Moldova and Ukraine Join EU 'Roam Like at Home' Zone
Citizens can now use mobile phones across 32 countries without extra charges as EU extends benefits ahead of membership.
Moldova and Ukraine have joined the EU's "Roam Like at Home" area, allowing citizens to use mobile phones across the expanded zone without additional charges.
The change took effect on January 1, 2026, extending EU roaming benefits to the two countries ahead of their eventual membership in the bloc.
What It Means for Travellers
Citizens of Moldova and Ukraine travelling in EU countries can now make calls, send text messages, and use mobile internet at home rates within the limits of their tariff plans. The same applies to EU citizens visiting Moldova or Ukraine.
"Welcome Moldova and Ukraine to the EU roaming free area. As of today, you can 'roam like at home' because we are preparing a home for you in the European Union," said Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement.
The agreement ensures consumers receive the same mobile network quality and speed as at home. Contacting emergency services is free of charge.
Years in the Making
The EU Council signed decisions regarding Moldova's integration on July 25, 2025, and Ukraine's on July 15, 2025. Moldovan citizens and businesses had already enjoyed lower roaming charges thanks to the Association Agreement dating back to 2024.
Within the EU, Roam Like at Home has been in place since 2017, allowing EU citizens to use mobile services across member states at domestic rates. The expansion to Moldova and Ukraine represents a significant step in their integration process.
A Growing Zone
The roaming-free area now encompasses 32 countries: all 27 EU member states, the three EEA EFTA members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), plus Ukraine and Moldova.
Plans are underway to include the Western Balkans region. At the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana in December 2022, leaders committed to gradually reducing data roaming charges, which took effect in October 2023. The goal is to eliminate additional roaming fees entirely by 2028.
Beyond Symbolism
Free roaming may seem like a small benefit compared to the security guarantees and economic support Ukraine receives from the EU. But it carries practical significance for the millions of Ukrainians displaced by war who maintain ties with family back home.
For Moldova, the change strengthens connections with its diaspora across Europe. It also signals that EU membership, while still years away, brings tangible improvements to daily life.
The EU Enlargement Path
Both countries face challenging accession processes, with reforms required across governance, rule of law, and economic policy. The roaming expansion demonstrates that the EU delivers benefits incrementally rather than waiting for full membership.
This approach contrasts with the all-or-nothing politics that characterise much of the current geopolitical landscape. While China and the US engage in zero-sum competition, the EU builds partnerships step by step.
Whether this gradualist model can deliver results quickly enough to satisfy populations weary of waiting remains to be seen. But for Ukrainians calling home to loved ones in Kyiv, free roaming is one less thing to worry about.
January 20, 2026