrow or trying to negotiate with a vendor in a language you don't speak.

Data Needs: How Much Do You Actually Need?

If you stick with Telstra, you are capped at 2GB a day. That sounds like a lot, but high-definition video and social media maps eat through it fast.

• Google Maps: Essential for navigating the Tokyo subway or finding a pub in London. It uses surprisingly little data if you download offline maps, but 'Live View' is a data hog.
• Social Media: Uploading a 4K Reel of your Niseko run will eat about 200MB-500MB. If you're heading to the slopes, read our Niseko Ski Guide: Everything Australians Need to Know for more travel hacks.
• Video Calls: A 10-minute FaceTime home to Australia uses about 150MB.

With an AussieRoam eSIM, you aren't restricted by a daily 2GB cap. If you want to use 5GB in one day because you're lost in the Scottish Highlands and then use 100MB the next day while lounging on a beach in Spain, you can. It’s your data; use it how you want.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is leaving 'Wi-Fi Assist' (iPhone) or 'Network Switch' (Android) turned on. These features automatically switch your phone to mobile data if the Wi-Fi signal is weak. If you are in a hotel with patchy Wi-Fi and your Telstra roaming is still active, your phone might jump onto the Telstra network in the middle of the night to finish a cloud backup. That is a $10 sleep.

Always ensure that your Telstra SIM has 'Data Roaming' toggled to 'OFF' at the device level, regardless of what the My Telstra app says. This is your fail-safe.

The bottom line

Telstra's roaming settings are designed for convenience, not for your wallet. By taking five minutes to adjust your settings in the My Telstra app and switching your data needs to an AussieRoam eSIM, you can save hundreds of dollars on a single trip. Stay in control of your connectivity, avoid the daily 'day pass' tax, and spend that extra cash on an extra night in Bali or a better seat on the train through Europe.