A call from a hotel in Prague, a navigator on the narrow streets of Vienna, an urgent file to a client from a train Rome-Florence. Anyone who has traveled abroad knows the cold sweat at the thought of "what about roaming?" and the bill upon return.

Until 2026, roaming for Ukrainians in Europe was a lottery: rates jumped from operator to operator, service bundles shrank, and prices bit hard. From January 1, 2026, Ukraine officially joined the EU's single roaming zone "Roam Like at Home." Now Kyivstar subscribers pay for connectivity in 32 European countries at home rates, with no hidden surcharges and no end-of-month surprises.

Below, how it works in practice, which plans are included, and what to do if your phone doesn't switch to roaming automatically.

💡 Quick overview:

• Ukraine in the "Roam Like at Home" zone from January 1, 2026, home rates apply in 32 EU countries
• Roaming is included in 100+ Kyivstar plans: LOVE UA, YOUR Choice, Bezlim, and others
• Automatic activation when crossing the border, manual launch via network settings, check via USSD command
• Internet traffic volume is optimized per plan, 5G available in major EU cities
• If it doesn't work: reboot, manual network selection, check bonus balance

What "Roam Like at Home" is and what changed in 2026

Previously, international roaming worked like this: a Ukrainian operator leased a network from a local provider in the destination country and re-billed the subscriber with a markup. That's why a minute of conversation from Italy could cost 30 hryvnias, and a megabyte of traffic, over 5 hryvnias. A service bundle bought in Ukraine "slimmed down" several times over abroad or didn't work at all.

From February 2022, many European operators signed an agreement with their Ukrainian counterparts on mutual recognition of home rates. This was a temporary gesture of solidarity, but it gave impetus to systemic changes. The result was Ukraine's integration into the EU single roaming zone from January 1, 2026.

Now the roaming in Europe service for Kyivstar subscribers is provided on the same terms as in Ukraine:

• Calls and SMS are consumed from your plan's minutes and messages bundle, with no roaming markup.
• Internet traffic is optimized depending on the plan: from 2000 to 5000 MB per trip. For contract subscribers, limits are higher.
• In major cities across 32 countries, from Warsaw to Barcelona, 5G is available if the device supports it. Kyivstar was the first among Ukrainian operators to adapt its plans to the new EU rules and expanded 5G roaming.

Please note: the base internet volume in roaming may be less than in the home region. Exact figures depend on the specific plan, check in the "My Kyivstar" app before departure.

Which plans include roaming abroad

The "Roam Like at Home" service is available on all current Kyivstar plans; the operator states 100+ plans with this option. Below are the main lineups:

Check that your plan is current: some archived plans (e.g., "Communication Without Limits 2019") may be unavailable for new connections, although existing subscribers continue to use roaming on the previous terms. When changing plans, verify the presence of "Roam Like at Home" in the description; this option is now basic, not supplementary.

How to activate roaming on Kyivstar

The most frequent question before a trip: "Do I need to press anything or does it happen by itself?" In most cases, by itself. Here's how it works step by step.

Automatic activation (main scenario)

Kyivstar tracks the device's approach to the state border via tower signals. As soon as the phone registers on a European partner's network, the operator switches the number to roaming automatically. Confirmation, an R icon in the top right corner of the screen, and an SMS with information about current rates and remaining bundle services.

Automatic switching works in the vast majority of cases. If the R icon hasn't appeared after 5-10 minutes abroad, proceed to manual setup.

Manual setup (if automation didn't work)

• Reboot your phone. This clears the network cache and forces the device to search for a tower again.
• Go to Settings → Mobile network (on Android) or Settings → Cellular → Network Selection (on iPhone).
• Enable Automatic network selection. If that doesn't help, disable automatic and select a network manually from the available list.
• Make a test call or send an SMS. Service bundles are activated upon first use; no charges apply until that moment.

