URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/tesco-mobile/
Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/
Updated: 25 October 2026
Prices: in pounds (GBP) at the rate of 31 Oct; the site shows the rate of the day.

# Tesco Mobile roaming: Home From Home in Europe and what it costs elsewhere

Tesco Mobile roaming in its 48 Home From Home destinations is "charged as in the UK" (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco Home From Home](https://www.tescomobile.com/why-tesco-mobile/awards-and-reviews/home-from-home)). That covers pay monthly and pay as you go, and Tesco says "There's no cap/usage limit". Outside the list the picture splits: 1p a MB in the USA, £5 a MB in Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

This site is not affiliated with Tesco Mobile; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/)

EU roaming is included on Tesco Mobile, so you may not need an eSIM in Spain, France or Italy. The same goes for Ireland, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man: all are in Home From Home. In the USA, at 1p a MB, you may not need us either.

The traps show up on the bill. Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and Andorra are outside Home From Home, at £5 a MB. So are Thailand, [Egypt](https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/egypt/), the UAE and cruise ships.

## Where does Tesco Mobile Home From Home work?

Home From Home has 48 destinations on Tesco's page, and that is the count we use (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco Home From Home](https://www.tescomobile.com/why-tesco-mobile/awards-and-reviews/home-from-home)). The list includes Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Ireland is included, as it is on all 15 UK networks.

Tesco's two pages count differently. The roaming calculator has 47 destination rows: it puts Portugal, the Azores and Madeira in one row and gives the Balearics their own. We follow the Home From Home page.

Switzerland, Norway and Iceland are on the list. Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and Andorra are not.

<details>
<summary>Tesco Mobile Home From Home countries: all 48 destinations on Tesco's page</summary>

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St. Barts, St. Martin, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.

Source: [Tesco Home From Home](https://www.tescomobile.com/why-tesco-mobile/awards-and-reviews/home-from-home), checked on 24 October 2026.
</details>

Tesco says the benefit continues: "Our Home From Home benefit was set to stop in 2026, but the great news is, we're letting it roll on. We have no plans to bring in EU roaming fees anytime soon." That is Tesco's statement, not a promise for 2027. Tesco adds that it will tell affected customers "at least 30 days before anything comes into effect".

Our view of every network in Europe is on [roaming in Europe](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/europe/). The four places outside the mainland have their own page: [Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/crown-dependencies-gibraltar/). Our Europe plan does not cover Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

For a week in Spain, Tesco charges nothing beyond your plan. Our Europe plan is £2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, data only ([the Europe eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-europe/)). They are different products. Home From Home uses your UK allowance, minutes and texts on your own number. Ours is a second line, and in Europe it earns its place only once your UK data runs out.

## Is there a limit in Home From Home destinations?

Tesco sets no data cap: "There's no cap/usage limit" (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco Home From Home](https://www.tescomobile.com/why-tesco-mobile/awards-and-reviews/home-from-home)). You use your UK allowance abroad. Past it, you pay Tesco's standard rate, 10p a MB, as you would at home.

At 10p a MB, 1,000MB past your allowance comes to £100 (our sum). Tesco's alternative is a data bundle, added in the Tesco Mobile app or My Account.

The other rule is fair use abroad. Tesco's page says it applies if "you spend more time in Home from Home destinations (than in the UK and the rest of the world)", or use more of your allowances there. Then "we'll also add an additional surcharge. If we're going to do this, we'll text you first."

Tesco's [fair-use policy](https://www.tescomobile.com/content/dam/tesco-mobile/terms-and-conditions/general/home-from-home/fair-use-and-home-from-home-policies.pdf) gives the mechanics. Tesco watches a rolling 4-month period. Past 2 months in Home From Home, it texts you and gives you two weeks to cut back. After that it adds 0.35p a MB to data; minutes and texts carry no surcharge.

So the rule counts time, not gigabytes. A student on a four-month placement in Lisbon crosses the 2-month line halfway through. Even then, the surcharge on 1,000MB is £3.50 (our sum).

To stop surprises, set a zero bill cap or safety buffer in the Tesco Mobile app or My Account. Tesco says the safety buffer "can be set to £0". Switching data roaming off before you land also limits charges.

## What does Tesco Mobile charge in the USA, Turkey and further away?

Tesco charges 1p per MB in the USA and £5 a MB in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, on pay monthly and pay as you go (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming)). The same MB costs 1p in New York and £5 in Istanbul.

| Tesco region | Places | Data per MB, pay monthly and PAYG | Our sum for 100MB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home From Home | 48 destinations, Europe and the Crown Dependencies | your UK allowance, then 10p | your plan, then £10 |
| Region 3 | USA (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa | 1p | £1 |
| Region 2 | Turkey, North Cyprus | £5 | £500 |
| Region 4 | The rest, including Albania, Montenegro, Andorra, the UAE, Egypt, Thailand and cruise ships | £5 | £500 |

Sources: [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming) (pay monthly calculator, checked on 24 October 2026) and [Tesco roaming charges for pay as you go](https://www.tescomobile.com/help/roaming-and-international/roaming-charges-for-pay-as-you-go) (checked on 25 October 2026). The last column is our arithmetic: 100 × the per-MB rate. Calls in Region 4 cost £1.49 a minute, made or received.

In the USA you may not need us. Tesco puts it plainly: "Roaming now costs only 1p per MB of data for the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – for both pay monthly and pay as you go customers." At that rate, 1,000MB comes to £10 (our sum). A call home from the USA costs 89p a minute.

