Using your UK phone in Portugal
Yes. On Simp+ and Simp Pro, your UK eSIM works in Portugal the way it does at home: data comes out of your Europe allowance, 10GB a month on Simp+ and 20GB on Simp Pro, and calls and texts to UK numbers come out of your usual UK allowances. There is nothing extra to buy.
At a glance.
Covered because it is on our own published roaming list. It is not a network-by-network confirmation, so it is a destination we publish rather than one we have had confirmed.
- Zone
- Zone 1, EU and selected destinations
- Simp+
- 10GB a month
- Simp Pro
- 20GB a month
- After the allowance
- Data stops until your allowance renews
- Speed
- The same as in the UK
- Days each billing month
- Up to 15
- Calls and texts
- To UK numbers, from your UK allowances
- Extra to pay
- £0, it is in the plan
How it works in Portugal.
Your speed there, and what to do before you go. Most of the time it is nothing.
How fast it is
In Europe, your UK eSIM runs at the same speeds as in the UK, with no extra speed limit: 5G is typically 100 to 250Mbps down and 10 to 25Mbps up, and 4G typically 20 to 50Mbps down and 5 to 15Mbps up. Portugal is in Europe, so that is what you get there.
Before you go
Nothing to install and nothing to switch on: your UK eSIM roams in Portugal on its own.
You can roam in Europe on up to 15 days in each billing month. From day 16, roaming in Europe on your UK eSIM is suspended until your next billing month starts.
Calls and texts to UK numbers come out of your usual UK allowances. International calls are not possible.
What it costs.
Roaming in Portugal is in the price of the plan: Simp+ from £10 a month and Simp Pro from £13 a month. There is no daily charge, no pass to buy and no bill for data waiting when you get home. Top-ups are only if you want them.
Your Europe allowance stops when it is used, until it renews, and it is not topped up. Roaming 5G data top-ups are for your global roaming eSIM, which works in Europe too, so you can carry on with that. Each is bought in the app and valid for 30 days.
One-off, so nothing renews on youGood to know in Portugal.
The emergency numbers, a few things about your phone there and some travel notes, each from an official source.
Emergency numbers
- 112: ambulance, fire, police
Your phone there
- Save the location of your accommodation in your maps app, or take a photo of its name and address, so it is easy to find your way back.
- If you have hearing loss and cannot hear on the phone, you can reach the emergency medical service by video call or webchat, through a Portuguese-language website.
- Spain is in the same Europe allowance, so crossing over changes nothing.
Travel notes
- Hiking in Madeira and the Azores can be challenging. Leave details of where you are going with your hotel reception, and take a phone with you.
- If you see a wildfire, call 112. Starting a fire, even by accident, is illegal and can mean a fine or a prison sentence.
- People who live in Great Britain made 3.6 million visits to Portugal in 2024, the Office for National Statistics estimates.
Questions about roaming in Portugal.
Does my UK phone work in Portugal?
Yes. On Simp+ and Simp Pro, your UK eSIM works in Portugal the way it does at home: data comes out of your Europe allowance, 10GB a month on Simp+ and 20GB on Simp Pro, and calls and texts to UK numbers come out of your usual UK allowances. There is nothing extra to buy.
How much data do I get in Portugal?
10GB a month on Simp+ and 20GB on Simp Pro, from your Europe allowance. You can roam in Europe on up to 15 days in each billing month. From day 16, roaming in Europe on your UK eSIM is suspended until your next billing month starts. It is one allowance for every destination in Europe, not one per country.
What happens when my data runs out in Portugal?
Data stops when your Europe allowance is used, until it renews. It never slows down first. If you need more, your global roaming eSIM works in Europe too, and its 5G data can be topped up in the app.
Can I call UK numbers from Portugal?
Yes. Calls and texts to UK numbers come out of your usual UK allowances, the same as at home. International calls are not possible.
Do I need to do anything before I go to Portugal?
No. Your UK eSIM roams on its own, with nothing to install and nothing to switch on.
Will I pay extra to use my phone in Portugal?
No. Roaming is in the price of Simp+ and Simp Pro, so there is no daily charge and no bill for data when you get home. Roaming 5G data top-ups are optional.