Hi, we’re Gabriel and Eva, new to this app since June. We haven’t been chosen as sitters because we don’t have any previous references. We’re stuck in a loop. It’s impossible to get references if no one chooses us. The platform tells us to apply to places with low applicants, but they don’t match our travel direction. Can someone please help us? If we don’t get someone to choose us, all we can do is unsubscribe and not renew.
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How many have you applied for? You can’t win them all. Our first sit we didn’t care where it was. As long as it was in the UK we could make anything work. I’d like a sit in Edinburgh , but they are scarce, particularly when you have dates to work around. Likely I’ll have to pay to stay there. More information on your situation is required for a more helpful answer.
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Hi and welcome @Gabriel_Eva
Have you added external references ( from friends , colleagues or family members that you have house sat for or looked after their pets ) ?
If you are having difficulty landing your first sit , you do need to add 2-3 of these .
If you have previously stayed in an Airbnb you can add a link to the review that you got.
Then the tried and tested way to get a sit (and then a reference ) is to apply for a local or last minute short sit . It may not be where you want to travel to but it will get you started .
Our friends started with 2 x 1 night last minute sits close to home . They got 2 reviews in one weekend !
They also got to spend the weekend with lovely pets . And now they have been accepted for multiple sits .
If there are no local sits where you are living , look at sits in U.K. there are always plenty . That will get you started .
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Do you have any references from friends in your profile @Gabriel_Eva ? They help before you earn THS reviews. Do you have lots of experience with animals on there too? Have you added lots of pics onto your profile? Maybe add th link to the forum thread and you can get some feedback from other members? Where are you trying to land sits? #moreinfoplease
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European sits, apart from the UK, are very competitive. You could try applying for last minute sits in the UK, in not so popular locations. Some references from people who know you, and pictures of yourself with pets would help.
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Hi Gabriel-Eva,
Do you have a well written, interesting Profile. I have had many owners compliment me on mine, saying they have read some that have actually just been one setence, which they always dismiss.
I am in the UK and when | first joined had only one external review on it. I applied to my first sit, which was only 3 night and had listested as 0-3 applicants. (This was when applications were unlimited) . I also applied for another short sit starting immediately afterwards. The first a car, the second two dogs. The outskirts of London, and close to the Cotswolds. I actually was given these first two that I applied for. I definitely would not sit in the first, near London one again as just too built up with busy traffic for me but just wanted to gain my first sit and review. I would sit for the second one though as a nice area. I haven’t looked back since. I have had a few rejections on the way, mainly when popular areas with lots of applicants but now I do get about 90% of those I apply for when quick off the mark and not spotted too late.
Just ensure you have a well written profile and application. Good luck.
Hi Chrissie, We’re not applying in Europe or near the UK, but in Asia. We’ll consider your suggestion for references from acquaintances. Thanks
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Hi Cuttlefish, We’re on a long trip through Asia and are looking at the countries we’re traveling through. Our profile on the platform is this:
(THS profile link removed by Forum team - user has added it to their Forum profile 
)
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Hi Silversitters, We’ll follow your advice about external references. I’ve added the platform’s profile to our forum profile; we already had the Airbnb profile added. We can’t apply for last-minute nights close to home because we’re in Asia on a long trip.
We have made several requests in different countries in Asia in the direction we are traveling because we are traveling around the world.
Hello, thanks for adding your profile (Zaragoza is one of my favourite places ever BTW!). Your profile is quite light, I’d want to know more about your experience not just that you like animals. Add some more details about that and your journey. Change your location from Spain to where you are now in SEA or where you are headed as it adds confidence for the host. More pics (one is a repeat at the start), get some references on there too. Make sure you say in your applications “We are already in Bangkok (for example) and would hop to X if selected etc” as that helps. SEA is super competitive even for experienced sitters and sits go quickly, the local FB groups are often better for that part of the world so join those too. #dontgiveup
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Great advice from @Cuttlefish Add more pics with animals or showing your interest. Change the duplicate pics. Get a few external references from friends/colleagues etc And put more detail in your profile especially the experience section. You need to really sell yourself- especially at the beginning!
Don’t be too disheartened by not getting sits easily in SEA- they are few and far between and extremely competitive. Its a challenge even for very experienced sitters to get their foot in before the 5 applicant limit kicks in!
So SEA may not be the best place to start your THS journey. But don’t give up!
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Welcome to forum @Gabriel_Eva !
For any sit, with 5 applicants there’s an 80!% probability of a decline. So you need to beat the numbers, good advice given by others.
I think any host would prefer a sitter with THS-reviews over one that hasn’t.
Sits in Asia are few and most are highly competitive. Personally I’ve flown intercontinental solely for such a sit, and I think many would - at least for prime destinations. That says something about what you need to know without reviews. I did however get that sit with 5 THS-reviews «only». So it won’t take much to get a gamechanger for you.
