EE Roaming in Turkey: Daily Passes, Data Charges & Cheap Alternatives
Travelling to Turkey with an EE mobile phone? Here is the complete breakdown of how EE treats Turkey roaming in 2026, how the Roam Abroad Pass works, and why using a prepaid Turkey eSIM can save you over 70% on data.
⚡ EE Turkey Roaming at a Glance
- Pay Monthly Pass: £2.50 per day (or £25/month) via the Roam Abroad Pass.
- Pay As You Go (PAYG): No daily pass available. Data charged at £1.50/MB (£1,500/GB).
- Fair Use Limit: 50GB monthly cap while roaming.
- Smartest Alternative: A £2.99–£15.00 Turkey eSIM from Saily or Breeze SIM running on Turkcell.
How EE Roaming Works in Turkey
Under EE's standard international roaming categorization, Turkey is not part of the standard European Union roaming zone. If you arrive in Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, or Dalaman and turn on mobile data without an active add-on, you will receive a notification from EE advising you of your roaming options.
1. EE Pay Monthly (Roam Abroad Pass)
If you have an EE pay-monthly handset or SIM-only contract, you have two options:
- Daily Roam Abroad Pass: Costs £2.50 for 24 hours. It activates automatically the moment you use data, make a phone call, or send an SMS in Turkey.
- Monthly Roam Abroad Add-on: Costs £25.00 per month. This is ideal if you are visiting Turkey for more than 10 days, saving you money over individual daily charges. You can cancel it upon returning to the UK.
- Inclusive "All Rounder" or "Full Works" Plans: If your EE contract includes an "Inclusive Extra", you can choose the Roam Abroad Pass as your perk at no additional monthly charge.
2. EE Pay As You Go (PAYG) Warning
If you are an EE Pay As You Go customer, the Roam Abroad Pass is not available. Out-of-bundle rates apply:
Cost Comparison: EE vs Turkey Travel eSIM
Here is how EE's roaming costs compare with prepaid Turkey travel eSIMs for common UK holiday durations:
| Trip Length | EE Roam Abroad Pass | Turkey Travel eSIM | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day City Break | £7.50 (£2.50/day) | £2.99 (Saily 1GB) | Save ~60% |
| 7-Day Beach Holiday | £17.50 (£2.50/day) | £6.30–£7.99 (Airalo / Saily) | Save ~55% |
| 14-Day Family Trip | £35.00 (£2.50/day) or £25 pass | £15.00 (Breeze SIM 20GB) | Save £10–£20 |
How to Use an eSIM Alongside Your EE SIM Card
You do not need to choose between EE and a travel eSIM. By using Dual SIM on your phone:
- Keep EE Active for Incoming Calls & SMS: Keep your physical EE SIM enabled with Data Roaming turned OFF. Receiving bank 2FA SMS codes from UK banks is completely free.
- Set Turkey eSIM for Mobile Data: Assign the travel eSIM as your default cellular data line with Data Roaming turned ON.
- Turn Off Cellular Data Switching: Ensure "Allow Mobile Data Switching" is disabled in your phone settings to stop your handset from accidentally triggering the £2.50 EE daily pass.
Frequently Asked Questions About EE Turkey Roaming
Does EE include free roaming in Turkey?
No. EE does not include free roaming in Turkey on its standard monthly or SIM-only plans. Turkey is excluded from EE's European roaming zone. You must purchase the EE Roam Abroad Pass (£2.50/day or £25/month) to access your UK allowance, or pay out-of-bundle roaming rates.
How much does the EE Roam Abroad Pass cost for Turkey?
The EE Roam Abroad Pass costs £2.50 per 24 hours on eligible monthly plans, or £25.00 for a 30-day monthly add-on. It allows you to use your domestic minutes, texts, and mobile data up to a 50GB fair usage cap.
Can I use the Roam Abroad Pass on EE Pay As You Go?
No. The Roam Abroad Pass is only available to pay-monthly handset and SIM-only customers. EE Pay As You Go customers cannot buy the pass and are charged standard international roaming rates (£1.50 per MB for data), making an alternative travel eSIM essential.
Can I keep receiving UK bank verification texts in Turkey on EE?
Yes! Receiving incoming SMS messages while roaming in Turkey is completely free on EE. By keeping your EE SIM active with Data Roaming switched off and routing mobile data through a Turkey eSIM, you will receive all bank 2FA security codes without paying EE roaming fees.
How do I activate the EE Roam Abroad Pass?
You can activate it before you fly or upon landing in Turkey by texting ROAMING PASS to 150 from your EE phone, or by turning it on inside the My EE mobile app.