BREAKING STARLINK NEWS: Starlink Cuts Roam Unlimited International Use to 30 Days, Axes Global Roam
- Adam Morris
- Jul 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 15
*The new policy takes effect August 17. For long-term cruisers, “Roam Unlimited” is about to become a short-trip plan outside your local country/region.
Well, here we go again.
In our 2023 article about adding Starlink to our marine internet setup, I wrote that Starlink had “stabilized its rules—mostly, anyway.”
The word “mostly” has aged better than the rest of that sentence.
Starlink emailed us on July 15 to say that, beginning August 17, Roam Unlimited will include only 30 days of service outside the account’s registered home country at a time, unless you "localize your account" (more on that later).
For US and Canadian accounts, the two countries are treated as one. A US boat can cruise into Canada without starting the international clock, and the same applies to a Canadian boat visiting the US.
Jump to...
Here Is the Full Email From Starlink
Below is the complete policy message exactly as Starlink sent it. I removed only our personal account information and the standard email footer.
> Changes to international travel policy.
>
> Update to Roam Terms of Service
>
> Beginning August 17, the international travel policy is changing. You can review the full Terms of Service [here](https://starlink.com/legal).
>
> * Roam Unlimited: Includes 30 days of service outside your registered home country at a time. US and Canada are treated as one country, so travel between them does not count as international. After 30 days internationally, you can upgrade to a Priority plan, localize your account to a new country, or return to your home country to reset the window. >
> * All other Roam plans: Use anywhere within your registered home country. US and Canada are treated as one country. International use requires an upgrade to Roam Unlimited, which you can do anytime from your account. Alternatively, you can localize your account to a new country.
>
> If you plan to travel internationally, you’ll need to complete [Travel Registration](https://starlink.com/account/settings#registration-requirements). For a full explanation of countries and regions, click the button below.
>
> You can manage or cancel your service plan at any time from your account portal.
>
>
> Starlink has always tried to provide high-speed internet connectivity to those who need it, when and where they need it, all around the world. Starlink complies with applicable law in markets where it is licensed to operate. Starlink may, however, elect not to enforce certain service limitations that exceed those legal and licensing requirements in particular locations or circumstances where continued access is appropriate based on operational, legal, or humanitarian considerations.
The Lower Roam Plans Lose International Use Entirely
The change is worse for anyone using one of Starlink’s lower-data Roam plans.
Beginning August 17, those plans are limited to the registered home country, with the US and Canada treated as one country.
A US account on Roam 100GB, for example, can still work in Canada. It will not include service in the Bahamas, Mexico, or another foreign country.
The email says international customers can upgrade to Roam Unlimited or localize the account in the new country.
Global Roam is Gone
Global Roam was a (hidden?) pricey plan. It did not appear on Starlink’s public pricing page and was generally offered only after a customer already had another plan active. I did not have the plan, so please forgive if the details are incorrect here.
At $400 a month, it was not cheap. However, it included unlimited land-based data anywhere Starlink was authorized to operate, without the international travel timer attached to ordinary Roam service.
I do not know many cruisers who paid for Global Roam. Most folks that I've spoken with simply had the Roam Unlimited or multiple plans. For boats moving frequently between countries, though, it was one way to keep Starlink running without changing plans or accounts along the way.
With Global Roam gone, only pay per GB / metered plans exist if you're moving between countries.
“Localize Your Account” Sounds Easier Than It Is
The email makes localization sound like a plan setting. Starlink’s current help pages describe a much more involved process.
According to Starlink’s country-transfer instructions, moving an account to another country currently requires the customer to:
- Cancel the existing service
- Record the Starlink identifier
- Transfer the dish out of the old account
- Create a new account using a different email address
- Enter a service address in the new country
- Activate an available local plan
Starlink also lists transfer restrictions based on the purchase and activation dates, along with restrictions for accounts carrying an outstanding balance.
Maybe Starlink is about to introduce a simpler localization tool. That would make sense given the wording in this email. I cannot find it documented yet.
Until that happens, I would not treat localization as a button you can casually press every month while island hopping.
Passport and Live Photo Required
International use also requires Travel Registration.
Starlink’s Travel Registration instructions require:
- Full legal name
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- A copy of the passport
- A live portrait
Starlink says service will be disabled abroad if the registration is incomplete. Billing continues while the service is disabled unless the customer cancels the service line.
The name on the passport must match the name on the Starlink account. Starlink’s current account help page says customers cannot simply change the account name, so a mismatch could turn into a much larger hassle.
I would sort that out before leaving reliable internet.
Will Starlink Actually Enforce It?
Starlink has a long history of announcing limits and enforcing them inconsistently. Plenty of cruisers have used Roam beyond the old 60-day allowance without interruption.
The unusual final paragraph of this email confirms that Starlink may choose not to enforce certain limitations in some places or circumstances.
I know two cruisers who opened second Starlink accounts and bought second dishes with the intention of switching accounts once they hit their 60 days. They have not reported having to do so through multiple trips through the various Caribbean countries for a season.
What Can You do to Help?
Literally moments after I published this article, I got a notification that Steve from SeaBits had also published a helpful article on the topic.
In the article, he recommends opening a ticket with Starlink support, asking them to reconsider the policy. He also points out that this has successfully worked in the past to reconsider a policy on opt-in priority for Roam users.
Steve also has a reasonable theory on why they're making this change, so be sure to check out his article here.
If you attempt to open a ticket, first you'll be met with the Grok gatekeeper. I was able to get past it by keeping my responses vague. I told the AI that I wanted to provide feedback on a policy change. When it prodded me for specifics to "route my message properly," I mentioned that it was in reference to the Roam Unlimited plan without further details.
The AI then allowed me to open a ticket, and I recieved a ticket confirmation through email. Will that actually be routed to a person? Unknown.
Wrapping Up
This is a bad change for long-term international cruisers.
Starlink’s actual service has changed the way we cruise. Its plan rules remain exhausting.
Cutting international use from 60 days to 30 days makes Roam Unlimited far less useful for long term cruisers. Returning home every month is not a realistic solution when home has 800 miles of ocean ahead. Plus, paying per GB is not realistic for those of us that work from the boat.
I will update this article when Starlink updates its public terms or answers the questions about Ocean Mode, offshore days, localization, and enforcement.
If you received a different version of this email or can see different plan options in your account, drop a comment below.
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