How to Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally

AT&T makes it easy to use your phone while you travel

The majority of mobile phones offered by AT&T have built-in frequencies and features that allow them to function efficiently when you travel overseas to other countries. To use your AT&T phone overseas, you will be required to activate a roaming feature on your phone account that allows you to connect to the mobile phone towers at your overseas destination. If you do not want to activate the roaming feature or pay the additional rates for phone calls, messaging, and data capabilities, you can contact AT&T to have your phone unlocked so you can use an international prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Activate AT&T's International Roaming Service

  1. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 1
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    Determine if your AT&T mobile phone will work in the country you are traveling to.
    • Visit AT&T's "Travel Guide" website featured in the Sources section of this article to verify your mobile phone's functionality in other countries. If you do not have Internet access, call AT&T's International Customer Care department for assistance at 1-800-331-0500.
    • Select the continent and country you are traveling to and click on the "Continue" button.
    • Select the manufacturer and model of your AT&T mobile phone and click on "Continue."
    • Review your phone's ability for voice and data services in the country you are traveling to. Voice services include phone calls and text messaging; whereas data services include email and Internet connectivity.
    • If your AT&T mobile phone will not work in the country you are traveling to, you may want to consider upgrading your phone model or renting a mobile phone when you arrive at your international destination.
  2. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 2
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    Review the international roaming rates and fees for the country you are traveling to.
    • Click on the "Details" link under the "Rates and Coverage" column to view your rates for the country you are traveling to. Rates for voice calls will vary depending on the country; however, messages and data charges have fixed rates regardless where you travel to.
    • Each outgoing text message will cost 50 cents (0.36 euros), whereas each outgoing picture and video message will cost 1 dollar and 30 cents (0.94 euros).
    • Data services will cost 1.95 cents per kilobyte, i.e. $19.50 (~15 EUR) per megabyte; In Canada it costs 1.5 cents per kilobyte ($15.00 per megabyte).
    • If you travel overseas frequently, you may want to consider signing up for an international rate plan or discount package that may provide you with lower roaming fees. Visit AT&T's International Roaming website featured in the Sources section of this article or call AT&T at 1-800-331-0500 to sign up for an international package.
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    Contact AT&T to activate the international roaming feature on your mobile phone account.
    • You may call AT&T's International Customer Service department at 1-800-331-0500, dial 611 directly from your mobile device, or visit an AT&T retail store.
  4. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 4
    4
    Learn how to make phone calls while you are traveling overseas.
    • To make phone calls or send messages, you will be required to dial the "plus" symbol, followed by the country code, then the phone number you are calling. For example, if you are calling a United States phone number, dial the "plus" sign, enter the number "1" for the country code, then dial the 10-digit phone number you are calling.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Unlock your AT&T Mobile Phone

  1. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 5
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    Call AT&T at 1-800-331-0500 to have your mobile phone unlocked.
    • AT&T can unlock your mobile phone if you meet specific eligibility requirements. You must have had active AT&T service for at least 90 days, your account must be current on payments, your phone model must be available from other service providers or companies, and an unlock code must be available from the manufacturer.
    • Apple iPhones cannot be unlocked; however they have the ability to function overseas using AT&T's international roaming feature.
  2. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 6
    2
    Buy a prepaid SIM card when you reach your overseas destination.
    • Prepaid SIM cards can usually be purchased from stores in airports, department stores, or from phone merchants. You may want to ask the vendor salesperson about the rates and applicable fees for your prepaid SIM card.
  3. Image titled Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally Step 7
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    Remove your AT&T SIM card and replace it with the prepaid SIM card to use while you travel.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Will my phone plug work in India if I bring it from the U.S.?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, you will need an adapter.
  • Question
    What do I do if my SIM card is blocked if I got it from an overseas carrier?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    When it says your SIM card is blocked, it most likely means that your phone is locked and you need to call your carrier to have it unlocked. See Method 2.
  • Question
    If I'm traveling to Israel, how can I switch from airplane mode to Wi-Fi without being charged for any data downloads or messages received in between the few seconds to a minute it connects with Wi-Fi?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can still access Wi-Fi with your data turned off. Just turn off your cellular data on your device.
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References

  1. http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=55002&cv=820#fbid=vWeuK1hX_a8
  2. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/cell-phone-europe.htm

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 261,593 times.
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Co-authors: 16
Updated: February 11, 2022
Views: 261,593
Categories: Phone Plans
Article SummaryX

If you’re travelling internationally, you can still use your AT&T mobile phone with a little preparation. Visit AT&T’s travel guide website to see if their service will work in the country you’re travelling to. You can also check the roaming rates there. To activate international roaming on your account, you’ll need to call AT&T’s international customer service department. Alternatively, if you’ve had your SIM card for at least 90 days, you’re up to date on your payments, and your phone’s eligible, call customer service to have your phone unlocked. Then, buy a prepaid SIM card when you arrive at your destination. For more tips, including how to dial a U.S. number from overseas, read on!

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