How to Create an abv.bg Account Without a Phone Number

You can sometimes register an abv.bg address without typing in a phone number, but it depends on what the signup form asks for at the moment you try. The phone field is often optional on the first screen, then the service may ask for an SMS code before it finishes creating the mailbox. There's no trick that removes that step if abv.bg decides to enforce it.

This guide is for people who don't have a Bulgarian number, don't want to hand over their personal one, or simply can't receive texts right now. We'll cover what to try first, what the +359 format looks like, and where people get stuck.

What abv.bg asks for when you sign up

abv.bg is one of Bulgaria's oldest free email services, and a lot of people there still use it for banking notices, school portals and job applications. That's why you'll sometimes need one even if you live abroad.

The registration form typically asks for a username, a password, your name and a few personal details. A mobile number and an alternative email are usually presented as recovery options. Whether they're mandatory can shift depending on your location, device, and how the system rates your signup attempt. We can't promise what you'll see today, and no guide can.

The reason for the phone request is ordinary. Free mail providers get hammered by bot signups, and an SMS code is the cheapest filter. A recovery number also helps the real owner get back in after a forgotten password.

Things to try before you look for another number

Start simple. Many "phone required" situations are really "this attempt looked suspicious" situations.

1. Leave the phone field blank and see whether the form lets you submit. Add an alternative email address instead if there's a spot for it.
2. Use your normal home connection, not a VPN or a public Wi-Fi network. Shared and masked IP addresses are a common reason for extra checks.
3. Try a regular browser window with extensions off. Aggressive privacy extensions can break the verification script.
4. Pick a less common username. If you've retried five times with variations of "ivan.petrov", the system may be treating you as a repeat attempt.
5. Wait a few hours before trying again rather than hammering the form.

If all that still ends at an SMS screen, the phone is required for this attempt. Moving on is better than looping.

Bulgarian number format: get this right first

Bulgaria's country code is +359. Mobile numbers have nine digits after the code, and they start with 8 or 9 in the national format (for example the 87, 88, 89 and 98 ranges). When someone dials locally, they add a leading zero. When you enter the number internationally, you drop it.

The mixed version is the mistake we see most. People copy a local number from a business card, paste it after +359 and keep the zero. The form may accept it, then the code simply never comes.

Mobile versus landline

Only mobile numbers receive ordinary SMS. A Sofia number beginning with 02, or any other area-code line, is a landline and won't get a text code. Some services offer a voice call fallback, but don't count on abv.bg doing so; if you only see an SMS option, a landline is a dead end.

Prepaid and contract mobile numbers behave the same way for this purpose. What matters is that the SIM is active and has signal or roaming.

How Bulgarian carriers handle verification texts

Bulgaria's three main mobile operators are A1, Vivacom and Yettel (formerly Telenor). Each delivers standard application-to-person SMS like any other European network. Nothing special is needed on a local SIM, and codes normally arrive within seconds to a minute or two.

Where problems appear is roaming. If your Bulgarian SIM is abroad with data roaming off or a spend cap on, incoming texts can still be delayed. Check that the phone is registered on a network, restart it, and request the code again rather than waiting ten minutes. We won't claim anything more specific about each operator's filtering, because it isn't something they publish.

Realistic situations where people need this

The common ones are legitimate and boring. A Bulgarian expatriate who lost their old SIM but needs the mailbox for an official email. A foreign student applying to a Bulgarian university that insists on an abv.bg address. A freelancer who wants a separate inbox and doesn't want their personal number tied to it.

In the last case, a dedicated rented number can make sense. For users who want a paid private option instead of a public inbox, PVACodes offers rental numbers for many countries and apps, though availability for any given service varies. The same approach comes up for other accounts too, and our guides on creating a PayPal account without a phone number and verifying OpenAI without your own number explain how those checks behave.

One honest limitation: a virtual number isn't guaranteed to work. Email providers often flag VoIP (voice over internet protocol) ranges more strictly than real SIM numbers, and a rejected number means you've spent time for nothing. Free public inbox sites are worse, since hundreds of people have already used those numbers and the service may refuse them as "already in use."

Scams and mistakes to avoid

Searching this topic brings out a lot of junk. Watch for these:

• Sites selling "ready-made abv.bg accounts." You get a mailbox someone else can recover, and bulk-created accounts tend to get locked.
• "Phone verification bypass" tools or downloads. They don't work, and they're a common way to spread malware.
• Anyone asking you to send them the SMS code you receive. That code gives access to your account, so treat it like a password.
• Fake abv.bg login pages reached through ads. Type the address yourself and check the URL before entering your password.

Also, don't use a throwaway number for a mailbox you plan to keep for years. If the account is ever locked, the recovery text goes to a number you no longer control. For anything important, add a real backup email and write down your recovery details.

Frequently asked questions

Is a phone number mandatory for abv.bg?

Not always. The field is often presented as optional, but the site can ask for SMS confirmation depending on your connection and signup behavior. What you see on the live form is the only reliable answer.

Can I use an alternative email instead of a phone number?

Often you can add one as a recovery contact, which helps if you forget your password. It may not replace the SMS check if the system requires one for your signup.

Why isn't my Bulgarian verification code arriving?

The usual cause is a wrongly typed number, especially an extra zero after +359. Other causes are a landline, a phone with no signal, or roaming restrictions. Fix the format, then request a new code once.

Does abv.bg accept foreign phone numbers?

It may, but we can't confirm it for every country. Try your number in full international format. If it's rejected, a Bulgarian mobile number is the safer choice.

Can I use a landline?

Not for a text code. Landlines can't receive standard SMS, so the code will never show up, regardless of how many times you resend.

Will a virtual number work?

Sometimes. Providers can reject numbers they recognize as internet-based, so there's no guarantee. If you try one, use a private rental rather than a shared public number.

Is it legal to register without my own number?

Yes, using an optional field or a legitimately rented number for your own account is fine. Creating many accounts, or hiding abuse, is against the service's terms.

How can I recover the account later if I used no phone?

You'll depend on your backup email and security answers, if set. Without any recovery method, a forgotten password can mean permanent loss, so set one up straight away.

Is abv.bg free?

Yes, the standard mailbox is free. Be cautious of any site charging for access to one.

What if the form keeps saying too many attempts?

Stop and wait several hours, switch off any VPN, and retry from your usual network. Repeated submissions usually make the block last longer.

Which route to take

Try the blank-phone signup first with a clean connection and a backup email, and use your own Bulgarian mobile if the site insists on a code. A rented number is a fallback for people who truly have no other option, and you should skip it if the mailbox matters long term, since recovery will depend on a number you may lose. Your next step: open the registration page now, leave the phone field empty, and see what it says before you spend anything.

Reviewed by the PVACodes SMS verification team. Updated June 2025.

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