Before you travel: Prepare for roaming
Before traveling for work or vacation, take a few minutes to prepare your phone to avoid roaming charges.It’s important to understand what can trigger charges while abroad so you don’t face unexpected fees from background activity, voicemail access, or Wi-Fi misunderstandings.
Your phone can use data or trigger roaming charges even when you’re not actively using it. Reviewing your settings before you travel helps keep costs predictable and avoids surprises on your bill.
Use this guide to understand what could lead to charges while staying connected when you need to during your trip.
Quick pre-travel checklist
Use this travel checklist before you travel to get ready and stay connected while roaming!
1. Check if Roaming is included on your plan
Before you leave, confirm whether your Rogers Business plan includes Roaming options such as Roam Like Home or Roam Like Home Travel Passes.- Review your plan details and make sure to specifically confirm the roaming option on the line travelling with you (sign into My Business Hub)
- Confirm that your destination is covered (Visit: Roam Like Home destinations)
Roam like Home Daily vs Roam Like Home Travel Passes
Roam Like Home and Roam Like Home Travel Passes let you use your phone the same way you would do in Canada.- With Roam Like Home, you’re charged a daily roaming fee only on the days you use your phone while travelling.
- To make sure that Roam Like Home is enable in your plan, you can text TRAVEL to 222.
- Roam Like Home Travel Passes offers a fixed, upfront cost for defined consecutive days of roaming.
| Charges | On the days you use your phone while traveling | One upfront charge that covers roaming for your entire trip period |
| Best for | Flexibility | Lower price for longer trips, simplicity |
Learn more about Roam Like Home and about Roam Like Home Travel passes.
To purchase a Roam Like Home Travel Pass, you can follow the steps on: How to add a Roam Like Home Travel Pass
Important: Enterprise customers might have different inclusions for roaming. Please confirm with your Telecommunications Administrator or with your Service Agreement.
For more information on how Roam Like Home and Roam Like Home Travel Passes are charged, visit: After you travel
2. Review your phone’s roaming and data settings
Your phone can use data even when you’re not actively browsing.Before you travel:
- Decide whether Data Roaming should be turned On or Off. (If it’s OFF, you can still use Wi-Fi networks when available)
- Review background app refresh and automatic updates and turn them off if needed
- Pause cloud backups that use mobile data
Important: Keep in mind that if you have Roam Like Home or Roam Like Home Travel Pass, you’ll be covered by the data included in your plan.
3. Understand Wi-Fi Calling before you go
Wi-Fi calling allows you to make voice calls and send text messages over a Wi-Fi network instead of relying on cellular service. It can be helpful, but it doesn’t prevent all charges.Before using Wi-Fi calling, make sure you understand:
- Calls or messages to non-Canadian numbers (long-distance) may still be charged
- Some features, like checking voicemail, can still trigger roaming charges
- Wi-Fi Calling does not automatically block roaming charges
Important: If you have Roam Like Home or Roam Like Home Travel Pass, you can use the services included in your plan without needing Wi-Fi.
Important: You should activate the Wi-Fi calling option on your phone before leaving Canada.
To see if your mobile phone is compatible with Wi-Fi calling and how to set it up, please visit: What is WiFi Calling?
4. Use Wi-Fi safely while traveling
Wi-Fi can help reduce roaming charges, but only when it’s used correctly. Simply connecting to Wi-Fi does not automatically prevent charges if your phone still connects to a mobile network or certain features are used.When Wi-Fi helps reduce costs
Wi-Fi is most effective when:- Your phone is on Airplane Mode + Wi-Fi on
- Mobile Data Roaming is turned off
- Options like Wi-Fi Assist or Wi-Fi Assistant are turned off
- Work activities stay within apps that work fully over Wi-Fi (email, messaging, collaboration tools)
When Wi-Fi may still cause charges
Even when connected to Wi-Fi, charges may still apply if you:- Send SMS or MMS messages instead of app-based messages
- Call or text non-Canadian numbers using Wi-Fi Calling
- Access voicemail
- Allow your phone to switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data in the background (Wi-Fi Assist or Wi-Fi Assistance)
5. Before traveling with devices other than a mobile phone
You want to bring your Smartwatch or tablet abroad? Before travel, it’s important to confirm how these devices behave outside Canada.Smart watches (Apple and Samsung Watch)
Confirm that Roam Like Home is included in the Smartwatch plan. To review your plan details, visit: My Business Hub
If Roam Like Home is not included:
- the Smartwatch can still be used when it is:
- Connected to the customer’s iPhone via Bluetooth
- Connected to Wi-Fi.
- In these cases, you can continue to:
- Make and receive calls
- Send and receive text messages
Apple Watch: go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile) and toggle off Data Roaming
Samsung Galaxy Watch: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks and toggle off Data roaming
Tablets and iPads
If you are traveling with a tablet or an iPad, confirm that Roam Like Home is included in your plan. To review your plan details, visit: My Business Hub
If not, to avoid pay-per-use charges, you can:
- Turn data roaming OFF
- Turn cellular data OFF
- Turn Wi-Fi Assist/Assistant OFF
- Use the device on Wi-Fi only
Important: Tablets or IPads might not receive the roaming Welcome Message (SMS) when they connect to a partner network.