SIM & Internet in Bulgaria: what actually matters to know
Real experience of people from chats on «SIM & Internet» in Bulgaria — as it is, no fluff. For your case — ask Luky.
From real experience
Registration for the 'Maks' service (or similar applications with regional phone number restrictions) is not possible if using a Bulgarian phone number.
For internet access in Bulgaria for a two-month stay, consider these options: 1. Bring a router from Russia and purchase a local prepaid SIM card. 2. Use a Turkish prepaid SIM card. 3. Explore Bulgarian unlimited data plans (e.g., 30 Mbps for ~12 EUR/month with the possibility of pausing service).
To minimize roaming costs in Bulgaria for Russian SIM cards, utilize VoWiFi services. With MTS, for instance, incoming calls and SMS via VoWiFi are free if the phone is not connected to cellular roaming. Alternatively, purchasing a local Bulgarian SIM (e.g., Vivacom) or using e-SIM data-only services is recommended for cost-effective internet access.
Bulgarian Schengen visa processing currently takes 45-50 working days. Status tracking on the VFS Global website is prone to errors; users report success by switching browsers, devices, or refreshing until the system responds. SMS notification policies vary by region (e.g., St. Petersburg vs. Moscow centers) and are not always reliable.
To resolve MTS roaming issues in Bulgaria: 1. Manually select a local network in phone settings. 2. Switch network preference from LTE to 2G/3G, as LTE may cause registration errors. 3. Ensure roaming is enabled via the carrier's support or personal account. 4. Use VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) as a fallback for receiving bank SMS and making calls without needing cellular roaming.
For tourists in Bulgaria needing voice calls (e.g., for local taxis), avoid carrier retail stores if they push contracts. Prepaid SIM cards sold in small independent kiosks are often more accessible and don't require residence permits. When topping up online (e.g., via ePay.bg), note that minimum thresholds may apply to activate voice minutes.
To activate an A1 SIM card purchased in Bulgaria but not yet activated locally, it is generally not possible to do so remotely from Russia if SMS services are not working. Activation typically requires being in Bulgaria. Attempting activation in a country where A1 also operates, such as Belarus, may also not be successful if the SIM is region-locked or requires local presence. Contacting A1 support via email to inquire about roaming activation might be an option.
Bulgarian SIM cards (like Vivacom) may have a 24-hour 'cooling-off' period after international travel, phone resets, or crossing regional borders within Russia, during which they are blocked. To avoid this, keep the SIM card in your device and powered on. International calls from a Bulgarian SIM card in roaming are expensive; using messaging apps is recommended for communication.