Before you travel, be sure you have all the Essential Documents & Visas required for your trip. Once those are in order, these tips will help you prepare for a smooth travel experience.
Know the reason for your visit
Occasionally, sitters have faced difficulties with border control officials who have mistakenly categorised sits arranged through TrustedHousesitters as work, instead of leisure. Issues at borders often arise from other reasons, such as sitters being unable to show they have enough funds for their trip.
When entering a new country, you’ll likely be asked a number of questions, including the reason for your visit and the details of where you’ll be staying. Our platform is not for employment purposes. Its sole purpose is to allow you to enjoy an enriching travel experience, staying in real homes with the added company of pets, with no money exchanged between owners and sitters.
Remember to have the details of where you’ll be staying (the address of your house sit and the homeowner's details can be found in your Welcome Guide), plus proof of your return or onward ticket to show when you plan to leave. This helps make sure you follow immigration rules and don’t accidentally overstay your visa.
Leave plenty of time
Travel can be unpredictable, whether en route to the airport, train station, ferry crossing, or any point of departure. Ensure that you arrive at your departure point with plenty of time for security checks, immigration control, and any potential unexpected delays. Also, prepare a checklist of essential items to double-check before leaving home to avoid last-minute stress.
We'd also recommend having a plan B in place, whether you're travelling for house sitting or for any other reason. Unexpected changes and delays can happen, and having sufficient funds, alternative accommodation, or transportation options ready can save you from potential disruptions during your journey.
Trusted tip: Need a few more tips? Check out this handy blog post on preparing for your international sitting adventure