This is a question for those doing international sits.
I’m curious what other sitters say if you get asked at Passport Control on entry abroad what the purpose of your visit is.
I’ve been asked at Oslo recently and last year in Reykjavik.
Do you say that you’re pet-sitting or give some other reason like visiting friends or visiting as a tourist?
Even though we are all doing this on a voluntary basis, I know not everyone understands this and may assume we’re perhaps working in their country which would have certain rules and policies that need to be adhered to.
So, l I often just say I’m visiting and staying with friends to keep things simple and straightforward as not everybody gets this.
Curious to hear what you say when asked this question…!
Absolutely not. One may be refused entry.
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That’s what my hunch said which is why I casually just say I’m visiting friends as I didn’t want to deal with the possibility of that debacle. In a way, it’s true as the dogs are my friends! 
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So I’m curious, what do you say to the passport control officer in response to that question? Do you just say that you’re just sightseeing or something like that?
In “the olden days” it was beneficial to tell the US immigration officers that you’re there for business. I don’t know what the current policy is.
Might be interesting to find this out for different countries where these questions are being asked.
I’m not sure where I’d even start trying to find this out for different countries!
Usually, I like to be open and honest but when I was presented with that question, something inside me said, do not under any circumstances, say that you’re house-sitting otherwise it could open up a whole can of worms.
Never ever say you are housesitting! It is classed as work in some countries and we’ve read some stories on here of sitters being refused entry- the US/Canada border seems to be particularly risky…
Always say you are touring or visiting friends/family. Make sure to have their address to hand, or a hotel reservation to show if asked.
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We just say we’re travelling in whichever country it is, as part of a bigger trip. The fact we already plan to leave for other lands seems to be enough of a distraction so far for no more questions (22 countries as sitters and counting) @Chatsetchiens #keeponmovin 
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Thank you for this.
I’m so glad my instincts guided me to give the best answer when I was out on the spot.
I will in future make sure I have the address just in case they do ask me for it. They haven’t asked me for that so far but I’d rather be prepared than not.
I don’t remember being hit with this question from Passport Control much in the past but it seems to be far more the norm in the last couple of years.
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Depends on where you’re going to. US always asks the question, and you should respond inside their possible tickmarks instead of being 100% honest. I was always travelling for business AND pleasure, and that did seem to be a problem with their forms.
I am generally inside the EU, with an EU passport. Inside the Schengen area they don’t ask.
This spring I was in England, arriving with the ferry in Harwich, with my bicycle and packed panniers. The border officer asked where I was I heading, and I just said Cambridge. That was about it.
If I want to do exotic travel, pet sitting in French possessions overseas would be suitable for me.
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Well, of course nobody asks inside Schengen… I mean, there is nobody to ask you 
If you cross into Schengen or travel to a country with immigration officers (US, China, Vietnam, Australia, African countries, etc.) still make sure you have name, address and phone number of your host on hand, they might ask you for it.
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Oh wow! You really do have a lot of international pet-sitting under your belt!!! That’s incredible.
That’s good they’re quite satisfied with the answer that you’re traveling as part of a bigger trip. It sounds like making it clear to them that you’ll be heading off for other shores soon keeps them at bay.
I’m glad I gave an answer that got them off my case. Not that he was overly authoritative but the last thing I want is to be dragged into some room at the airport and then interrogated when I’d far rather be giving belly-rubs to Fido!!!
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That’s great. In 2019, I did back to back sits in Geneva, Vienna, Prague and Berlin. Not one officer in either of those countries asked me why I was there. It seems to be more of a recent thing for me but I’ll make sure my default answer is either I’m a tourist or I’m visiting friends. Both aren’t exactly untrue!
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Interesting question. I have seen comments regarding entry difficulties and when we last were in Europe we had no problem (Pre Brexit)
We are going to visit some people we house sat for a few years ago, and stay for 6 weeks whilst they are in Germany. Is this classed as housesitting?
My conclusion is that you have to be honest but not give details unless asked.
Let us know how you get on with sharing that you’re house-sitting if you take the honest approach.
You’re right in that I’ve noticed I never particularly got these questions pre-Brexit. That seems to have made quite a difference in this whole area.
Well, in the end you are on vacation - so just say so; you’re giving them something they actually know how to deal with.
Anything else can incur problems (doesn’t have to), because they have no nice procedure to follow.
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That was very eye-opening. Thank you for sharing this.
Looks like Norway could’ve been awkward had I given a different answer judging by one of the comments on there.
It’s something for us all to be mindful of on overseas sits so we don’t embroil ourselves in unnecessary strife.
On a partially related side-note, when I was younger I visited my aunt and uncle in Toronto. We did a day trip to Niagara and they wanted to go to the casino but I said I’d love to cross the bridge and pop over into the States just for fun for an hour.
They urged me not to as they said I’d get grilled to the max and it wouldn’t be worth my while. I was quite blase about it but they both insisted I didn’t do that so I went with them to the casino instead. Sounds like they saved me a lot of aggro and I’m glad I paid attention. At the time, I thought they were being OTT but now I see they were probably right.
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@Twogreys you ARE being honest if you say you are visiting friends! They were hosts last time but friends now!