What I’ve noticed is that many sits in Asia often would come with a few days only and on short notice. These sits would be your gold nuggets, as sitters like me won’t bother. In order to be able to apply, look up those listings and favorite them, so you get notifications. The host is also able to see that you have favorited the sit.
Being close by, you might be able to offer for some sits to meet up with the host before they choose a sitter and/ or before the sit. This will even out somewhat that you haven’t THS-reviews as they would be able to meet you in person before they decide on a sitter.
Hope this helps. Safe travels!
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Based on your profile I assume you are Spanish citizens. There is no country in Asia, to my knowledge, that allows pet- and house- sitting on a tourist visa. If you have a work visa or residence permit in an Asian country, highlight that on your profile. Responsible homeowners are likely passing you by so as to avoid legal complications.
If your motivation for joining THS was solely to get house- and pet- sits for your trip to Asia, and you do not have a work visa or residence permit for the countries in which you are seeking sits, consider canceling your membership. THS is absolutely wonderful and has saved me tens of thousands of dollars in lodging over the years (not to mention given me tons of kitty snuggles). But that is because where I want to sit typically matches up perfectly with where I am legally able to sit.
If you are Spanish citizens, the entire Schengen zone is open to you, as are Ireland and the Nordics. You have at least thirty-one countries available to you, where you can sit legally. That is a LOT! I personally use my savings from sitting in my “legal” countries to pay for fantastic hotels in the countries where I cannot legally sit. Fantastic hotels in Asia are often quite inexpensive.
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I’ve noticed that you mention the need for a work visa on a couple of threads. Wouldn’t you say that most of the sitters on THS don’t have a work visa for the country they sit in? Most enter the country as a tourist and don’t say anything about being about to perform unpaid work.
I do realize there are risks in doing this, however it’s also the reality of international sitting.
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I’m not aware of any reliable data on how many THS members are breaking immigration laws, but I’d like to gently push back on the idea that this simply has to be “the reality of international sitting.” In my ideal world, the sharing economy works best when it’s grounded in responsibility: homeowners, sitters, and—most importantly—the pets are all better protected when we respect the laws of the countries we’re in.
I post often on visa issues for three reasons:
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Personal experience: I have loved ones who suffered serious consequences from overly strict immigration enforcement, and I don’t want others to go through the same.
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Practical perspective: I’ve legally worked in multiple countries and know that it is possible to do things the right way.
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Knowledge sharing: It’s clear that many members don’t know the visa requirements tied to sitting. This forum is about learning from each other. I’ve learned a lot here myself, and I hope to contribute back by sharing what I know.
In this particular case, the member was asking about sits in Asia. The honest starting point is that, for most countries, step one is securing the correct work authorization. That may not be convenient, but it’s essential.
For dscussions about immigration implications of houses-sitting, I suggest searching the forum. There are some very long threads dedicated to this topic.
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I’m aware of the implications, I’ve been assiduously following this forum for a couple of years. I’m not saying “it has to be the reality of pet sitting” and am not condoning it, but it is. It’s not a matter of my personal preference.
We have all read examples of Americans sitting in Europe, Europeans sitting in the US, many going to Australia and quite a few to Asia. They all take risks, but they still do it.
The reality (not my suggestion, not my piece of advice, not what I’m personally pushing people to do) is simply that the majority of people enter a country they cannot legally volunteer in as tourists.
In an ideal world there should be a “volunteering” visa for people who do all sorts of volunteer work.
Most countries DO have these! In the majority of cases they are limited to use when volunteering for recognized charities.
I actually looked into whether it would be possible to do this via THS. For example, both “Dogs Trust” and “Cats Protection” are registered charities in the UK. So I thought, “How cool would it be if they could sponsor international sitters to look after foster pets when the foster parents are away?” But - of course - it gets complicated. The charity would have to be granted a “Home Office sponsor license for temporary workers.” The sitter would have to apply for the volunteer visa at least three months in advance, get a TB test, show proof of funds - all kinds of stuff. So it is possible, but probably not realistic.
Some people are willing to risk detention and deportation, just as some people are willing to risk prison time for violating other laws. I am not that person. For me, the simplest answer is to sit where it is legal to sit, and use the savings from those opportunities to enjoy being a tourist elsewhere.
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Well currently when I search Asia there are 14 sits available, 4 in Singapore and the other 10 all in different countries. Needle in a haystack almost. If you think you can travel from one Asian country to the next totally sitting it seems this would be unrealistic. Sits available are heavily weighted towards the US and UK. So many more to choose from. The rest of the world is a much smaller pool. Not impossible but not easy either. Good luck 
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