How to Keep Your Streaming Subscriptions Working While Traveling Abroad

If you are an EU resident, the EU Cross-Border Portability Regulation gives you a legal right to access your streaming subscriptions in any EU member state while traveling. This regulation, in effect since April 2018, requires streaming services to provide EU subscribers access to their home country subscription and content catalog when they are temporarily in another EU country.

What this means in practice: a French Netflix subscriber traveling to Germany sees the French Netflix catalog, not the German one. A Spanish Disney+ subscriber in Italy still has access to everything on their Spanish Disney+ plan. You do not need a VPN to make this work — the service is legally required to provide access.

What counts as "temporarily": The regulation does not define a specific number of days. Streaming services implement this differently. Netflix generally applies portability for stays of up to a few months. Disney+ applies it for stays up to 30 days before switching to the local catalog. Apple TV+ applies it broadly. If you are relocating permanently (not traveling), portability does not apply — you are expected to update your account country.

Services covered: Any streaming service that operates in the EU and offers paid subscriptions is required to comply. This includes Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Max, Paramount+, and Spotify. Free services (YouTube, Tubi) are not covered by the portability regulation, though many work globally anyway.

UK note: After Brexit, the UK no longer participates in EU portability regulation. UK Netflix subscribers traveling in the EU see the local EU catalog, not their UK catalog. EU residents traveling to the UK similarly lose EU portability protections.

Here is the practical reality for each major service when you travel outside your home country:

Netflix: Works in 190+ countries. When you arrive in a new country, Netflix switches to showing the local catalog. The library differs significantly — the US has the largest catalog, while some countries have much smaller selections. EU portability applies for EU residents traveling within the EU. Downloaded content is accessible regardless of location.

Disney+: Available in most countries. The app detects your location and switches to the local catalog after 30 days (EU portability applies within the first 30 days for EU residents). Outside the EU, you will see the local catalog immediately.

Apple TV+: The most consistent global experience. Apple TV+ has a single, uniform content catalog worldwide — there is no regional difference in the library. Works the same in every country where Apple TV+ is available.

Amazon Prime Video: Available broadly but with regional catalog differences. The Prime Video app works internationally; the catalog and local Prime benefits (free shipping) are country-specific. EU portability applies for EU residents.

Hulu: US-only. The Hulu app and website return an error outside the United States. Download content before leaving the US.

Peacock: US-only. Same situation as Hulu — does not function outside the US.

ESPN+: US-only. Blocked outside the United States.

Max: Available in the US and select international markets, but US subscribers cannot access Max outside the US (the service is geographically restricted to the subscribed territory). Some international Max markets exist but are not accessible on a US account.

BBC iPlayer: UK residents and license fee payers only. Not accessible outside the UK without a VPN (against BBC ToS but not illegal in most countries).

Paramount+ (US): US-only for US subscribers. Separate Paramount+ services exist in other markets (UK, Australia) but are separate products with separate subscriptions.

Downloading content before you travel is the most reliable way to watch what you want regardless of geo-restrictions, connectivity, or catalog differences. It works on flights, in hotels with poor Wi-Fi, and in countries where a service is blocked entirely.

How to download on each platform:

• Netflix: Look for the download icon (downward arrow) on any title. Available on iOS, Android, and the Windows app. Not available on browsers. Netflix limits the number of downloads by plan (Standard allows 30 downloads, Premium allows 100). Downloads expire after a set period (typically 7-30 days, depending on the title's license).
• Disney+: Download button available on iOS and Android. No browser downloads. Downloads are available for most (not all) titles.
• Amazon Prime Video: One of the most download-friendly services. Downloads available on iOS, Android, Fire tablets, and Windows. Some titles allow up to 25 downloads. Downloads include Amazon Originals and most licensed content.
• Apple TV+: Download button in the Apple TV app on iOS, iPadOS, and Mac. All Apple TV+ Originals are available for download. No expiry pressure — downloads stay accessible as long as your subscription is active.
• Hulu: Downloads available only on the Hulu (No Ads) plan, not the ad-supported plan. Available on iOS and Android. Limited title selection compared to Netflix.
• Max: Downloads on iOS and Android. Available for most Max Originals and HBO content.

Storage planning: A 1-hour episode in standard definition uses approximately 250-500MB. In HD (1080p), plan for 1-3GB per hour. A 10-hour trip might require 10-30GB of storage for HD content. Check your device storage before downloading and use a microSD card (Android) or offload other apps if needed.

Some travel destinations create more streaming complications than others:

Within the EU (for EU residents): The best-case scenario for travelers. EU portability means all major services show your home catalog. No action required beyond ensuring your home country is set correctly in each streaming account.

UK (for non-UK travelers): US and EU subscribers will find that Hulu, Peacock, ESPN+, and US Paramount+ do not work at all. Netflix and Apple TV+ work but with UK catalogs. BBC iPlayer requires a UK TV license and is blocked for overseas access. UK-exclusive streaming services (ITVX, Channel 4, BBC iPlayer) are technically inaccessible without a VPN.

Asia (Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand): Netflix, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video work. Disney+ works in most Asian markets. Hulu, Peacock, and Max do not work for US subscribers. Japan has a separate Hulu service (owned by HJ Holdings, unrelated to US Hulu) that requires a Japanese account.

Middle East and Gulf states: Streaming availability is patchier. Netflix and Apple TV+ work broadly. Disney+ is available in select GCC countries. Content available in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar is frequently edited or restricted compared to Western catalogs — some titles are simply absent. VPN use is restricted in the UAE.

China: Most Western streaming services are blocked by the Great Firewall, including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and most Google services. VPN use is legally restricted. Streaming in China means using local platforms (iQiyi, Youku, Tencent Video) or relying on downloaded content.

Before leaving for international travel, run through this checklist to avoid arriving somewhere with nothing to watch:

1. Confirm which services work in your destination. Check the streaming service's help center for a list of supported countries. Netflix lists available countries at help.netflix.com/en/node/14164.
2. Download 15-20 hours of content on Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ before leaving. Focus on shows you have been meaning to watch — travel is the best time for content you would not otherwise prioritize.
3. If you have Hulu, Peacock, or ESPN+ and plan to be away more than a few days, pause or cancel them rather than paying for services you cannot use. Hulu allows pauses of 1-12 weeks.
4. Enable offline access on your device. Test that downloads play without an internet connection before you leave home — some DRM issues only surface offline.
5. EU residents: verify your account country is set correctly on each streaming service. EU portability only applies to your registered home country catalog. If Netflix thinks you are a German subscriber and you are traveling to France as a German resident, you should see the German catalog.
6. Check your hotel or accommodation Wi-Fi quality in reviews before booking if streaming matters to you. Many hotel Wi-Fi networks are too slow for 4K and sometimes too slow for HD.
7. If you are planning to use a VPN: set it up and test it before traveling. Configuring a VPN in a hotel room with unfamiliar network settings is more difficult than doing it at home. Make sure the VPN app is installed and your account is active.