House sitting abroad - what to consider

Thinking about house sitting around the world? Dreaming of travelling the world at a slow pace while you look after cute pets and experience every destination as a local? Well, then you’ve landed in the right place with this handy guide to house sitting abroad.

What’s the difference between local house sits and house sits abroad?

This is an easy one and pretty much explains itself. A local sit is one where you house sit in an area that is nearby and you already familiar with. Domestic house sits are the perfect place to establish yourself as a house sitter and to get some good reviews. Plus, it’s always better to test your skills and gain new ones in an environment you’re comfortable in. You’ll know the types of homes, culture, climate and how pets are socialised and treated. 

An international house sit, however, is the perfect thing if you want to broaden your horizon, explore the world and experience house sitting in a different culture and location. It’s a wonderful way of travelling slow and becoming one with your next destination. 

How to become an international house and pet sitter?

If you’re looking for pet and house sits abroad, you're in the right place. With our wonderful TrustedHousesitters community, it's now easier than ever to begin your house sitter journey.

If you want a full breakdown of everything you need to do, check out this guide on how to become a TrustedHousesitter or these 10 tips to become a house sitter. You’ll find lots of information and guidelines. But, to make it even easier, we’re going to break it down for you in some quick easy steps: 

1. Sign up to TrustedHousesitters
2. Read our guide on how to get started as a TrustedHousesitter
3. Create a killer profile
4. Write the perfect application message
5. Apply for references and complete your free ID/background checks
6. Start applying for house sitting assignments 
7. Prepare for an interview
8. Communicate, communicate, communicate (you can find some tips to communicate your way to pet sitting success here)

Benefits of international house sitting and pet sitting

If you love pets as much as we do, like looking after other people’s homes and are a keen traveller, then becoming house sitter abroad sounds like the perfect way to combine all the things that spark joy. We’ll try to keep it short and sweet here because we could write about house sitting around the world forever - check out the TrustedHousesitters blog if you don’t believe us and you’ll see. 

• You get to live for free anywhere in the world and experience what’s it like to run a farm in Costa Rica, look after a cute Shiba Inu in Tokyo or cosy up next to the fire in a cabin in the Colorado mountains. All of this without having to pay rent or utility bills. 
• You get to live like a local and enjoy the perks of slowing down. When you’re an international house sitter you become a local. You’ll get to experience what life is like anywhere in the world, get to know the neighbourhood, the local shops, the best parks to walk dogs and familiarise yourself with the beauty of local life. 
• Spending time with animals. Anyone who loves pets will definitely delight in getting to spend lots of quality time with animals anywhere in the world. You’ll be helping them live the life they want, in the comfort of their own home; help out their owners whilst they are away; and reap all the love. 
• Space and time. House sitting is nothing like travelling between cities, running from one hot spot to another. When you commit to being an international house or pet sitter, you swap the fast pace and cramped spaces for an entire apartment or house, cute pets, daily tasks and all the time in the world to enjoy looking after them. 
• New friendships. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that when you slow down and start spending time locally and giving to the community, you'll form new friendships that will last a lifetime. Looking after someone’s home and beloved pets is a deep experience and you’ll become reasonably close quite quickly. 

Important things to consider before house sitting around the world

If you have the travel bug and long to house sit in exotic locations, experienced house sitters Ben and Charli have some great advice on the practicalities you need to consider. So if, like them, you would like to be a house sitter in Costa Rica, a pet sitter in Fiji, or travel around the world house sitting in Australia, the USA or Europe make sure you are well prepared by reading their handy guide to house sitting abroad. We’re going to break down for you everything you should consider before house sitting around the world. 

"Just under two years ago we registered as house sitters with TrustedHousesitters and after spending the best part of an afternoon applying for assignments for which we thought we would be suitable sitters, we had our first reply. Charli & Ben, your profile is superb we would love to talk to you about house sitting for us in Liberia, Costa Rica. Please get in touch. My initial thoughts threw me back to my high school geography lessons, I had heard of Costa Rica, this was a good start, now where exactly is it?"

