I experienced the same on a FlixBus between Denmark and Sweden. I guess the likelihood of immigration breaches is bigger on bordercrossing by bus? Or maybe just because there are people at work on the point and that is basically what they do (while on a larger workplace they might have other tasks also).
That’s called volunteer work - since there’s no payment. And in many countries (except a few notable ones mentioned in this thread), such volunteer work is no issue at all
no. it’s not. you’re receiving compensation in the form of lodging. if you were paying for your own lodging, going and walking the dog for free, then going home, that would be volunteer work. you are receiving compensation via a service you’d otherwise be forced to pay for (housing) so it’s considered work. but feel free to debate the point with immigration, I look forward to hearing the results.
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For the benefit of anyone reading this thread who is thinking of travelling from overseas to U.K. to house sit .
In U.K. overseas visitors cannot do “volunteer work “ unless they have the appropriate visa .
If someone from overseas wanted to volunteer to do unpaid work in U.K. they would need to apply for a Tier 5 visa which only registered organisations can issue other “volunteering” isn’t allowed without the correct visa .
Tourists however are welcome to enter U.K. and from most countries don’t need a visa to do so .
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Sweden reintroduced border checks with other Schengen countries already years ago, the “temperary emergency measure” gets extended by half a year time and time again. Trains from Copenhagen have a stop for that at the first station after the bridge. When I crossed on Monday, that scheduled stop was 8 minutes I think. The actual checks are random: this time no police came on board.
These stops are very impopular in Malmö (especially amongst commuters to Copenhagen), but the government sits in Stockholm and they don’t care.
Even when the Swedish checks were longer (twenty minutes), they were mostly about checking passports. I don’t remember the questioning and the luggage searches, like what the Germans are doing now. This is of course disruptive to the Flixbus timetables - I noticed that those had been adjusted to get in time to their hub in Hamburg.
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@Bluehorse Rule of thumb…
NEVER give housesitting as your reason for travel. Housesitting is a very grey area and you risk getting turned away at the border if you mention it. Even if no money changes hands. Even volunteer work in some places requires a special visa. Keep it simple. Just say you are a tourist, visiting friends & family or touring etc
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In many places volunteer work means: unpaid work in exchange for lodging, board, and expenses. Sometimes you even get your travel expenses covered. So IMO this definitely falls under the definition of volunteer work. I’ve done plenty of volunteer work along these lines that was not THS. Think for example WWOOF, HelpX, WorkAway, and many many other volunteer websites and programs.
And of course as others have already pointed out, you don’t say you’re housesitting if asked at a border. No need to wake up sleeping dogs
If you have a European, Australian, American etc passport, you can often (but not always) use the automated border control gates upon entering the UK. No questions asked. I’ve entered this way both coming from within and outside Europe. Otherwise the same as always: don’t wake up sleeping dogs; you’re a tourist, that’s it
yeah, those are also illegal. but keep on keeping on.
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Of course not - I’m just saying that this normally falls under volunteer work. Doesn’t mean you should mention it. I never do.
Does anyone know what we’re supposed to do next year after April when the UK introduces visas for tourists (including EU citizens)? I get that we’re not supposed to say that we’re pet sitting, but now with a visa, wouldn’t we have to have proof of where we’re staying & how long we’re there for? Sure, you can say you’re visiting a friend, but how will this work for consecutive sits 
it’s been stressing me out a bit
WorkAway, WWOOF and HelpX are NOT illegal. I don’t know where you get this from. Several of these sites have been around for decades. And they’re not trying to avoid ‘detection’ by national governments.
For example, I’m heading to Australia in a month and these 3 sites (and many others) are very popular there. Not only that, my visitor visa explicitly allows volunteer work along those lines. Which acc to the Australian government includes:
“Volunteer work is work that:
is unpaid (you can be provided with meals, accommodation or out-of-pocket living expenses)”
In other words, volunteering isn’t just the narrow definition you apply to it with no accommodation, meals provided or expenses paid.
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It’s not a visa, it’s an ETA. An ETA is simply a pre-approval, so they can check that you’re not a criminal etc
Okay - so we won’t have to prove where we’re staying then?
If you’re from an EU country, you apply for the ETA and can enter for 2 years.
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Ooh okay - thank you!!
You do know that just because something is legal in one country doesn’t mean it’s legal everywhere, right? Different countries have different laws. Those programs and work exchanges in general are illegal in the UK, most of Europe, the US and Canada. You’re unlikely to get caught if you don’t mention what you’re doing, but that doesn’t make them legal to do. Neither does something existing for many years.
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@Bluehorse house sitting is definitely not volunteer work!
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We’re conflating 2 things here:
- What is volunteer work?
- Is volunteer work legal on a tourist visa?
Volunteer work can also comprise ‘positions’ whereby one is provided room & board and have out of pocket expenses paid. This is a common form of volunteer work, and has been around for decades.
Is it allowed on a tourist visa? That totally depends on the country. I’m European, obviously don’t need a visa to visit other EU countries and moreover it’s totally legal for me to do such volunteer work in other countries of the EU. And it’s considered to be volunteer work. I don’t need to lie about it; it’s ok if you want to go and help out on someone’s hobby farm for a few hours a day in return for room & board. No one considers that an illegal thing to do. The government doesn’t prohibit it, it’s not against the law, you can’t get fined for it, you’re not in non-compliance with work regulations, etc.
Can someone entering Europe on a tourist visa do the same thing? Well, that depends on the country, not? Some countries don’t like people entering on a tourist visa to do such or any type of volunteer work. Others don’t mind.
It doesn’t mean the volunteer work in itself is ‘not’ volunteer work or ‘illegal’. It’s perfectly legal - and you can partake in it as long as your legal status allows it, however it may require being a resident for instance (which would be the case for the US I imagine).
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except pet sitting is NOT VOLUNTEER WORK. it is a work exchange. you are literally exchanging you work as a sitter for a free place to stay. you can disagree all you like and your example of how you as an EU citizen can do whatever you want within the EU is ridiculous in this context as it has nothing to do with immigration. but whatever. I’m done discussing this with you as we will never agree and you’re wasting my time. I just hope that no one actually follows your advice. everyone should do their own research and make decisions that they feel comfortable with. don’t bother replying, i’ve blocked you.