What to prepare for an international house sit

Updated 27/10/2025

Got an international house sit coming up? Congrats! House sitting abroad is an amazing way to explore the world while enjoying the wonderful company of pets. Before you pack your bags, it’s important to make sure you know how to prepare for an international house sit.
In this helpful blog post, we’ll run through everything you’ll need to consider before jetting off to your house sit abroad, including the documents to prepare and information on visas and immigration.

Why do I need to prepare for my international trip? Key things to note:

• Rare Border Control difficulties. Occasionally, sitters have faced difficulties with border control officials who have mistakenly categorised sits arranged through TrustedHousesitters as work, instead of leisure. 
• TrustedHousesitters is not for employment. 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.
• Having the funds prepared. 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.
• Get prepared before your trip. Before you head off, it’s important to know what information and documents you’ll need when you’re travelling abroad for a TrustedHousesitters sit. 

Below, we’ll run you through everything you need to know to make sure you’re well prepared for your international house sit.

How to prepare for an international house sit

It’s time to prepare for your upcoming trip - hooray! Here’s some helpful and important advice for your upcoming international house sit:

Check your travel documents

This is an important but easily forgotten step. It’s your responsibility to check the correct entry requirements for your visit. You'll need to 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 particular care to have your onward boarding passes printed if you’re transiting through an original country of entry 
• Proof of funds for the duration of your trip
• The pet/house 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

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

Visas and immigration

Things to note about tourist visas and immigration:

• Tourist visa limits: All countries have rules around how long you can stay on a tourist visa and how frequently you can visit. 
• Visa requirements: Many countries also require you to obtain a visa before you travel.
• Check regulations: Make sure to check the immigration rules for your home country, any countries you’ll be passing through, and your final destination.

Questions you might be asked:

When you arrive in a new country, you’ll likely be asked several questions. Be ready to answer them clearly and confidently:

• Purpose of your visit: The purpose of your visit is for tourism. Our platform is not for arranging pet sitting as work. Instead, it allows you to enjoy an enriching travel experience, staying in real homes with the added company of pets.
• Where you’ll be staying: The address of your house sit and the homeowner's details can be found in your Welcome Guide.
• When you’ll be leaving: You should have 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.

Finally, leave plenty of time

You don’t need us to tell you how busy security queues at airports and stations can be! Give yourself plenty of time so that you don't forget anything important, to avoid any unexpected queues and delays, and to allow time for preparing for your sit handover.

Happy house sitting!