"Having spent the last 18 months travelling and house sitting in the USA, Central America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand we have become seasoned house sitters and have compiled what we believe is a failsafe checklist that we apply to all house sitting assignments we are offered. It is easy to overlook the logistics and legal requirements that differ all over the world, especially when the thought of a month on a Fijian island or Costa Rican cashew farm blocks all rational brain function."

1. Visas

Many countries offer tourist visas when you enter immigration. Other countries will require you apply in advance for a travel visa that’s valid. In some cases it’s as easy as going online and getting an electronic travel authorization like the ones the USA, Australia or Canada require. In others, you may have to contact their embassy. In all cases, make sure you contact the embassy of your own country and of the country you are going to be house sitting in. That way you’ll know what to expect and exactly for how many days it’s valid. Always check with the legal authorities, as they are the only ones with the most updated information. 

"Our first consideration is always whether we need a visa, and if a standard tourist visa allows us to stay for the amount of time required by the homeowner. Most countries automatically provide a tourist visa to visitors however the length of time allocated varies dramatically. Find out how much time a tourist visa gives you, are you able to renew or extend the visa on request. Consider how you will get the visa, if it is not granted on arrival you will have to apply before you travel. Decide if you will need to work while you are house sitting to finance your stay (this should be discussed with the homeowner), if so you will need to apply for the relevant work visa."

Visa checklist for house sitting

• Check whether you need a visa or not (and what type of visa)
• How long does the visa last?
• Can you renew the visa while in the country? Will you need a sponsor?
• How many times can you enter a country on a single visa?
• Check what documents you need to apply for a visa (and if they will be needed for an extension)
• How much will it cost?
• Make digital and paper copies of any documentation you may need (birth and marriage certificates, proof of funds, passports, etc.)
• Check your passport’s expiration date as it’s quite common most countries require at least 6 months before expiration on either entry or leaving date. 
• Check how many unstamped pages you’ve got on your passport, as some countries are very particular about this. 

2. Finance

Staying for free in someone’s house while looking after their home and beloved pets doesn’t mean there aren’t any financial implications with house sitting around the world. On the contrary, there are lots of things to consider: from the cost of travel to your house sit abroad to vehicle insurance or utility bills. Here’s what Charli and Ben advise regarding finance and house sitting internationally. 

"Consider the cost of your travel to and from the house sit and the logistics of travelling to the house from the airport. Discuss any financial agreements regarding utilities and vehicle insurance with the homeowner before accepting the assignment. It's rare for homeowners to ask house sitters to contribute to utility bills, but for longer sits it is a good idea to discuss it in advance."

3. Logistics

As lovely as house and pet sitting is, there are some more mundane and practical things to consider. One of them is the logistics of getting there in the first place. But another one is how you’ll get around once you’re at your house sit abroad. Discuss this with the owner and find an arrangement that works for you. 

"Unless you are house sitting in suburbia, public transport is often limited. Always discuss your transport options with the homeowner, ask if they will be giving you use of a vehicle, if so what insurance costs will you be responsible for. If no vehicle is provided, what public transport options are close to the house? Make sure you know how far you must travel to buy groceries. If you do not have use of a car and there is no public transport but the nearest supermarket is 10km from the house, you may need to consider buying/renting a car for the duration of the sit."

4. Personal Safety

Making sure you end up somewhere safe is key when you travel and when you house sit abroad. Especially because you won’t be familiar with the country and local culture, you could end up somewhere that doesn’t feel safe. Whether you're a solo female traveler or embarking on an adventure with a partner, always do your research and ask all the questions you need. Remember, you need to feel and be safe.

"Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Just because the homeowner chooses to live there doesn’t mean it is everyone’s cup of tea. Research the country and the local area, keep up to date with local news and the predicted weather conditions for the duration of your stay. It may seem like a great opportunity but make sure you feel comfortable with the arrangements before jumping the gun and booking your flight."

5. Communication

Of course, you need to keep your communication with the owner as open and fluid as possible. But here we’re talking about how good communication is where you’re going to house sit. Does the house have internet? Is there a landline? How good is the network there? This is particularly important if you’re working remotely and you’ll need your international house sit to have decent bandwidth.

