Bulgaria Country Code +359
De internationale landcode voor Bulgaria is +359. Bulgaria uses an open nummerplan met een stamvoorvoegsel 0, variable-length area codes (1–4 digits) and 8-digit geographic numbers. Mobile numbers have 9 cijfers after the leading 0, so a typical Sofia landline appears as +359 2 912 3456 en een mobiel als +359 88 712 3456.
Inside Bulgaria, callers usually dial the full national number starting with 0: 0 + area code + subscriber number, even for many calls within the same region. From abroad, you verwijder de 0 and dial your international access code, then 359 + area code + local number.
Op deze pagina wordt uitgelegd hoe Bulgarian phone numbers zijn gestructureerd, hoe call Bulgaria (+359) uit het buitenland, hoe Eastern European Time (EET/EEST) affects meeting times, and which emergency numbers (112, 150, 160, 166) matter when working with partners in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and beyond.
Voorbeeld vaste lijn (intl.)
+359 2 912 3456
Sofia fixed line: country code +359, area code 2, 7-digit subscriber.
Voorbeeld mobiel
+359 88 712 3456
Bulgarian mobiles commonly use 08X prefixes (e.g. 87, 88, 89) followed by 7 digits.
Tijd- en zomertijd
EET (UTC+2) · EEST (UTC+3)
Bulgaria uses Eastern European Time with EU-style daylight saving (summer: UTC+3, winter: UTC+2).
Overview – where +359 is used
De landcode +359 wordt uitsluitend gebruikt in Bulgaria, a EU member state in Southeast Europe. You will see +359 numbers on industrial suppliers in Sofia and Plovdiv, ports and logistics operators in Varna and Burgas, IT and outsourcing hubs spread across the country, and a growing tourism sector from the Black Sea coast to the ski resorts.
Bulgaria’s nationaal nummerplan is managed by the Communications Regulation Commission. Geographic numbers combine a variable-length area code (1–4 digits) with a subscriber number so that the full national significant number for fixed lines is always 8 cijfers. Mobile numbers follow dedicated 08X prefixes and have 9 cijfers after the leading 0.
Het stamvoorvoegsel 0 is used on domestic calls and dropped on international calls. For example, a Sofia line written locally as 02 912 3456 wordt +359 2 912 3456 from abroad. Getting this right is important for validation, CRM storage, call center systems and any application that uses automatic number formatting.
Typical +359 use cases in business & travel
- Productie & logistiek – automotive parts, electronics and warehousing around Sofia, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora with +359 landlines and mobiles.
- IT, BPO & shared services – outsourcing centres serving Western Europe and North America, often reachable primarily via mobiles and VoIP.
- Tourism & real estate – hotels, landlords and agents on the Black Sea coast, ski resorts and spa towns using +359 as primary contact numbers.
For international users, the safest approach is to always store a Bulgarian number in full +359 format, never beginning with 0.
Bulgaria phone number formats (+359)
Pattern: +359 A…A XXXXXXX (8 digits fixed) / +359 8X XXXXXXX (mobile)Bulgarian phone numbers are composed of a country code (+359), followed by the nationaal significant getal (NSN). For geographic numbers, the NSN has 8 cijfers; for mobile and some non-geographic services, it can be longer, typically 9 cijfers after the leading 0 in national format.
- • Vaste lijnen (geografisch): (0A) XXX XXXX of (0AA) XX XXXX so that the total digits after the 0 are 8. Example Sofia: 02 912 3456 → +359 2 912 3456.
- • Example formats: (02) XXX XXXX (Sofia), (032) XX XXXX (Plovdiv), (052) XX XXXX (Varna).
- • Mobiele nummers: typisch 08X XXX XXXX in national format – 0 + 2-digit operator code + 7-digit subscriber. Internationally: +359 8X XXX XXXX.
- • Shortcodes & speciale diensten: 3-cijferige codes zoals 112, 150, 160, 166 are reserved for emergencies and utilities.
When cleaning imported data, remove spaces, dashes and brackets, convert any leading 00 359 naar +359, and drop the national 0 only when you add the +359 prefix.
Sample Bulgarian numbers
Alleen ter illustratieLokaal formaat 02 912 3456 – area code 2, subscriber 912 3456.
Example with area code 32 (Plovdiv): 0 32 612 345 → +359 32 612 345.
Mobile with operator code 89. National format: 089 712 3456.
How to dial Bulgaria (+359)
1. Uit de VS of Canada
To call Bulgaria from North America, use exit code 011, Dan 359, then the area/mobile code and subscriber number without the leading 0.
- Wijzerplaat 011 – Uitgangscode VS/Canada.
- Wijzerplaat 359 – Bulgaria country code.
- Bel de area or mobile prefix without 0 (e.g. 2, 32, 88).
- Bel de abonneenummer.
Example (New York → Sofia fixed line 02 912 3456): 011 359 2 912 3456.
2. Uit Groot-Brittannië, de EU of de meeste andere landen
In het grootste deel van Europa, Azië en Afrika is het internationale voorvoegsel 00. The rest of the sequence is the same: 00 + 359 + national number without the leading 0.
- Wijzerplaat 00 – internationale toegangscode.
- Wijzerplaat 359 – Bulgaria country code.
- Bel de area or mobile prefix without 0.
- Bel de abonneenummer.
Example (London → mobile 088 712 3456): 00359 88 712 3456.
