# Has Anyone Had Issues Crossing Into Canada or other Countries for a TrustedHousesitters Sit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat\ **Created:** [28 August 2026 13:04 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610 "2026-08-28T13:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MerryPuppins](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/merrypuppins/32/38890_2.png) [@MerryPuppins](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MerryPuppins)\ **Post date:** [31 August 2026 15:32 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/30 "2026-08-31T15:32:19Z")
> [@improvmike](#): > > We assumed that because it was a service both parties paid into, It’s a totally logical assumption…and this is an interesting additional point that could be made. 🤔 But yeah, “tourism” will still be the safest answer… 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Cathie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Cathie](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cathie)\ **Post date:** [31 August 2026 20:16 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/31 "2026-08-31T20:16:59Z")
See I think this is the problem when someone goes in and out of a country purely to sit. You really are just going for the sit which is “working”. When Bonnie comes to Australia for example she comes to “visit family” I don’t know if she would come this far just to “sit”. In most countries it is considered “working”. ---
**Author:** ![carpediem16](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/carpediem16/32/27502_2.png) [@carpediem16](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/carpediem16)\ **Post date:** [23 September 2026 17:49 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/32 "2026-09-23T17:49:59Z")
Anyway, in our case, as I’m sure in most cases, we never go to another country solely to pet sit!! We go to check out the area, to see what there is to see, to experience a new place, to discover, to learn, to enjoy, and so much more!! So say all the other reasons. They don’t need a detailed account of how you’ll spend your time. ---
**Author:** ![Cat-ophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Cat-ophile](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cat-ophile)\ **Post date:** [24 September 2026 03:32 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/33 "2026-09-24T03:32:52Z")
What if we go sit in another country that requires some kind of permit or authorization and we don’t get that? Does that mean our premium subscription won’t cover damages or legit hotel costs because the sit is “unauthorized”? Basically, using the workarounds everyone is talking about to sit in certain countries, could nullify all coverage. ??? ---
**Author:** ![Silversitters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@Silversitters](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Silversitters)\ **Post date:** [24 September 2026 06:48 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/34 "2026-09-24T06:48:39Z")
That’s correct THS won’t cover you if things go pear shaped as a result of a sitter not having the appropriate passport/ visas etc . The terms state that sitters must “5.3.3. abide by all of the immigration rules and local laws of any country you visit while carrying out a **Sit** ” In the scenario you describe- the authorities discover that you are coming to house or pet sit but you do not to have the appropriate visa - there won’t be any hotel costs incurred because you’ll be refused entry to the country and returned home . The hosts on the other hand will now be stuck without a sitter - I don’t know if they would be able to claim for alternative pet care in this situation? @Jenny can you ask MS for clarification on this if a sitter is refused entry to the country will hosts with Premium membership be able to make a claim under the Sit Cancellation Plan ? ---
**Author:** ![Minky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Minky](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Minky)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 06:17 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/35 "2026-10-12T06:17:32Z")
I sure wish I had read these experiences before sit in Canada, but never suspected in a million years that THS would be considered by anyone as a job I was taking from a Canadian - crazy!! I had already been over the border twice, but today was very different. Denied entry and he did not care about my stuff being there or cats not being fed. Supposedly written up as warning, but no indication of when I can return. 😡😫 ---
**Author:** ![Therese](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/therese/32/3204_2.png) [@Therese](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Therese)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 06:25 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/36 "2026-10-12T06:25:13Z")
A warm welcome to the forum @Minky. I am sorry that this happened to you. I have passed this on to our Membership Services team, so please do look out for an email. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Matt\_J](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Matt_J)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 06:26 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/37 "2026-10-12T06:26:13Z")
> [@Minky](#): > > never suspected in a million years that THS would be considered by anyone as a job I was taking from a Canadian - crazy!! When a pet sitter exchanges free accommodation for watching pets, it takes work away from paid sitters and kennels in the geographic area where the sit takes place, and most countries frown upon those from other countries without the proper work visas performing what they consider to be unpaid labor. Interesting that you got away with it twice despite not knowing what never to say to border officials. ---
**Author:** ![Rhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Rhe](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Rhe)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 06:59 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/38 "2026-10-12T06:59:32Z")
I noticed the other day, when confirming an international sit, THS has a pop up to remind me that this is only tourism, and not work related. I don’t recall the exact words, but that was the clear message. I don’t know how recent the addition of this disclaimer is. ---
**Author:** ![Silversitters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@Silversitters](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Silversitters)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 07:06 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/39 "2026-10-12T07:06:35Z")
The wording of the disclaimer does not clearly warn / inform members that pet and house sitting is considered work by immigration officials and that this includes when it is done in exchange for accommodation rather than monetary payment. ---
**Author:** ![Rhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Rhe](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Rhe)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 07:08 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/40 "2026-10-12T07:08:07Z")
It seems the wording is deliberately ambiguous. Typical of the lawyer-ish corporate-speak that dominates here these days. Given that someone posts about this issue on a weekly basis, I would think many/most people should now know about keeping your story straight and simple at borders. (Although a lot of sitters aren’t on this forum, of course. Oh well, I’m rambling, time caffeine). ---
**Author:** ![Twitcher](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/twitcher/32/2011_2.png) [@Twitcher](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Twitcher)\ **Post date:** [12 October 2026 07:24 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/41 "2026-10-12T07:24:31Z")
At least it is a step in the right direction. It wasn’t too long ago that THS provided letters you could download and hand to immigration control/border agents. ---
**Author:** ![MerryPuppins](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/merrypuppins/32/38890_2.png) [@MerryPuppins](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MerryPuppins)\ **Post date:** [15 October 2026 19:12 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610/42 "2026-10-15T19:12:45Z")
> [@Silversitters](#): > > when it is done in exchange for accommodation Not specific or even related to your comment @Silversitters, but this occurred to me the other day and got me pondering: Immigration authorities consider the accommodation as a form of ‘payment’ in exchange for the service of caring for someone’s pet. But _how else_ could you care for the pet if you weren’t staying in the owner’s home? I mean, the staying over is actually part of the work in the case of petsitting. So if you compare it apples-to-apples to a paid in-home sitter, we’re not being given anything in payment. Strictly speaking, we’re 100% volunteers… 🤔 (Warning: however logical, please don’t try this at home, kids. But if I did get stopped at the border & had to, I might go ahead & run it up the flagpole as a last resort. 😉 😂) [Previous page](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/has-anyone-had-issues-crossing-into-canada-or-other-countries-for-a-trustedhousesitters-sit/79610.md?page=1)