How Telstra’s new $10/day International Data Pass for roaming works
Telstra has upgraded its roaming deal, but data addicts will still want to shop around.
Telstra has revamped its roaming deal for Australians travelling overseas, introducing a new International Day Pass that costs $10 a day.
For that $10, you get unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers (mobiles and landlines) around the world, including Australia. This is handy if you want to be able to retain your existing number. For trips to New Zealand, the cost is $5 a day.
The kicker? The standard plan only includes 100MB of data for each day. If you go over that limit, which is quite likely given typical phone data consumption patterns, you'll pay 3 cents per MB.
If you want a higher data allowance, you can pay $25 to get an additional 1GB of data, which you can use over 31 days. While that's a cheaper option than 3 cents per MB, it's still a fairly expensive way to get data, so you might want to consider other options such as a local SIM or roaming onto Wi-Fi.
While it's only available on contract plans, the structure of Telstra's offer is fundamentally different to Vodafone's superficially similar $5 a day roaming offer. That deal lets you use your existing plan allowance, rather than assigning a different value.
While Telstra has a dominant share of the local market, it has a reputation for higher-priced roaming than its rivals. In 2015, it tried to raise roaming rates but ended up partially dumping that plan after heavy criticism.
Excess roaming fees are a major problem for travellers, with finder.com.au research suggesting that half-a-million Australians have been hit with excess charges.
If I am on the $10 International Day Pass and donot turn on my phone for a month, do I still get charged $100 if I receive an SMS during this time ?
Hi Mark,
Once enabled on your mobile service, an International Day Pass will activate the moment you use your phone outside of Australia. So as long as you don’t turn it on, it shouldn’t activate. Once you do turn it on, you’ll have access to the day pass until it restarts at midnight (12am) Australian Eastern Standard Time. 
Hope this helps.
Have made call at 5.10pm in Italy which has activated my International Day Pass. Does the daily service period (24hr) apply from time of call in Italy, i.e. till (5.10 following day) so I can make calls to Australia tomorrow morning?
Hi Glenda,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Once enabled on your mobile service, an International Day Pass will activate the moment you use your phone outside of Australia. You’ll have access to the day pass until it restarts at midnight 12am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Telstra will send you SMS alerts so you can keep track of your spending. They will also let you know when you’ve used 50%, 85% and 100% of your included allowance. They will also send you SMS alerts for every $100 of pay-as-you-go roaming outside of your included allowance. SMS alerts from Telstra is free of charge.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Hi, is the caller charged to a day pass number?
Hi Chris,
Thank you for contacting Finder.
Yes, the caller will be the one that needs to have the $10 Day Pass for the International Roaming. The receiver of the call will not be charged of any fees as technically the caller is under a daily plan.
I hope this helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out again to us if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Ash
I do not want the $10 day pass ,as I usually make only 2 or 3 text a day and no phone calls
How do I use my mobile and NOT get charged the $10 day pass
Hi Pam,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
For Telstra to be able to remove the international day pass from your plan, you may need to contact them directly for that. Since you are currently travelling, please visit the Telstra website. A chat option is available for you there 24×7 to assist you on this. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I went over the $10 data limit for a day so I was charged an extra $10 for 500mg of data. Why am I still seeing a 200mg limit? Is Costa Rica included in the package?
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’re referring to the Telstra International Day Pass, it includes 200MB data for use each day (AEST) when travelling in the Eligible Countries. According to the terms and conditions, the data used in excess of 200MB which will be charged at $10 per 500MB. This 500MB is valid for 31 days, for usage in
Eligible Destinations. You are still seeing the 200MB limit since it’s a daily limit set.
Upon checking, Costa Rica is not included in the list of the eligible countries. Please refer to the International Day Pass Critical Information Summary from Telstra for more details.
Regards,
Jhezelyn