Roaming in Norway: How does it work, and how much does it cost?

What is roaming in Norway?

The sun sets on Oslo. You’re in the fashionable Havnepromenade area, relaxing in a waterfront restaurant as boat lights sparkle on the darkening bay. You’ve just finished your lye-treated dry cod (trust us, it’s a thing) and you want to get the bill. You open your translation app — but do you have internet access? If you’ve enabled data roaming, you probably do!

Data roaming is a feature on your smartphone that connects you to local networks when you're abroad. Your normal mobile carrier may not provide coverage for Norway, but with roaming you can still send and receive data through Norwegian cell providers. Is there a catch? Yes — yes, there is.

Here’s the problem with roaming — it can be really expensive. Whatever contract you have with your provider back home, your data usage will usually be charged at a higher rate while you’re in another country. If you use roaming for your whole Norway trip, you could have a nasty phone bill waiting for you when you get home.

How does roaming work in Norway?

When you land in Norway and switch off airplane mode, you can turn on roaming through the settings on your mobile phone. If you want, you can also enable the feature before flying. With roaming active, your phone can automatically connect to one of Norway’s local mobile networks (like Telenor, Telia, or Ice). Now, as long as you keep your cellular data switched on, you’ll have internet access.

Norway isn’t in the European Union, but as part of the European Economic Area (EEA), it abides by EU roaming laws. That means the country operates under the EU’s “roam like at home” scheme, so if you’re from an EU or EEA country you can use mobile data, calls, and texts in Norway without any extra roaming charges. If you’re from a country outside of that grouping — the UK, for example — those rules don’t apply to you. 

How to activate and deactivate roaming in Norway

Roaming is easy to turn on and off. In fact, you might already have it set up on your mobile device. Follow the steps below to enable and disable roaming for Norway on Android and iOS. 

On Android

You can turn data roaming on and off through your Android settings.

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Connections” or “Network & internet” (different Android iterations use alternative wording).

3. Tap “Mobile network” or “Cellular network” (again, wording varies from one device to another).

4. Toggle “Data roaming” on or off.

On iPhone (iOS)

It only takes a few seconds to enable or disable roaming on an iOS device, and the steps are very similar to those on Android.

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Mobile data.”

3. Tap “Mobile data options.”

4. Toggle “Data roaming” on or off.

Already made changes to your phone’s roaming status before your trip? When you land in Norway, check that your settings are still as you left them, especially if you turned your device off and on during the flight. 

How much are the roaming charges in Norway?

Depending on the mobile provider you’re with, roaming charges will vary a lot. Every mobile operator has its own roaming rules — some will charge less for specific locations or offer a daily free allowance. We’ll outline the broad strokes here, but it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the roaming clauses in your mobile contract before you travel.

O2 roaming charges in Norway

Good news! If you’re an 02 customer, you don’t need to worry about roaming fees. Norway is in 02’s Europe Zone, a collection of more than 40 countries where you can use your data just like you do at home. Your 02 data is capped at 25 GB while in Norway, but it’s unlikely that you’ll come close to using that much data, even on a month-long trip.

EE roaming charges in Norway

As an EE user, you can enjoy your regular data allowance in Norway for 24 hours at a cost of £2.59. Staying for a few weeks? It might be worth getting the £25 monthly pass. If you’re not interested in using data while you’re in Norway and just want the calls and texts from your plan (if you’re using an eSIM, for example), then those can be charged at a pay-as-you-go rate of £1.74 per minute and £0.93 per text. It costs a further £3 to get access to a 500 MB data add-on. 

Vodafone roaming charges in Norway

Vodafone customers, rejoice! As long as you’re on a standard Vodafone plan, you don’t need to worry about roaming fees in Norway. In a similar setup to 02, Vodafone lists a selection of European countries in its Zone A, which means you can enjoy free roaming there. Just like 02, though, a fair usage policy of 25 GB applies to your data allowance. 

Three roaming charges in Norway

With Three’s network, your data is a little more limited, but the costs are quite low. Norway is one of Three’s Go Roam in Europe destinations, so you can use up to 12 GB of your data allowance for £2 each day. Some plans may already include roaming, but for the majority, that daily charge will unlock the internet, along with calls and texts. If you overrun your allowance, roaming charges of 1p per MB kick in. 

Avoid roaming charges in Norway using an eSIM

To make life a little simpler, download an eSIM app. These services get you online without any of the complications or spiraling costs of roaming. An eSIM app is easy to activate and manage through your device, and most work well for hotspot tethering. That means you can connect multiple devices through a single eSIM account.

Advantages of an eSIM when traveling in Norway

Using an eSIM for Norway offers a lot of perks, from quick activation to online security features. Best of all, apps like Saily are affordable, meaning you’ll have extra money in your account for that lye-treated cod (again, it’s a thing — look up “lutefisk”). 

• With an eSIM, you can use your phone overseas with no roaming. That’s the biggest selling point, really. No need to worry about roaming fees, daily add-on charges, and other money sinks. Just buy a single eSIM plan and you’re good to go.  

• Your eSIM plan will activate instantly upon landing, provided you set it up in advance. The last thing you want to be doing in the airport arrivals area is setting up a new internet connection!

• You’ll keep your regular SIM active for calls and texts. An eSIM doesn’t override the functions of the SIM card in your device, so you still have your usual phone functions, like calling and SMS, while you’re using the app.

• It’s easy to switch between multiple eSIM plans. Numerous data packages can be managed in the one eSIM app, so if you’re heading to another vacation spot after Norway, you can get your plan set up in advance.

• An eSIM is cheaper than most roaming passes, especially for UK travelers. Take EE’s 500 MB data add-on, at a cost of £3. For the same price, you could get a Saily eSIM plan that includes double that amount of data — 1 GB for £3. 

• You don’t need to visit a store or wait for delivery. An eSIM plan can be purchased, activated, and put to use in a matter of minutes on your device.

Really, one of the biggest benefits of an eSIM app is its simplicity. You only need a few minutes to get it set up so it can be ready to use as soon as you land. That’s how internet access should be — fast and stress free. With Saily, you can forget about data roaming and focus on exploring Norway, hiking around its forests and fjords, and living your best Nordic adventure.