How to activate roaming on your Claro Peru line before traveling
To activate roaming on your Claro Peru line, open the Mi Claro app, find the roaming or travel section, and activate it or purchase a package; if you don't have the app, call customer service or go to a Claro office. Do this before leaving the country: activation is not always immediate.
Roaming is the service that allows your Claro Peru line to connect to a cellular network in another country when you travel abroad. It's not something that comes activated by default on all accounts: in most cases, you have to enable it through the app, by phone, or in person, and for several plans, you also have to purchase an international data package separate from the one you use in Peru. If you arrive at your destination without having done this step, it's normal for your phone to have no data signal as soon as you land, even if the airport's WiFi works.
The following sections cover each activation method separately, how to confirm that it was indeed turned on, and what to do if, even after activation, it doesn't connect upon arrival. If your problem is precisely the latter — you activated roaming and it still doesn't work — you can jump directly to the section on what to do if it doesn't connect.
Activating roaming from the Mi Claro app
The quickest way for most users is the official Mi Claro app, available for Android and iOS. This is the same channel you use to check your consumption or pay your bill, so if you already have it installed, you don't need anything new.
- Open the Mi Claro app and log in with your line number.
- Look for the "Roaming," "Travel," or "International" menu (the exact name may vary depending on the app version).
- Check if your line already has roaming service enabled or if you first need to request it.
- If your plan requires it, select and purchase the roaming package for the country you are traveling to.
- Confirm activation: the app usually displays a message or notification that the service has been enabled.
A detail often overlooked: some postpaid plans include roaming by default but it's blocked until you manually activate it, as a measure to prevent accidental charges. If the option appears "off" in the app, it doesn't mean your line doesn't support it: it just needs that last click.
Activating roaming by phone or at a Claro office
If you don't have the app installed, it doesn't recognize your line, or you simply prefer to speak to someone, there are two alternative ways:
- Call customer service: the number appears on your bill, contract, or on Claro Peru's official website. Have your line number and identification document handy, as they usually ask for verification before making any account configuration changes.
- Go to a Claro office: useful if your line has a restriction that cannot be resolved by phone or app (e.g., outstanding debt, corporate plan, or a line in someone else's name).
The following table summarizes the three methods and when each is most appropriate:
| Method | What you need | When it's convenient |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Claro App | Active account in the app | It's the fastest method if you already have the app and your line has no restrictions |
| Call customer service | Line number and identification document | When you don't have the app or need to confirm something specific about your plan |
| In-person Claro office | Identification document, sometimes the physical SIM card | Corporate lines, outstanding debts, or accounts in third-party names |
| Phone settings | Roaming already enabled on the account | Last step, only works if the service is already active on Claro's side |
How to check if roaming is already activated
Before purchasing anything, it's worth confirming your line's current status: some postpaid and corporate plans already include enabled roaming, just without a data package purchased for the specific country. Confusing "having active roaming" with "having data purchased for your destination" is the most frequent cause of surprises upon arrival.
Ways to check:
- Check the roaming or travel section within the Mi Claro app: it usually indicates whether the service is on or off.
- Ask customer service directly if your line has roaming enabled and if it needs an additional package for the country you are going to.
- If your phone has the "mobile data while roaming" option activated in settings but doesn't connect, the service is probably off on Claro's side, not on the phone.
Having roaming activated on your account and having roaming working on your phone are not the same thing: activating it with Claro is the first step, but upon arrival, the device still needs to register with a visited network compatible with your destination.
Activating roaming in your phone settings (Android and iPhone)
Once Claro has confirmed that your line has roaming enabled, the last step is to turn on the corresponding option on your phone itself. Without this toggle activated, the phone ignores roaming networks even if your operator has already authorized the service.
On Android: Settings → Mobile Networks (or Connections) → Data Roaming → Turn On.
On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Data Roaming → Turn On.
This step often causes confusion because the name changes depending on the manufacturer and operating system version: on some devices, it appears as "data roaming," on others as "data roaming" or "international roaming." If you can't find it, directly search for "roaming" in your phone's settings search bar.
If you are going to use an eSIM in addition to or instead of your Claro line, first check if your device is compatible: not all models, even recent ones, support this technology. You can check the list of eSIM-compatible phones before deciding.
What Claro Peru's international roaming packages include
Claro Peru usually offers different international roaming options: packages by days, packages by data amount, and a pay-per-use rate outside these packages. The exact amounts, country coverage, and conditions change frequently and vary depending on the plan type (prepaid, postpaid, or corporate), so the safest bet is to confirm them directly in the Mi Claro app or with customer service before traveling, rather than relying on what you might have read a few months ago.
Before purchasing any package, it's advisable to ask specifically:
- Does the package cover only data, or also calls and messages?
- What happens if I run out of data in the package: is the service cut off or is there an additional charge for consumption?
- Is the package valid for the exact country I'm going to, or only for a region?
- Does it activate automatically upon arrival or do I need to turn it on manually?
These four questions help prevent most unexpected roaming charges, which often arise not because the service fails, but because the purchased package doesn't cover exactly what the traveler assumed it would.
