Can You Watch Now TV Abroad? Fix the Block in 2 Minutes (2026)

Can you watch Now TV abroad? Not on its own. Now TV, Sky’s streaming service, only works in the UK and Ireland, and the moment your connection comes from Spain, Dubai or Australia it shows a “not available in your country” message. Your Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and Sky Atlantic passes stop working, even though you are still paying for them.

The fix takes two minutes. Connect a VPN to a UK server and Now TV sees a UK connection, so the app, the website and live Sky Sports load as normal. We tested our recommended providers from Spain, Australia and the UAE in September 2026, and each one streamed Now TV without buffering.

🏆 Most Trusted Fix for Now TV Abroad

Connect NordVPN to a London server and your Now TV passes play again: Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and Sky Atlantic, live and on demand.

✓ NOW plays abroad in about 2 minutes on your phone, laptop or TV. Easy steps, no technical skills needed.

✓ It's how British expats living abroad watch NOW.

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How to Watch Now TV Abroad: 4 Steps

Get NordVPN or Surfshark. Both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and apps for iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Fire TV.
Connect to a UK server. London gives the most consistent results with Now TV.
Open Now TV in the app or at nowtv.com and sign in as normal. The location message is gone.
Keep the VPN on while you watch. Now TV re-checks your location during a stream, so disconnecting stops playback.

Now TV Error Messages Abroad and What They Mean

“This service is not available in your country” or “not available in your region”: Now TV sees a non-UK IP address. Connect to a UK server and reload.

“This service is unavailable in your location” while a VPN is on: the server IP is flagged, or your device is sharing its real location. See the fixes in the next section.

“Now TV app not available in your country or region”: this comes from the App Store or Google Play, not from Now TV. Install the app while you are still in the UK, or change your store account region to the UK.

Now TV VPN Not Working? 6 Fixes That Work

If Now TV still blocks you with a VPN on, one of these almost always solves it:

Switch to another London server. Now TV blocks individual IP addresses, and a fresh server usually works immediately.
Turn off location access for the Now TV app in your phone settings. The app can read GPS on mobile, and a GPS location abroad overrides the UK IP.
Clear the app cache or browser cookies, then reopen Now TV with the VPN already connected.
Use the streaming-optimised protocol: NordLynx on NordVPN or WireGuard on Surfshark. Both are fast and less likely to drop mid-match.
Try a dedicated UK IP. NordVPN offers a fixed UK address that only you use, which Now TV is very unlikely to have flagged.
Avoid free VPNs. Their shared UK addresses are among the first that Now TV blocks.

Best VPNs for Now TV Abroad in 2026

1. NordVPN: Best for Now TV and Live Sky Sports

NordVPN is our first choice for Now TV abroad. Its large UK network always has a working London server, and NordLynx keeps live Premier League and Formula 1 smooth. SmartPlay brings Now TV to smart TVs, and the dedicated IP option is the strongest fix when a server is blocked. 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark: Best Value for a Whole Household

Surfshark is the best value when several people share the Now TV account. One plan covers unlimited devices, so the TV, the tablets and every phone can stream at once. UK servers unlock Now Entertainment, Cinema and Sports, and Smart DNS works on TVs that cannot run a VPN app. Read our Surfshark review.

Watch Now TV Abroad on Every Screen

Surfshark covers unlimited devices with fast UK servers and Smart DNS for TVs.

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30-day money-back guarantee · 87% off + 3 months free

3. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy and Restricted Networks

Proton VPN is the privacy pick, from a Swiss company with an independently audited no-logs policy. Its Stealth protocol works on networks that block VPNs, such as Etisalat and du in the UAE, and its UK servers load Now TV reliably. Read our Proton VPN review.

Does Now TV Work in Your Country?

Spain and Portugal: no. Since Brexit, EU portability rules no longer apply to UK services, so Now TV is blocked. A UK server works on Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, MEO and NOS without any extra settings. See our guides for UK expats in Spain and British expats in Portugal.

