I have repeat clients in Canada. I sit anywhere from 6 weeks to 5 months. In the last year crossing through customs has changed a lot so just putting this advice out there.
- NEVER say you are house sitting. Canada considers this working, even though there is no exchange of money. A work permit is required. I had clients who had someone coming from Scotland to sit for them and she was refused entry.
- I have started being asked when I stay longer than 2 weeks if I have travel insurance. I always buy it now.
- Have a return airline ticket or a ferry booked for your return. Canada wants to know you aren’t trying to stay longer than the allotted time you are allowed. This helps confirm that.
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You purchase travel insurance only because people ask you if you have it?
I don’t understand. That would be like saying you went and bought a watch because people ask you what time it is.
Dianae says she buys travel insurance because people ask her if she has it. It would be more helpful to explain the benefits of travel insurance.
Travel insurance is different to health insurance, Europeans/British folk (?) seem more used to getting travel insurance than others maybe? I read somewhere that some demographics don’t generally buy travel insurance… this was a surprise for me as I’d assumed everyone did but I have a Eurocentric view of the world.
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Canada is far from the only country that considers housesitting to be work and/or getting tougher at border crossings The fact that you have come to Canada for lengthy stays on a recurring basis is likely why you are encountering closer scrutiny.
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Not just any people, border control ”people”
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I think US Americans often refer to both travel disruption insurance & travel health insurance as just “travel insurance;” why, I’m not sure. Some plans include one or the other, some policies include both.
I don’t often purchase the former; as a business traveler I had coverage through work, and now my credit card(s) provide it.
Some countries require travel insurance before you are approved for a visa. It’s a necessary evil in my opinion.
I usually include a 1-3d hotel stay at the beginning of my international trips. Mostly for “me/sightseeing time;” but it also allows me to satisfactorily answer the brusque “where are you staying?” question from border guards. The exception is when I’m doing repeat sits, in which case I say I’m staying with friends.
Lately, Canadian border guards have followed up my “with friends” response by asking how we met, and specifically if we’ve ever met in person.
Just something to bear in mind — but I think even that gets more questions when you’re planning to stay longer than a couple weeks.
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Interesting; I’ve not encountered that for short-term tourist visas, although it makes sense. I’ve never been asked when entering, that I remember. Would they deny you entry, or just recommend or advise you to purchase?
I know Ireland & some other countries do require proof of private health insurance for long-stay visas.
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I have used the website onwardtravel.com to pay a small fee to book a flight and have a reservation to show border control agents. If they decide to check it’s fully verifiable with the airline. The reservation expires after 24 hours and there is a small fee. It’s great for trips where my return date is undecided, but I need to satisfy agents on entry that I have a return flight booked.
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@MerryPuppins depends on where you are going, I think it was India? Maybe when we went to Myanmar? Can’t really remember but it can be a mandatory part of visa applications for some countries. Commonwealth countries often have reciprocal arrangements for health, all depends on your passport and where you travel to.
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Oh brilliant, @TheEnglishFlaneur ; I wish I’d known about this a week ago, but glad to know about it now. I’ve not yet booked my flight home this trip, & had a few questions from Immigration in Dublin…despite having a confirmed flight traveling to the UK in a few weeks. (Was surprised they cared tbh…figured they’d only want to know I wasn’t staying in Ireland/EU.)
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Just be aware of the expiry, make the reservation at the last minute. Good luck.
It does seem that if you see a person you might be questioned more. When you go through the electronic gates there is nobody to ask you anything. Luck of the draw sometimes.
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Thanks, will do.
Used the link & it looks like a GoDaddy parked domain of some sort — but a search suggested “onwardticket.com” and “bookonwardticket.com;” is it one of those?
As synchronicity would have it I just saw this article:
Thailand is pushing for new regulations that would require all international tourists to obtain mandatory accident insurance before entering the country. The proposal aims to address the mounting financial strain on the public healthcare system caused by rising unpaid medical bills from uninsured foreign patients.
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