How to receive bank text messages whilst abroad without incurring unnecessary costs

In this situation, it is not general advice that matters, but the specific details of a particular flight, booking or document. When travelling abroad, your mobile phone acts as a ticket, a map, a means of banking access and a contact list all in one. You should therefore check all your settings at home and back up any critical data using a secure offline method.

What to do before your trip

Update your apps, set up a screen lock, enable Find My Device, and keep your backup codes separate from your phone. Check that the necessary functions work without Wi-Fi. Do not use public networks for high-risk operations if you can postpone them until you have a secure connection.

• data roaming
• Incoming SMS
• Push notifications
• Alternative login method

Step-by-step plan

Make a note of the number, date, time and official contact details in a single note. After each check, note down the source and time, as an old screenshot may no longer reflect the current situation.

If you do not receive a reply, do not take any irreversible actions at random — document the issue and switch to the backup communication channel.

Useful links

Read more about using a Ukrainian number abroad, what to do if your bank has blocked your card, and multiple currencies. Current flight schedules are available on RedRay. For rules that are subject to change, refer to the European Commission’s official section on cybersecurity and the official resources of your destination country. Sources verified on 6 September 2026.