Tesco Mobile data roaming outside Home From Home and Region 3 is billed at £5 a MB, so 1,000MB comes to £5,000 (our sum). A map app or a video call adds up fast.

Tesco's [Turkey](https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/turkey/) and Northern Cyprus charges are the same: both sit in Region 2 at £5 a MB. Our Turkey plan does not cover Northern Cyprus, so the north of the island stays at Tesco's rate on the Tesco line.

Region 4 is the long list: Tesco's calculator has 131 entries, including Serbia, Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore and Qatar. Check your destination there before you fly. Our Europe plan covers Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. Cruise ships are Region 4 at £5 a MB; at sea, use the ship's Wi-Fi, because our eSIMs work on land networks only ([the cruise page](https://esimworld.co.uk/cruise/)).

## Tesco Mobile or a travel eSIM for Turkey or Thailand?

Tesco's rate in these four places is £5 a MB, against our 1 GB over 7 days at the prices below (Tesco checked on 24 October 2026). The products differ: Tesco bills per MB on your own number; our plan is data only and starts on first connection abroad.

<!-- visual-slot -->

| Destination | Tesco region | Tesco data, per MB | Tesco, 1,000MB (our sum) | Our plan, 1 GB for 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Turkey](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-turkey/) | Region 2 | £5 | £5,000 | £2.99 |
| [Thailand](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-thailand/) | Region 4 | £5 | £5,000 | £2.99 |
| [Egypt](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-egypt/) | Region 4 | £5 | £5,000 | £3.99 |
| [United Arab Emirates](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-united-arab-emirates/) | Region 4 | £5 | £5,000 | £3.99 |

Sources: [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming), pay monthly rates, checked on 24 October 2026; our plans are data only, 1 GB over 7 days. The Tesco column is our arithmetic: 1,000 × £5.

At £5 a MB, a 3MB photo costs £15 (our sum). Switch off data roaming on the Tesco line and use the eSIM for data ([data roaming settings](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/data-roaming-settings/)). Calls and texts on the Tesco line stay at Tesco's rates: in Region 4, £1.49 a minute and 40p a text.

**Turkey:** buy and install your eSIM before you travel. eSIM shops, including ours, may not open on Turkish networks.

[Roaming or eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming-or-esim/) walks through the same decision for any network.

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## eSIM on Tesco Mobile: activation and transfer

Tesco gives you an eSIM as a digital download (pay monthly only) or a QR code; pay as you go eSIMs come from a store or Tesco support (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco eSIM help](https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/esim)). Smartwatches are not supported.

To move a Tesco number to a new eSIM, activate the eSIM first, then text SWAP to 23424 from the old SIM. Tesco asks for the eSIM's ICCID in that text. A QR code works for up to 3 activations on the same phone, and a digital download works once. A new phone or a switch between iPhone and Android needs a replacement eSIM; on iPhone you do it in the Tesco Mobile app.

To bring a number from another network, Tesco's page gives two texts: PAC to 65075 from the old SIM, then PORT to 23424 from the new eSIM. The phone makers' own steps for adding or moving an eSIM are in [how to transfer an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/transfer-esim/).

Your Tesco eSIM is your Tesco line and your number. A travel eSIM from us is a second, data-only line beside it. To keep your UK number reachable, read [keeping your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Tesco Mobile have free European roaming?

Yes. In 48 Home From Home destinations your UK minutes, texts and data are "charged as in the UK", on pay monthly and pay as you go (checked on 24 October 2026). Tesco says "There's no cap/usage limit". Past your allowance you pay the standard 10p a MB, and more than 2 months abroad in 4 brings a fair-use surcharge after a text.

### What countries are included in Tesco Mobile roaming?

Home From Home has 48 destinations, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man (checked on 24 October 2026). Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Andorra and the USA are not in it. Turkey and North Cyprus form Tesco's Region 2; the USA is in Region 3.

### What are the standard data rates for Tesco Mobile abroad?

1p a MB in Region 3 (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) and £5 a MB in Region 2 (Turkey, North Cyprus) and Region 4 (the rest, including the UAE, Egypt and Thailand). Both apply on pay monthly and pay as you go (checked on 25 October 2026). In Home From Home, data past your allowance costs 10p a MB.

### Do I need to tell Tesco Mobile if I am going abroad?

No. Tesco sends a welcome text when you arrive in a new country, and you can call 280 free from abroad for information. Data roaming must be on in your phone's settings. Outside Home From Home every MB is billed, so set a zero bill cap or safety buffer before you fly.

### How do I move my Tesco Mobile SIM to an eSIM?

Activate the new eSIM, then text SWAP to 23424 from the old SIM. You need the eSIM's ICCID for the text. A QR code works for up to 3 activations on the same phone; a digital download works once (checked on 24 October 2026).

*Sources are linked in the text; reviewed by Nadezhda Semenova. For the terms of your own contract, check with Tesco Mobile.*

## Sources

- [Tesco Mobile: Home From Home](https://www.tescomobile.com/why-tesco-mobile/awards-and-reviews/home-from-home)
- [Tesco Mobile: roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming)
- [Tesco Mobile: roaming charges for pay as you go](https://www.tescomobile.com/help/roaming-and-international/roaming-charges-for-pay-as-you-go)
- [Tesco Mobile: fair use and Home From Home policies (PDF)](https://www.tescomobile.com/content/dam/tesco-mobile/terms-and-conditions/general/home-from-home/fair-use-and-home-from-home-policies.pdf)
- [Tesco Mobile: eSIM help](https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/esim)