If you have an international pet and house sitting stay planned, or perhaps you’re looking to apply for one, our priority is to make sure you’re fully prepared so your journey is smooth, safe and enjoyable.
To help ensure this we’ve recently updated our guidance for sitters travelling abroad, with the latest information on what to consider before you set off, from travel documents to visas and border control. You can read the full update in this article.
As always, our Membership Services Team is available if you have any questions or need support for your upcoming trip. You can contact them via the website or email support@trustedhousesitters.com
Add ins to think about from an experienced international THS sitter
Only answer the questions asked at borders. Never ever volunteer information
Book your first night in a new country in a hotel or Airbnb. You then look more like a tourist
Have everything ready before getting to the counter. If you become or look flustered alarm bells go off in the officers head and supplementary questions are asked.
Follow the rules to the letter. Do not give them any opportunity to pull you over for rule breaking.
Do not talk back. It’s their country, their rules.
We have sat all over the world and not once had a problem going through any countries customs. But we do have age and looks on our side. Older people definitely get an easier ride than youngsters. And if you look as if you know what you are doing they relax.
Don’t let the newspaper stories put you off. International pet sitting is a fantastic way of experiencing the world. Live like a local, immerse yourself in different ways of life. It’s a truly unique way of life. Go for it.
It’s somewhat disingenuous of THS to continue to fail to acknowledge that pet and house sitting in the US is considered work and is not permitted on a tourist visa. There’s no grey (or gray) area about it.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) considers providing pet care in exchange for free accommodation as a form of unauthorized employment, which is not allowed on a tourist visa.
Yes, international pet sitting is wonderful, but be aware of the risks. In many countries it is considered incompatible with a tourist visa. Sure a sitter is unlikely to be questioned in depth on the purpose of their stay. But, the impact may be significant if answers fail to satisfy border staff. they may be deported on the next flight and banned from ever re-entering.
I am definitely put off by the reports about the US. I would not go petsetting there. There is not only the risk of being denied entry, there is also the risk of getting detained in some ICE center in an alligator swamp.
It is a low probability high impact event, which makes the risk for me marginal. If it was a fantastic sit in a glorious house, a great location and a wonderful dog then I might apply.
If you take a chance, crossing a road you may or (may not ) be hit by a car.
Life is one huge risk. I for one, don’t want to be lying on my death bed wishing I had taken some of these risks. I’d rather try and fail than never try.
Yes, the US tourist visa terms voluntary work as an opportunity taken away from a US citizen. However, does it say anything about entering the country to help a friend by looking after their pets? A good lawyer can always find a way of saying something in a way that it is not contradicting any laws or rules. Some of us don’t go to that expense and just never mention pet sitting. Looking round your beautiful country always works for us. One of the main takes of that original article is that you have to be able to prove you have enough funds to finance yourself for the period you are in the country. That may be the downfall of some young people. I don’t know. All I know is we have being doing it for years (crossing land, sea and airport borders) and not once have we had a problem. Apart from “Officer Dibble” (Top Cat reference). But that was coming into US on a private yacht. And he is well known by International sailors.
People’s tolerance of risk varies greatly, crossing a road is an almost daily activity for many that we have to do and not a good comparator.. I served my country in the military for >20 years in plenty of non-vacation locations, I’d probably accept a higher risk than many. But, I stand by my statement that it is disingenuous to persist with the claim “Occasionally, sitters have faced difficulties with border control officials who have mistakenly categorised sits arranged through TrustedHousesitters as work, instead of leisure. “ There is no mistake, sitting is classified as work in the US, period.
In terms of questions by border guards, entering Europe 7 weeks ago at Helsinki we were really quizzed about where we were going and when we were leaving. Australian passports and age on our side. We were strictly touristing and did have all those details sorted including accommodation booked and a return flight to Scotland. Entering Scotland just a scan at the gate, no questions, no one to speak to😉
I think everyone was put off by the reports about the US but horror stories involving tourists date to before April. Since then, I have not been able to find repetitions of similar scenarios (though entirely new scenarios involving non-tourists are actually worse). My take is that the aggressive enforcement targeting tourists early in the year was self-defeating and quickly curtailed. But it wasn’t curtailed fast enough to prevent the knock on effects (dramatic drops in visitors to tourist destinations throughout the US) and serious damage to major segments of the US economy. I very much doubt the powers that be will want any repeat the early 2025 fiasco which, frankly, made everyone look bad.
Our experience and observations since April are that passing through immigration at US airports is much easier and faster now than last year. Our last sitter made the same observation.
Keep in mind that the media do love the horror stories. If they were still happening, they’d be front and center in coverage.
I would never say anything about house-, pet- or any other sitting to border control in any country at any time. Once that door is open, there’s no saying that it will remain so.
If I don’t have a hotel reservation or something proving my tourist status and only have the HO’s address as my temporary residence, I would say that the HO is an old friend whom I’m visiting and I would have a few details memorised in case of very unlikely follow-up questions.
Having these details solidly in mind makes nervousness far less likely.
As noted by others, I only answer what I’m asked (with a smile) and volunteer nada.
Well said, Toreishi. I would add that having a printed letter of invitation from the homeowner will help, when asked where you will be staying. The letter from the homeowner should state that you are a family friend, invited to stay in their home as a guest while visiting their country. It should also have their address.