"This is a vital tool for any house sitter. Ensure you find out what internet and telephone facilities you will have available at the house. Should anything happen during your stay where you need to contact the homeowner or emergency services you will need the ability to communicate with the outside world. Consider your internet requirements if you run a business while you travel, make sure the internet package at the house is suitable for your needs and discuss this with the homeowner. If your usage is heavier than theirs they may look to upgrade their package for the duration of the sit or suggest you purchase additional mobile internet."

6. Assignment Requirements

What will you have to do while you’re house sitting abroad? What will the owners expect you to do in their house? Do they have any pets? Do they have special needs? Is there a big garden you’ll need to look after? Ask everything you need to know, make a full list and understand 100% what’s expected of you before committing.

"Most assignments are detailed fully on the homeowners' advert, however, we always like to confirm the responsibilities that we will take on once the sit begins. It is important to spend as much time as you feel you need talking with the homeowner before you agree to house sit, make sure you understand exactly what is required. Once you have accepted an assignment, ask to chat with the homeowner on the phone or internet. We like to chat via Skype as it enables us to grasp some insight into the person for whom we will house sit. Many assignments include light gardening, housework and pet care but sometimes a homeowner will have a regular cleaner pop in while you're there. This is quite acceptable but make sure you are fully aware of this before you arrive, especially if you do not speak the local language."

7. Location

"This section is almost last on my written list because I know that it is first on my subconscious one! Location for most people is what attracts them to an assignment. Whether it is as an affordable accommodation option when staying near family, a relaxing break from a 9 to 5, an escape to the city or an opportunity to spend time in that particular country, there is a reason you apply for some house sits and not others. Don’t forget this initial consideration. Make sure the location of the house suits you and your schedule, if one opportunity doesn’t work out don’t be despondent as new opportunities are posted on a daily basis."

8. Contractual Agreement

Having a detailed short contract with everything that’s expected of you and also what the homeowner offers is a great way to avoid any misunderstandings. It’s not always the case, but it’s handy and Charli and Ben definitely find it useful.

"A number of homeowners have asked us to sign a short contract on arriving at a house sit. In short, it can detail whatever is required of you as a house sitter by the homeowner. TrustedHousesitters have an excellent template which you can access through the FAQ pages. Ensure that you read and understand anything you are asked to sign fully and only do so if you agree to all the terms laid out in the agreement. Don't be afraid to ask for additional terms to be added to cover the 'what ifs' and any potential responsibilities you have been given."

9. Research

Getting to know the area where you’ll be spending your time when you’re house sitting abroad is the best way to prepare for the experience. Ben and Charli, our veteran house sitters, have some words of wisdom about this. 

"Find out as much as you can about the area in which you will be living, consider the length of the house sit and the availability of local services. If you are someone who needs stimulation and suburbia, an island house sit might not be for you. A small amount of time spent typing your destination into a search engine can save you the irritation of being stuck somewhere that you don’t enjoy. After all, house sitting provides the opportunity to experience life living as a local, take advantage of this and apply for assignments accordingly. Travelling and living abroad can be a daunting prospect for some, yet we have found that being open and honest throughout the whole selection process and making sure we get as much information as possible from the homeowner ensures that a brilliant time is had by all involved. House sitting has provided us with a wealth of life experience and some incredible memories, we have found all the homeowners we have dealt with to be simply wonderful people and forged friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime."

The hidden costs of house sitting around the world

House and pet sitting internationally will save you a lot of money on accommodation abroad but there is no such thing as “free” travel. Travelling the world as a house sitter has some costs that you should think about: 

1. Flight tickets
2. Vaccinations and Covid tests (these may be necessary for certain countries and always require advance planning and extra costs)
3. Visas and tourist entry or departure taxes (may be included in your airfare or not)
4. Visa extensions
5. Cost of getting from the airport to the house sit and back again
6. Cost of living in the location you’re going to be house sitting in 
7. WiFi and telephone costs - WiFi is usually included but you may need a local sim or phone package for your phone 
8. Insurance - you may need travel and/or medical insurance depending where you’re going and how long you’re staying there
9. Home emergencies - sometimes the unexpected can happen and you may have to fly back home to deal with a family emergency. Make sure you always have a contingency plan and extra funds to cover that. You may not need to use them, but it’s best to stay on the safe side

Many thanks to Ben and Charli for sharing their house sitting knowledge and experience!