Starting January 1, 2026, Ukraine will become part of the joint European roaming zone Roam Like at Home. This decision will allow Ukrainian subscribers to use mobile services in European Union countries under their Ukrainian tariffs without the need to purchase local SIM cards.
This is reported by Finway
New Conditions for Ukrainian Subscribers in the EU
From now on, calls, SMS, and mobile internet for Ukrainians traveling to EU countries will be charged at domestic tariff rates. To facilitate this, Ukrainian and European operators have signed a new Joint Statement, which will be in effect in addition to the RLAH rules until March 4, 2027. This will enable continued connectivity under favorable conditions, particularly for Ukrainians temporarily staying abroad.
“To ensure that Ukrainian refugees do not pay more, Ukrainian and European operators have signed a new Joint Statement. It will be in effect in addition to the RLAH rules until March 4, 2027, allowing for continued connectivity under favorable conditions.”
The Roam Like at Home system is primarily designed for travelers, not for those living abroad permanently. If a subscriber stays in another EU country for more than four months, the operator may impose an additional charge. There are also limits on mobile internet: even with an unlimited plan in Ukraine, the amount of available gigabytes while roaming will be determined by a special formula based on the cost of the tariff plan.
The Significance of Roaming Visa-Free Travel for Ukraine and the EU
Ukraine’s accession to the joint roaming zone is a unique step for the European Union. This is the first instance where the EU has extended its internal policy to a country that is not a member. From now on, the Ukrainian roaming market is integrated with the European one, and Ukrainian citizens can use mobile services in 27 EU countries just as they do at home.
In July 2025, the European Commission officially approved granting Ukraine access to the Roam Like at Home policy. This will open new opportunities for Ukrainians, including avoiding additional costs while staying in the EU.
At the same time, the implementation of European roaming policy will require significant investments from Ukrainian operators to modernize billing systems, update business processes, and align infrastructure with European standards. This may lead to an increase in mobile service tariffs in Ukraine, and if prices approach European levels, subscribers in the EU may prefer local SIM cards.