What is T-Mobile International Pass?

T-Mobile International Pass is the carrier’s roaming add-on, which allows T-Mobile unlimited plan customers to use their phones in over 210 countries. With the International Pass, T-Mobile customers can purchase cell phone coverage before they leave the U.S. and, in the process, avoid the additional charges that can unexpectedly arrive once a vacation’s over.

With that being said, not every T-Mobile customer needs to purchase an International Pass to enjoy the luxury of using their T-Mobile phone abroad. In this article, we’ll walk you through the fine print of the T-Mobile International Pass, breaking down coverage, costs, and whether it’s the right add on for you.

How Does T-Mobile International Pass Work?

Purchasing a T-Mobile International Pass is like purchasing a calling card or prepaid SIM. The International Pass’s flat fee earns you limited-time coverage that adds on to your T-Mobile plan’s unlimited international texting. 

T-Mobile offers three different International Passes:

• $5 24 Hour pass: unlimited calling and 512MB of high-speed data
• $35 10 Day pass: unlimited calling and 5GB of high-speed data, which can be used as a mobile hotspot
• $50 30 Day pass: unlimited calling and 15GB of high-speed data, which can be used as a mobile hotspot

T-Mobile International Pass Plan Eligibility

These International Passes are only available for the following T-Mobile unlimited plans: Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next, and aren’t necessary for roaming in Mexico and Canada, which is covered by all of the above.

Unfortunately, T-Mobile International Passes are not available for the carrier’s prepaid plans or entry-level unlimited options, also known as the Essentials plan and the Essentials Saver plan, which include free texting in over 215 countries and unlimited 2G data, but you’ll pay $0.25 per minute for calling. Note that T-Mobile’s prepaid plans have no international options.

How to Start T-Mobile International Pass

You can start a T-Mobile International Pass by purchasing a 24 Hour, 10 Day, or 30 Day Pass through T-Life (the T-Mobile app), at a T-Mobile store, or by calling T-Mobile customer service at 1-800-T-MOBILE or by dialing 611 on your T-Mobile phone. 

We suggest handling this ahead of time for peace of mind, which you can do by setting your activation date for the first day of your trip. You can also wait until you arrive, though, and activate an International Pass when you’re abroad.

What Countries Does T-Mobile International Pass Cover?

The T-Mobile International Pass offers high-speed coverage in over 215 countries around the world. Even though T-Mobile’s international coverage is technically provided by partner networks in those countries, T-Mo still offers significantly more international 4G LTE coverage than typical international plans.

The T-Mobile International Pass offers especially strong cell phone coverage in Europe, with strong 4G LTE service throughout much of the continent, including Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, and more.

International Pass coverage is not as strong in Asia, with sparse service in China and slower 2G and 3G speeds in places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. There is strong coverage in the further east you go, though, with 4G LTE available in Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. The inconsistent service through Asia is similar to the situation in Africa, with the strongest connections reserved for the metropolitan areas of Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

T-Mobile’s International Pass coverage is even sparser in South America. Solid 4G LTE coverage is available in a band along the eastern coast, which includes Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil, and a similar amount of 4G LTE coverage in the northwestern chunk of the continent, with particularly strong clusters in Peru and Colombia. But outside of those regions, T-Mobile service—even glacial 3G and 2G speeds—is hard to find.

Is T-Mobile International Pass Worth It?

Whether or not T-Mobile International Pass is worth it depends on the kind of traveler you are and what kind of plan you currently have. Considering that T-Mobile’s Go5G plans already include some international coverage, purchasing an additional International Pass might not be necessary.  le

The basic Go5G plan comes with 5GB of high-speed data, unlimited throttled data, and unlimited texting in 11 European countries (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia). If you’re visiting one of these countries, you’ll already have enough data for basic travel, especially if you use WiFi for everything you can. If you’re headed elsewhere, though, you’ll need an International Pass if you want to avoid costly roaming charges while on vacation.

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If you have a Go5G Next plan or Go5G Plus plan, you already have 5GB of high-speed data and unlimited texting in over 215 countries throughout the world—that’s why these are sometimes referred to as the T-Mobile international plans. 

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Adding on an International Pass to one of these plans will only be necessary if you want to use your phone freely while traveling, without any concern for using cellular data while exploring your new location. If you’re the kind of traveler who saves most of their cell phone use for WiFi and makes their calls on WhatsApp, then the international roaming provided with the Go5G Next and Go5G Plus should suffice.

The Bottom Line

The T-Mobile International Pass offers T-Mobile customers the ability to use their phone abroad without the headaches of navigating international carriers, a new plan, or prepaid SIM cards. Unlike similar international roaming add ons from AT&T and Verizon, the T-Mobile International Pass has more options for customers, though it also has more limitations. Still, for T-Mobile customers who want the comfort of their phone abroad, it's not a bad option, though whether it's worth the money depends on what you need from your phone while traveling.

Travelers who want to use their phone whenever they feel like it—snapping photos of landmarks for Instagram, finding the best restaurants on Yelp, and navigating their way through new cities with Google Maps—will find the International Pass add ons to be a worthwhile addition to the existing international coverage provided with T-Mobile’s Go5G plans.

If you’re the kind of traveler who saves most of your phone use abroad for WiFi, only using cellular data when it’s absolutely necessary, then you probably won’t need the additional data provided by an International Pass.

Before purchasing the International Pass, consider what your current plan offers and where you plan on traveling. There’s no need to pay for an add on you don’t need or won’t use. You’re better off saving that money for something else on your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does T-Mobile work internationally?

Yes, T-Mobile works internationally. T-Mobile’s unlimited plans offer varying degrees of international coverage. T-Mobile also offers an International Pass add on, which allows customers to grab additional high-speed data that can be used in over 215 countries.

Does T-Mobile offer international data?

Yes, T-Mobile offers international data. All of its Go5G plans offer 5GB of high-speed international data and its Essential plans offer unlimited 2G data. Customers looking for more high-speed data can purchase a 24 Hour, 10 Day, or 30 Day International Pass.

Does T-Mobile International Pass work on cruise ships?

No, the T-Mobile International Pass does not work on cruise ships. We recommend using your cruise ship’s on-board WiFi instead, especially if it’s free.