Check via USSD

A quick way to make sure roaming is active: dial *111*10# (call). In response, you'll receive an SMS with the current service status and remaining bonuses. For subscribers with a bonus system: 250 bonuses = 250 UAH for calls and traffic abroad, validity period 30 days from activation.

If roaming still doesn't work

Three possible causes and their solutions:

• Zero or negative balance. Even with a bundled plan, the system may block roaming if the balance is negative. Top up your account to a positive value.
• Outdated SIM card. Cards older than 5 years may not support registration on European LTE/5G networks. Replace the SIM with a new one at the nearest Kyivstar branch (free, number is retained).
• Regional restrictions. Some countries outside the 32-country zone (Switzerland, Andorra, Balkan states outside the EU) are not included in "Roam Like at Home." Check the list of countries before traveling on the official Kyivstar website in the "Roam Like at Home" section.

Video: how roaming in Europe works from January 2026

⁉️🤔 Frequent questions

Is Kyivstar roaming really free? What hidden charges could there be?

In the "Roam Like at Home" zone (32 EU countries), calls and SMS are billed at the home rate, exactly the same as in Ukraine. There are no hidden charges, but there are two nuances. First: calls WITHIN the country of stay (e.g., from a hotel to a restaurant in Rome) may be billed differently than calls to Ukraine; this depends on the partner operator. Second: internet traffic beyond the allocated limit is charged separately. Monitor usage in the "My Kyivstar" app.

Do I need to change my SIM card or plan to use roam like at home?

No, you don't need to change either your SIM card or your plan. The "Roam Like at Home" service is basic for all current plans; it is included by default. The only exception: if your SIM card is older than 5 years, it may not support European LTE/5G networks. In that case, replace the card at a branch; your number and plan are retained.

How much internet traffic is provided in roaming? Is it the same gigabytes as in Ukraine?

Traffic volume is optimized: the base limit ranges from 2000 to 5000 MB depending on the plan. This is LESS than the full home bundle on some plans (e.g., "Bezlim Video" gives 40+ GB in Ukraine, but up to 5 GB in roaming). The limit is enough for navigation, messengers, and social media, but streaming and heavy files are best postponed until Wi-Fi. The exact figure for your plan is shown in the "My Kyivstar" app under the "Roaming" section.

What should I do if the roaming icon (R) doesn't appear?

If there's no R and a call doesn't go through, perform manual setup: reboot your phone, go to Settings → Mobile network → Automatic network selection. If automatic doesn't find a network, select one manually from the available list. Make a test call; the service activates upon first use. If that didn't help → dial *111*10# to check status or contact support via chat in the "My Kyivstar" app.

Which countries are NOT included in Kyivstar's "Roam Like at Home"?

Outside the 32 countries of the "Roam Like at Home" zone, standard roaming rates apply, and they are higher. Outside the zone: Switzerland, United Kingdom (left the EU), Andorra, Monaco, Balkan states outside the EU (Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia). Before traveling, check the current list of countries on the official Kyivstar website; the zone composition may expand.

Is it worth overpaying for roaming in 2026?

Short answer, no. From January 1, 2026, "Roam Like at Home" covers all basic communication needs abroad: calls, SMS, and internet at Ukrainian rates. Buying separate tourist SIM cards or eSIMs for EU countries now only makes sense in two cases: if you are traveling outside the 32-country zone or if you plan to actively stream video and tether internet, as the 5 GB limit won't be enough for that.

• If your route is EU countries and you need to stay connected → take your home plan with "Roam Like at Home" and don't overthink it.
• If you plan to visit Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or the Balkans → buy additional roaming bonuses (250 UAH for 30 days) or get a local eSIM.
• If you need unlimited internet for work during the trip → check Kyivstar contract plans with increased traffic limits; they are more cost-effective than buying a separate roaming package each time.

The new system is already working, setup takes a minute, and the bill after returning won't shock you. Check your plan in the "My Kyivstar" app before departure, and travel without worrying about the price of a call.