Travelling outside the EU with a plan from Bulgaria: how do I avoid a huge roaming bill?
Outside the EU/EEA, roaming prices are not regulated and can be high, especially for data. Bulgaria's non-EU neighbours North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey have high roaming prices, so near the border your phone may join a foreign network without you noticing.
Outside the EU and EEA, roaming can be very expensive, especially mobile data. Protections such as a spending limit and warning messages exist in some places; what applies with a plan from Bulgaria is below.
📜 The rules in Bulgaria
The details
- In border areas and high mountains, select your Bulgarian network manually. CRC's free Roaming Protect BG app alerts you when you connect to a foreign network you blocked and maps risk areas at roaming.crc.bg. (crc.bg)
- The data-roaming cost limit (by default up to €50 a month excluding VAT, alert at 80%) also applies outside the EU. If the foreign network does not report use in real time, alerts may come late, so your provider must warn you on arrival. (crc.bg)
- In non-EU countries choose your provider's recommended network to pay less, and switch off mobile data manually before you reach the border. (crc.bg)
- If you do not use mobile internet, ask your provider to deactivate mobile data on your number: it must do so free of charge within one working day, unless data is part of your package. (crc.bg)
Комисия за регулиране на съобщенията (КРС)
Takes written complaints about breaches of the Electronic Communications Act (online form, post or in person) and gives advice on its consumer hotline. It decides within 30 days, or up to 2 months if more evidence is needed.
🪜 Step by step
- Check the prices before you goLook up your operator’s rates for the country you are visiting, or buy a travel add-on.
- Keep the spending limit onIf your operator offers a data spending limit, leave it on. It stops data use before the bill runs away.
- Switch off data roaming when you do not need itApps update in the background. Use Wi‑Fi and switch off data roaming in your phone’s settings.
- Consider a local SIM or eSIMFor longer trips, a local or travel SIM is often much cheaper.
📇 Who to contact
Sponsor this page → One labelled block, €100 a month. Founding price €75 until 31 January 2027.
❓ Questions
What happens when I reach the spending limit?
Where a limit applies, data stops or you are asked whether you want to continue. You decide whether to go on.
Do ships and planes count as abroad?
Networks on ships and planes often run via satellite, are not covered by the usual roaming rules and can be very expensive.
Can I dispute a huge roaming bill?
Yes. Complain to the operator first, then go to the dispute body if you cannot agree.
📎 Sources
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