With sitters like you travelling far and wide to care for pets and make unique travel memories, there are a few important things to sort before you jet off. Here, we explore the documents you’ll need to prepare, plus advice on border control, visas, and immigration.

Why do I need to prepare? Some key points to consider: 

• Occasionally, sitters have faced difficulties with border control officials who have mistakenly categorised sits arranged through TrustedHousesitters as work, instead of leisure. 
• Our platform is not for employment purposes - instead, we offer members the chance to enjoy enriching travel experiences while staying in real homes, with no money exchanged between owners and sitters.
• Issues at borders often arise from other reasons, such as sitters being unable to show they have enough funds for their trip or evidence of return or onward travel.

Prep ahead for your international sit

Before your international house sitting adventure begins, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare. In this article, we’ll cover:

• The documents you might need to prepare
• A heads-up on visas and immigration
• Additional advice

As with any international travel, you must be prepared to produce the following:

A passport with sufficient validity to satisfy the rules of your host country 

Evidence of a return or onward travel ticket

If your flight isn't direct, take extra care to have your onward boarding passes printed if you’re transiting through an original country of entry

Proof of funds or access to funds for the duration of your trip

The pet/home owner's name, address and contact details.  This can be found in your Welcome Guide

Proof of the correct vaccinations/malaria medication for the country you’re visiting

Relevant visa well in advance of your trip, as you’ll also need to show proof of your status upon entry

Documentation to prove any ties that you may have in your country of residence

Remember to double-check the country’s entry requirements for anything else you might need to have ready.

Visas and immigration

All countries have rules around how long you can stay on a tourist visa and the frequency with which you’re entitled to visit a country. Many countries require you to have a visa in advance of your travel. So, make sure to check the immigration rules for both your destination and the country you'll be departing from. 

As part of our terms and conditions, you agreed you are only travelling to another country for tourism purposes, and you've agreed to follow the immigration rules and local laws of the country you'll be visiting.

Trusted tip: Take a look at this helpful article for additional tips for sitting internationally.