Is there roaming in the UK after Brexit?
Almost certainly you won't be charged, but not because you're entitled to it. Brexit took the UK out of the European roaming regulation, so no Spanish operator is obliged to apply “roam like at home” there; what happens is that the big ones keep it by their own choice. Checked on 22 August 2026, Movistar has it in its Zone 1 — the EU one — and Vodafone in its Zone 7 at no extra cost. Since it's a revisable decision and not a right, it's worth checking your customer area before every trip.
Updated on
The doubt always shows up at the same moment: the suitcase is packed, the flight leaves tomorrow and someone asks out loud whether you have to turn data off in London. Nobody in the room knows for sure, everyone has a different version, and the conversation ends with an “I think so”.
What exactly changed
“Roam like at home” isn't a courtesy from the operators: it's a European Union regulation that obliges them to apply your domestic tariff when you travel within the European area. The UK was inside it. On leaving, it no longer was.
Since then, including the UK in the European zone is a commercial decision by each operator, not an obligation. They can keep it, they can drop it, and they can apply it only to some tariffs.
| Operator | Where it puts the UK | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Movistar | Zone 1, with the EU and Gibraltar | Your domestic tariff, no surcharge |
| Vodafone | Zone 7, at no extra cost | Equivalent to the European zone |
| Orange | — | Not checked on 22/08/2026 |
This table is a snapshot of 22 August 2026 and of each operator's general tariff, not of yours. Including the UK is today a commercial decision that can be revisited — Brexit removed the legal obligation — so it can change, and it may not apply to older tariffs or to secondary brands. The check that really counts is the one on your own line, and it takes two minutes.
How to check it in two minutes
- Open your operator's app or customer area.
- Search for “roaming” in the help search box.
- Find the list of zones and see which one the UK is in: if it shows up in the European zone, your tariff works there; if it shows up in another zone, you'll be charged that zone's rate.
- If the answer isn't clear, write to the support chat and ask in writing. That way the answer is on record.
Do it before you fly, not on the plane. And if the answer is that the UK sits outside your European zone, you have two options: pay their rate or bring your own data.
If your tariff doesn't cover the UK
| Option | What it means | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pay your operator's rate | Do nothing, and it kicks in by itself | Their outside-the-EU rate: check their website |
| Turn data off and live on Wi-Fi | No connection in the street | Free, and not very practical |
| UK eSIM, 7 days | Installed before you fly | 2,90 € |
| UK eSIM, 15 days | For two weeks or a road trip | 4,90 € |
How to turn off data roaming
- On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, pick your Spanish line and turn off “Data Roaming”.
- On Android: Settings, Network & Internet, SIMs, pick your Spanish line and turn off “Data roaming”.
- If you're carrying an eSIM, check that the default data line is the eSIM and not your usual SIM.
Turning off data roaming doesn't turn off calls or SMS, which have their own rates. If you want to avoid any charge at all, also disable forwarding to voicemail for the length of the trip.
Does Brexit force you to pay for roaming in the UK?
It forces nothing: what it did was remove the opposite obligation. Before, the European regulation forced operators to apply your domestic tariff; now each one decides. In practice, checked on 22 August 2026, Movistar and Vodafone still include it at no extra cost.
Does my Spanish tariff work in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so it's governed by the same rules as the rest of the country. The Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, is still in the European Union and is covered by European roaming.
And in Gibraltar?
Gibraltar isn't in the European Union either, and each operator treats it its own way; some include it in the European zone and some don't. It's another one worth checking in your customer area before you cross the border.
Can I run the eSIM and my Spanish line at the same time?
Yes, and it's the recommended setup. The eSIM carries the data and your usual SIM stays in to take calls on your number. You just have to turn off data roaming on the Spanish line.
See the plans for the United Kingdom
Something off, or a price changed? Write to ayuda@zasesim.com and we'll fix it. Data when you land.