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Russian SIM Cards Abroad in any: real experience from chats

From real experience

how-toTo maintain an active Russian SIM card abroad for receiving calls and SMS, consider the following: - **Incoming Calls:** Generally, incoming calls in roaming incur charges (either per call or bundled into a tariff).
They are rarely genuinely free. - **Incoming SMS:** Typically, incoming SMS are free in roaming. - **MTS Tariff 'Налегке':** This zero-monthly-fee tariff can be activated via the personal account in a web browser (not available in the app). Crucially, disable any auto-activated 'Always on ease' (Всегда налегке) or similar services immediately after activation to prevent daily charges (e.g., 12 rubles). - **Megafon:** Offers tariffs as low as 10 rubles per month, or users can simply send one SMS per month to maintain number activity. - **Strategy for infrequent use:** Keep the SIM in a secondary phone, turning it on only for necessary SMS, and maintain a minimal balance to prevent unexpected charges.
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ruleFree Mobile SIM cards can often be used outside of France (e.g., in Russia, Azerbaijan) without changing the number.
The primary challenge is payment, as most plans use automatic withdrawals from a French bank account (prélèvement automatique). Users without a French IBAN may face issues with continued service or need to find alternative payment methods. Some older numbers may eventually stop working. Free Max is a French plan and not intended for exclusive use in Russia.
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caseWhen using Russian SIM cards (e.g., Beeline, MTS) in Brazil, users might experience issues with voice calls despite SMS functionality working and the local TIM network being detected.
Incoming calls may result in a 'number does not exist' message, and outgoing calls may fail. Wi-Fi calling can circumvent these issues. Some Beeline users report good functionality, including domestic rates when Wi-Fi calling is active. Customer support for these issues might be unresponsive.
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ruleRoaming between Russia and Belarus is regulated by a bilateral agreement, making it affordable.
However, data services may experience a 24-hour block upon initial network registration in the host country. For long-term stays, local SIM cards (Life:, A1) are recommended, though they require active subscription fees; prepaid SIMs are subject to rapid deactivation if not topped up regularly.
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how-toTo prevent Russian SIM card deactivation during long-term absence, users should perform periodic chargeable actions (like sending an SMS).
Many operators offer a 'Number Preservation' (Сохранение номера) service for a monthly fee (e.g., ~69 RUB for MegaFon) to keep the SIM active without usage.
✓ 1 report from chats
tipEnabling international roaming (not internet roaming) allows for receiving SMS messages from banks.
Ensure the phone is active and periodically used (e.g., with a small top-up) to maintain service.
✓ 1 report from chats
tipTo maintain a Russian SIM card while abroad, perform a paid action (SMS or call) at least once every 90 days.
This is critical for receiving banking OTPs and maintaining account access.
✓ 1 report from chats

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