Do I pay extra to use my phone in other EU countries with a plan from Bulgaria?
In the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, calls, texts and mobile data cost the same as in Bulgaria ('roam like at home') if you stay within your provider's fair-use policy. Switzerland and the UK are not covered (Regulation (EU) 2022/612).
With a plan from an operator in the EU or EEA, calls, texts and data in other EU and EEA countries are generally charged as at home, within fair-use limits. Other rules apply to plans from other countries; what applies with a plan from Bulgaria is below.
📜 The rules in Bulgaria
The details
- In roaming, calls and texts come out of your allowance for other Bulgarian networks, not your own-network minutes; without such an allowance you pay the national price for calls to other networks. (crc.bg)
- The EU's Your Europe portal lists Moldova and Ukraine as also covered by roam like at home. (europa.eu)
- Your provider may check your use over at least four months. If you were mostly abroad and used mostly roaming, it must warn you and give you at least two weeks to change before adding a surcharge. (crc.bg)
- If you were charged surcharges where roam like at home should apply, dispute them with your provider under its fair-use procedure; you can turn to CRC at any time. (crc.bg)
- On ships and planes the home price does not apply: their networks cost much more. (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 your plan before you travelSee which countries your plan treats like home and whether it has a separate data allowance abroad.
- Read the welcome messageWhen you arrive, your operator usually sends a message with the prices and limits that apply.
- Watch the fair-use limitUnlimited or very large data plans can have a smaller allowance abroad. Above it, a surcharge can apply.
- Take care on ships, planes and near bordersThere your phone can connect to a network outside the usual roaming rules. Switch off roaming or use flight mode when in doubt.
📇 Who to contact
Sponsor this page → One labelled block, €100 a month. Founding price €75 until 31 January 2027.
❓ Questions
What does fair use mean?
Operators may limit roaming at home prices to normal travel, not living abroad for good, and may cap data abroad on very large plans.
Which countries count as home?
That depends on your plan and on where your operator is based. The rules for Bulgaria are on this page.
Are calls back home free?
Calls home usually cost the same as at home when roaming at home prices applies. Calls to other countries can cost extra.
📎 Sources
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