Hi there,
I’ll be doing 5 different sits over the course of 8 wks. Has anyone had any push back entering a new country and explaining you are NOT getting paid to house sit?
Welcome to the forum @marylajoan1 that sounds like an exciting travel itinerary 
.
There are several threads that I would advise you read before travelling so that you are prepared.
The legality of house sitting in a specific country depends on what passport you have and which visas you have and which countries you intend to stay .
If you have the right to work in the countries that you are visiting then will have no problems if you tell Border security that you are coming to house sit.
You shouldn’t even be mentioning you’re housesitting on entering a country then you won’t have to explain you’re not getting paid. When asked what the purpose of your trip is the answer is tourism. You are, indeed, first and foremost a tourist because, as someone mentioned elsewhere on another post, she wouldn’t be paying for a plane ticket etc purely to cuddle up with animals, even though they should be priority when you are sitting, but this is an exchange. It’s a good idea to initially stay at a hotel before the sit so you can offer that address but if going straight to the housesit you’re staying with friends. I don’t consider that a lie when I arrive at a sit abroad because, by then, I feel they’re friends as I’ll have had lots of communication via WhatsApp and at least one long video call.
Never, ever mention pet sitting.
We have recently done international sits with zero issues however there have been cases of sitters being stopped and refused entry. There is some good advice here but the bottom line most countries see volunteering and sitting or barter exchange as working. We do our due diligence before each international sit, prepare entry accommodation, tours, visit with friends, return flights etc etc but the most important thing is we realise there is a risk and we are prepared for the consequences. One other thing is to avoid posting your intentions on social media as there is one particular past member who is on a vendetta and who I had a run in with and who threatened to repot us to immigration
@Oztravels . If the former members name begins with M, she was bragging about it all over social media, which, as we all know, is why she got into trouble with customs.
That’s the one. Once an influencer that extolled the virtues of sitting then got caught out being a tad naive with immigration now doing her “influencer” thing trying to undermine what she once promoted. Yet not once taking any responsibility for her own actions.
Do NOT mention petsitting ever !
Just don’t use the word. Period. No matter which country you’re visiting.
You’re a tourist. Period. Book a hotel for the first night (or longer) and have proof.
Don’t open that can of worms because you don’t know how it might end - they might allow you to enter or you might be turned back.
Your real purpose for entering the country is for tourism. The pet sitting may be of primary importance, but if not for the location, would you be doing it? It’s lodging with responsibilities. Also, since we pay to join THS, I’d say were are, in essence, paying for lodging.
This is exactly the information I was looking for. Thank you all very much. I am staying with friends and families at the beginning, end and in between my sits so I have names and addresses to produce should I be asked. I’m really looking forward to these sits and appreciate this group forum for information. I’ve been reading through a lot of the threads and gathered great advice.
Wow, would love to hear that tea.
Please follow the advice from @ Smiley. She gives you very wise words. If your budget is tight just get a reservation at a hostel and never say free house sitting. The countries think you are taking away from their citizens who would be getting paid for this and will send you back. I have even seen this so it is not rumors. It’s also at your expense. May be a good experience meeting others who are traveling and alone like you are at the hostel for a night or two. I like relaxing at a hotel for a night before a sit after a long journey.
Sent you a message
Just another example of how that dreaded term says absolutely nothing (except that the user is looking for attention and generally knows little to nothing about the subject).
Never mention the purpose of visiting is for house & pet sitting to an immigration official unless you want to be refused entry. Read the many articles on this forum before you go.
I mentioned it once, but I think i got away with it