France, Greece, Cyprus and Malta: blocked in the same way, and fixed in the same way with a London server.

Ireland: Now TV runs a separate Irish service, so your UK passes do not carry over. A UK server gives you the UK catalogue.

USA and Canada: blocked. A UK server restores access, and North American home broadband handles HD sport easily.

Australia and New Zealand: blocked. The long route to London adds some delay, so choose NordLynx or WireGuard for the smoothest live matches.

Thailand and South Africa: blocked, with no restrictions on VPN use. Connect to London and stream as normal.

UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia: blocked, and local networks also restrict VPN traffic. Use NordVPN with obfuscated servers, or Proton VPN with Stealth, and install it before you travel.

Now TV Abroad on a Smart TV

Most smart TVs cannot run a VPN app. NordVPN SmartPlay and Surfshark Smart DNS change one DNS setting in the TV network menu so the Now TV app sees a UK location, without slowing your stream. On a Fire TV Stick or Android TV you can simply install the VPN app itself.

Why Is Now TV Blocked Abroad?

Now TV streams under Sky’s UK broadcasting licences. Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Sky Atlantic and Hayu are all licensed for UK distribution, so Now TV blocks connections from other countries. The block covers every pass and also new sign-ups from abroad. The official Now TV website confirms the service is for the UK and Ireland only.

Now Sports is the pass most expats miss, with Premier League, Formula 1, cricket, golf and rugby. Now Cinema carries new film releases, Now Entertainment carries Sky Atlantic and HBO drama, and Hayu carries reality TV. A single UK VPN connection unlocks them all.

What Else the Same VPN Fixes

One subscription also unblocks Sky Sports, Sky Go, BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also gets you into accounts that block logins from abroad, such as your NHS login, GOV.UK One Login and health insurance portal.

Watch Now TV Abroad Tonight

Connect to a UK server and your Now TV memberships work as they do at home. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best Overall

NordVPN

Large UK network, fast enough for live Premier League.

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30-day money-back guarantee · 78% off + 3 months free

Best Value

Surfshark

Unlimited devices and Smart DNS for the living-room TV.

Try Surfshark Risk-Free →

30-day money-back guarantee · 87% off + 3 months free

Best Privacy

Proton VPN

Swiss jurisdiction, Stealth protocol, audited no-logs apps.

Try Proton VPN Risk-Free →

30-day money-back guarantee · 70% off

Now TV Abroad: FAQ

Can you watch Now TV abroad?

Not without a UK connection. Now TV only streams in the UK and Ireland, and it blocks other locations. Connect a VPN to a UK server and your memberships play abroad as they do at home.

Why does Now TV say it is not available in my country?

Now TV checks your IP address. Outside the UK it shows a not available in your country or region message. A UK server from NordVPN, Surfshark or Proton VPN gives you a UK address and removes the message.

Why is Now TV not working with my VPN?

Usually the server IP is flagged, your phone location gives you away, or the app cached your real location. Switch to another London server, clear the app cache, turn off location access for Now TV and try again.

Does Now TV work in Spain, Portugal or Greece?

No. EU roaming rules for streaming no longer cover UK services after Brexit, so Now TV is blocked in all three. A UK VPN server fixes it on every major ISP there.

Does Now TV work in the USA or Australia?

Not directly. Both countries are outside the Now TV licence area. With a UK VPN server the app and website work, and live sport streams smoothly on a decent home connection.

Can I download the Now TV app abroad?

Only from a UK App Store or Google Play account. Install the app before you leave the UK, or switch your store region to the UK, then connect the VPN before you open it.

Is it legal to watch Now TV abroad with a VPN?

Using a VPN is legal in the UK, the EU, the USA and Australia. Watching content you pay for through a UK connection may break the Now TV terms of use, but the usual result is a blocked stream, not a penalty.

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Can You Watch Now TV Abroad? Fix the Block and VPN Errors (2026)