Starlink Limits International Use on Its Cheaper Roam Plans
Starlink's Roam tiers used to offer international coverage for customers in over 150 markets. But SpaceX is removing the capability for the cheaper Roam 100GB and Roam 300GB plans.
On Tuesday, Starlink.com posted a new support page that modifies the satellite internet service's approach to "traveling with Starlink Roam." It's already in effect for new customers, while existing customers will be transitioned on Aug.17.
The page notes that the most expensive Roam plan, the $175/month Roam Unlimited, can be used for international travel. "All other Roam plans: Use within your registered home country," it says.
"Other Roam plans are for use within your registered home country or grouped region (US/Canada or Europe)," it adds. "To use your service internationally, you'll need to: Upgrade to Roam Unlimited anytime from your account for 30 days of service outside your home country." Or the customer can switch to the business-focused Starlink Global Priority plans or transfer their account to a new country.
It's a notable shift since Starlink used to advertise all three Roam plans with the line: "Works Anywhere in 150+ Countries & Territories." The site has since been quietly tweaked to say that only Roam Unlimited includes international travel, though it's now in 160+ countries and territories.
In some good news, there is some wiggle room on international access via the cheaper Roam 100GB and 300GB plans. For US subscribers, SpaceX is defining "home country" as the US, Canada, and their associated territories, such as Guam and Puerto Rico. For customers in Europe, the home country spans most of the continent, except Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
"Traveling within your home country—or within the grouped region (US/Canada or Europe)—does not count as international travel," Starlink adds.
But for customers based elsewhere, the support page says: "All other countries are treated individually." Hence, US customers hoping to use their Starlink in Mexico or a far-off location will need to consider upgrading to the Roam Unlimited tier.
The other significant change is that the international use of Roam Unlimited is being reduced from up to 60 days per trip to up to 30 days. For extra time, the company advises users to switch to Global Priority, which offers up to 60 days of international use.
Still, the limitation isn't as severe as last month, when the company briefly floated a limit of 14 consecutive days and 60 days per year before reverting to the old policy.
On top of all this, SpaceX is discontinuing Global Roam, which launched in 2023 for $200 per month and was later increased to $400 per month . The plan reportedly removed the time limit on international use. But in a support page , Starlink now says: "For existing customers, Global Roam will be discontinued on August 17, 2026. To help make the transition as seamless as possible, we recommend switching to Global Priority before August 17."
As part of the changes, Starlink.com appears to have republished its "Travel Registration" policy, which previously required customers to submit a passport and a live portrait before using the satellite internet service outside their home country.
SpaceX didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the changes. But the company likely introduced the travel registration to help crack down on scammers and criminals using Starlink for their schemes.
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