Common problems when activating Claro roaming (and how to solve them)
These are the most common problems when trying to activate or use Claro Peru roaming, and a practical solution for each:
| Problem | Probable cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I activated roaming in the app but have no signal upon arrival | The phone did not register with a visited network, or the phone's roaming toggle is still off | Check your phone settings (see previous section) and restart the device by turning airplane mode on and off |
| I was charged more than expected | The purchased package ran out and consumption switched to pay-per-use rate | Confirm your package status with Claro and disable mobile data as soon as it runs out if you don't want to keep consuming |
| The app doesn't let me activate roaming | Outstanding debt, restricted plan, or line in a third party's name | Contact customer service or go to a Claro office with your identification document |
| I have signal but it's very slow | Limited coverage from the roaming partner in that specific area (often happens in rural or remote areas) | Check if an alternative network is available in settings or consider a local eSIM for that area |
If the problem persists after checking these points, it may no longer be something you can control: this is where many travelers opt for an alternative solution instead of continuing to struggle with their operator's configuration. You can review more cases in our guide to common eSIM problems, also useful for comparing how different the process is compared to traditional roaming.
Claro Peru Roaming vs. Data eSIM: comparative table
Before deciding how you're going to get data on your next trip, it's worth comparing your operator's roaming with a dedicated data eSIM. It's not that one is "better" in all cases: it depends on how much you travel, to how many countries, and how much control you want over your spending.
| Aspect | Claro Peru Roaming | Data eSIM (PuraSIM) |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Requires prior management with the operator (app, call, or office) | Activation in approximately 1 minute once installed |
| Coverage | Depends on Claro's roaming agreements with local operators in each country | Available in over 200 destinations |
| Keep your number | Yes, it's your same Claro Peru line | Yes, the eSIM is for data only; your original line remains active for calls/SMS |
| Expiration | Depends on the contracted package and your Claro plan | 180 days to activate from purchase |
| Support if something fails | Claro customer service (operator's own channels and hours) | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
If you want to delve deeper into the technical differences between both technologies, we have a dedicated comparison in eSIM vs. roaming. And if your operator is not Claro but another, the activation process changes quite a bit: for example, this is how it's done with WOM roaming.
What to do if roaming doesn't connect upon arrival at your destination
You've arrived, activated everything above, and still have no data signal. Before assuming that roaming "doesn't work," try these steps in order:
- Toggle airplane mode on and off (this forces the phone to search for a network from scratch).
- Confirm that the phone's roaming toggle is on, not just Claro's (see phone settings).
- Check if your device allows manual network selection: in areas with multiple local operators, the phone sometimes gets "stuck" searching for a network that doesn't have a good signal there, instead of jumping to another available one. Forcing manual selection and choosing another network usually resolves it in seconds.
- Restart your phone completely, not just airplane mode.
- If none of this works, contact Claro: it could be an activation issue that wasn't processed on their end.
A fact few people know: registration on a roaming network is not instantaneous or automatic just by activating the service with your operator. The phone has to negotiate on its own with the visited network upon arrival, and if you disabled mobile data before leaving Peru, it's common for the device to keep "searching" for the last network it used instead of the new one. That's why forcing manual network selection (instead of leaving it on automatic) usually unblocks the connection faster than waiting.
If after trying all this you still have no data, or you simply prefer not to rely on roaming working well every time you cross a border, installing a data eSIM before your next trip avoids this kind of friction completely: you activate it before leaving and it doesn't depend on your local operator's management.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claro Peru roaming work in all countries?
It works in countries where Claro has roaming agreements with a local operator. Coverage and conditions change depending on the destination, so it's advisable to confirm with Claro if your specific destination is covered before traveling.
Can I activate roaming on the same day of the flight?
In many cases, yes, but it's not ideal: activation isn't always reflected immediately in the system. Doing it at least one day in advance reduces the risk of arriving without service.
What happens if I don't activate roaming before traveling?
Your phone will not have mobile data or be able to make or receive calls over the cellular network at your destination until you activate the service, either before leaving or, if your operator allows it, by contacting them remotely while you are there.
Does roaming consume data from my normal plan or is it charged separately?
It depends on the type of package you purchase. Some roaming packages are independent of your local plan; in other cases, if you don't purchase anything and use the service on a consumption basis, it's charged separately at the pay-per-use rate. Confirm this with Claro before using data abroad to avoid surprises.
How do I deactivate roaming when I return to Peru?
You can turn off the "data roaming" or "roaming data" toggle in your phone's settings as soon as you land, and if you purchased a package with Claro, check in the app or with customer service if it needs to be manually canceled or if it expires on its own.
Does a data eSIM completely replace my operator's roaming?
It replaces the mobile data part for browsing, using maps, and social networks. Your Claro Peru line remains active for calls and SMS with your same number, so many travelers use both in parallel: the eSIM for data and their original line for everything else.
Do I need a special phone to use an eSIM instead of roaming?
You need a device that is compatible with eSIM, which is already built into a good portion of mid-range and high-end phones from recent years. Before buying one, check the list of compatible models to confirm yours.
Conclusion
Activating roaming on your Claro Peru line is, in most cases, a matter of a few minutes through the Mi Claro app, by phone, or in an office, plus the final step of turning on the roaming option in your phone's settings. The most common mistake isn't forgetting to activate it, but assuming that "activated with the operator" is the same as "working on the phone": check both sides before assuming something went wrong.
If, after following these steps, roaming still isn't connecting properly, coverage is poor at your destination, or you're simply tired of relying on your operator's management every time you travel, the practical alternative is to install a dedicated data eSIM for your trip: it activates in approximately 1 minute, is available in over 200 destinations, and if something doesn't work, you have 24/7 support via email and WhatsApp instead of waiting on an operator's customer service line. And if your next trip is to Peru—or you'll be staying for a long time and prefer to have data ready as soon as you land without struggling with your home operator's roaming—you can check out the data eSIM for Peru before you leave.
For a more complete overview of how to plan your data for your entire itinerary, including the difference between eSIM and physical SIM, the definitive guide to eSIM for travel is a good next step.
