How to keep your UK number when you move abroad
Updated 30 October 2026
Moving abroad doesn't mean giving up your UK mobile number. You can keep it, and you'll probably want to. Banks, the NHS, HMRC and apps like WhatsApp often send their codes to it.
There are three main ways to keep it. Stay on your UK plan, keep a cheap pay as you go SIM active, or bring your number to an app like NumberNest. Each has its own costs and risks.
Can I keep my UK number if I move abroad?
Yes. You can move your number to another network or service whenever you like, as long as it's still active. You lose it if you cancel it, let it lapse, or leave with a STAC code, which ends it for good.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Monthly cost | Messages and codes | Calls | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay on your UK plan | Your plan, plus roaming | Arrive on your phone | Ring on your phone, roaming rates apply | Paying for a plan you barely use |
| Cheap pay as you go SIM | Little or nothing | Arrive while the SIM is in a phone | Ring on your phone, roaming rates apply | Losing the number if you forget to use it |
| Bring your number to NumberNest | £5.49 | Arrive in the app | Ring in the app over the internet | Not open yet, join the waitlist |
Stay on your UK plan
The simplest option. Nothing changes, and your number keeps working.
The catch is cost. You keep paying for UK minutes and data you won't use. And outside Europe, most UK plans charge extra for roaming, by the day or with a monthly pass. Check your network's roaming page for the country you're moving to.
Receiving texts abroad is often free. giffgaff, for example, doesn't charge for them. Receiving calls usually does cost, and so does listening to voicemail. O2 charges the same as a call to the UK to listen to a voicemail abroad.
Keep a cheap pay as you go SIM
Move your number to a pay as you go SIM before you go, then keep it in a phone abroad. If your phone takes two SIMs, you can use it next to your local one.
You have to keep it active, though. Networks cut off pay as you go numbers that aren't used, and receiving texts doesn't count as use.
- giffgaff: make a call, send a text, use mobile data or buy credit or a plan at least once every 6 months.
- Vodafone: do something chargeable, like sending a text or making a call, once every 180 days.
- O2: top up, add a Bolt On or do something chargeable at least once every 6 months. Top-ups are at least £10.
Miss the deadline and the number is gone. Vodafone says a disconnected number can't be reactivated. giffgaff gives you 30 days to ask for a PAC, then the number is recycled.
Set a reminder to send a text every few months. Sending a text abroad costs more than at home, so keep some credit on the SIM.
Bring your number to NumberNest
NumberNest keeps your UK number in an app, so you don't need a UK plan or a UK SIM.
- Messages and pictures arrive in the app, on your phone and on the web.
- Calls ring in the app over the internet, wherever you are.
- Missed calls go to voicemail, and you can read each one as text.
- It costs £5.49 a month for each number, including tax.
To bring your number, you ask your network for a free PAC code and give it to NumberNest. The transfer moves your number across, and your old plan ends.
NumberNest isn't open yet. Join the waitlist to hear when it opens for UK numbers.
Can I keep my UK number with an eSIM abroad?
Yes, if your network offers eSIMs and your phone supports them. An eSIM works like a normal SIM, so the same rules apply. You still pay for the plan or keep a pay as you go number active, and roaming charges still apply abroad.
Bank codes and logins
This is the main reason most people keep their number. Before you go:
- List the accounts that text you a code. Banks, HMRC, the NHS app, PayPal, Google and WhatsApp are common ones.
- Check each one can still reach you. Some let you switch to an app or email instead of texts.
- Don't cancel your UK number until you've moved every account off it, or moved the number somewhere that keeps it.
Wherever your number ends up, send yourself a test code from each important account before you leave.
Things to do before you leave
- Decide which option suits you.
- If you're switching network or moving to an app, get your PAC while you're still in the UK. O2 and giffgaff say the text only works from the UK.
- Turn on roaming on your account if you're keeping a UK SIM.
- Note down your network's full customer service number, in case you need to call them from abroad.
- Set a reminder to use a pay as you go number before its deadline.
Common questions
Can I keep my UK mobile number if I move abroad?
Yes. Keep your UK plan, keep a pay as you go SIM active, or bring the number to an app like NumberNest.
How do I keep my mobile number active while abroad?
On pay as you go, do something chargeable, like sending a text, at least every 6 months. Receiving texts doesn't count.
Will I be charged for receiving texts abroad?
Often not, but it depends on your network and the country. giffgaff doesn't charge for them. Check your network's roaming page.
What's the cheapest way to keep a UK mobile number?
Bring it to an app like NumberNest for £5.49 a month. Your number stays active with no SIM, no plan and no reminders. A pay as you go SIM can cost less, but you lose the number for good if you ever miss a deadline.
What happens if my UK number gets cut off?
It may be recycled and given to someone else. giffgaff gives you 30 days to ask for a PAC after it's cut off. Vodafone can't bring a disconnected number back.
Should I get a STAC when I move abroad?
Only if you're sure you won't need the number again. A STAC ends your number for good. A PAC keeps it.