3. Dialing within Bulgaria
- National calls (recommended): wijzerplaat 0 + area or mobile code + subscriber number (e.g. 02 912 3456, 088 712 3456).
- International from Bulgaria: 00 + foreign country code + number (without that country’s trunk 0).
- Korte codes: 112, 150, 160, 166 and other 1XX services are dialed without any prefix.
Example (Sofia → Varna fixed line 052 612 345): 052 612 345.
Normalisatietip: if a Bulgarian number starts with 0, strip that 0 and prepend +359 to create its international form. If it already starts with +359, keep it as is.
Time in Bulgaria – Eastern European Time (EET/EEST)
Bulgaria uses Oost-Europese tijd (EET) as its standard time zone, which is UTC+2. Like many EU countries, it observes daylight saving time, switching to Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) during the summer months.
Most of the year, Bulgaria is typically 1 hour ahead of Central Europe (CET) En 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in winter (6 hours ahead during US daylight saving). This makes morning hours in Sofia the best time for same-day calls with Asia, while late afternoon slots work better for Western Europe and the Americas.
In scheduling tools, use the specific zone Europe/Sofia rather than a generic UTC offset so that clock changes at the end of March and October are handled correctly.
Bulgaria vs other major time zones
| Stad/regio | Tijdzone | Offset vs Sofia (winter) |
|---|---|---|
| Sofia | EET (UTC+2) | Referentie |
| Berlin / Paris | CET (UTC+1) | −1 uur |
| Londen | GMT (UTC+0) | −2 uur |
| New York | ET (UTC−5, standard) | −7 uur |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | +6 hours |
When Europe switches between EET and EEST, the time difference to regions without daylight saving (e.g. parts of Asia) will change, even though those regions keep a constant UTC offset.
Emergency numbers in Bulgaria
Bulgaria uses the Europees alarmnummer 112 as its primary contact point for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire). Legacy national numbers – 150 for ambulance, 160 voor brandweer en 166 for police – are still widely documented and may continue to work in parallel, but 112 is the recommended number for locals and visitors.
Alle noodgevallen
112
The unified European emergency number for any urgent situation (police, ambulance or fire). Operators are typically able to assist in Bulgarian and other major European languages.
Ambulance
150
Legacy direct number for medical emergencies. 112 is still preferred, but 150 may be routed to the same dispatch in many areas.
Brandweer
160
Traditional fire service number. For simplicity, visitors can use 112 for fire and rescue incidents as well.
Politie
166
Direct police number. In practice, 112 is the single best number to remember; operators can route your call to the correct service.
Some mobile phones may redirect 911 or 999 to 112, but this behaviour is not guaranteed. Always save 112 as the primary emergency contact when traveling in Bulgaria or elsewhere in the EU.
Examples: calling +359 numbers
US (Chicago) → Sofia office (fixed)
Kantoornummer lokaal weergegeven als: 02 912 3456.
- Strip formatting, keep digits: 029123456.
- Remove the national trunk 0 → 2 9123456.
- Vanuit de VS belt u: 011 359 2 912 3456.
Resultaat: 011 359 2 912 3456
UK (London) → Bulgarian mobile
Mobiel vermeld als: +359 88 712 3456.
- Keep as is (already in full E.164 format).
- From the UK, dial: 00359 88 712 3456.
Mobile calls to Bulgaria always use the 8X mobile prefix after +359.
Sofia → Varna office (domestic fixed)
Varna office number: 052 612 345.
- From Sofia, dial the full national number with trunk 0.
- Full dial string: 052 612 345.
Internationale bellers gebruiken: +359 52 612 345.
Bulgaria country code +359 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Bulgaria phone number?
A typical Bulgarian geographic (fixed line) number has 8 cijfers in the national significant part (area code + subscriber). Mobile numbers generally have 9 digits after the leading 0, using 08X prefixes plus a 7-digit subscriber.
Do I dial the 0 when calling Bulgaria from abroad?
Nee. De 0 is een nationaal trunkvoorvoegsel used only inside Bulgaria. When dialing internationally, remove the 0 and dial +359 followed by the rest of the number (for example, 02 912 3456 → +359 2 912 3456).
Does Bulgaria still use area codes?
Yes. Bulgaria has geografische netnummers zoals 2 for Sofia, 32 for Plovdiv, 52 for Varna and others. The area code plus subscriber number always totals 8 digits for fixed lines; mobiles use non-geographic 08X prefixes.
What emergency number should I use in Bulgaria?
The recommended number is 112, which connects you to a central European emergency service that can dispatch police, ambulance or fire. Older numbers – 150 (ambulance), 160 (fire), 166 (police) – may still function but 112 is the one most visitors are advised to remember.
Does Bulgaria observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Bulgaria switches between EET (UTC+2) in de winter en VOOR (UTC+3) in summer, following the European Union’s daylight saving schedule (clock changes around late March and late October).
Are Bulgarian mobiles used for WhatsApp and other apps?
In most cases, yes. People and businesses in Bulgaria usually register WhatsApp, Viber and other messaging apps with their normal mobile number in full +359 8X XXX XXXX format. Ensure your systems store the +359 version to avoid delivery issues.
Download the Bulgaria (+359) dialing & time zone cheat sheet
Get a one-page summary with Bulgaria’s +359 country code, area codes, landline and mobile formats, EET/EEST time zone and emergency numbers – ideal for sales, support and logistics teams working with Bulgarian contacts.