COVID-19 Update - Hotel Quarantine Requirement Forthcoming
March 23, 2021
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At a Glance
- Effective March 26, 2021, 04:00 (local time in Ireland), travelers from high-risk countries and quarantine-required travelers from other locations without a negative COVID-19 PCR test result will need to quarantine in a government facility.
- Affected travelers who seek to enter Ireland without a pre-booked hotel reservation using the designated government website are subject to penalties.
The situation
Effective March 26, 2021, 04:00 (local time in Ireland), Ireland will introduce a requirement for some travelers to quarantine in a government facility (‘hotel quarantine’) upon arrival.
A closer look
The following key elements apply to hotel quarantine:
- Affected travelers. Hotel quarantine will apply to travelers from ‘high-risk’ countries as listed on this government website; and to quarantine-required travelers from other locations without a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained from a test conducted no more than 72 hours before arrival. Limited exemptions apply, mostly for essential staff as detailed on this site.
- Reserving stay. Travelers must book their stay in a quarantine hotel prior to travel via this website. The stay duration is 14 days.
- Cost. The cost of quarantine per the 14-day stay is: EUR 1,875 for one adult; EUR 360 for children ages 4-12; and EUR 625 for children ages 13-17. The quarantine fee includes accommodation, all meals, transport from airport/entry port to the hotel, security and two COVID-19 tests.
Impact
Travellers who do not book their stay in a quarantine hotel prior to arrival may be refused boarding to Ireland.
Those who arrive in Ireland and do not comply may be refused entry to Ireland or be subject to prosecution.
If travellers leave the hotel prior to the end of their quarantine period, the police may enforce a fine of up to EUR 2,000 or they may receive a prison sentence of up to one month.
Background
This measure has been implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to assist ongoing vaccination efforts.
The United Kingdom similarly requires hotel quarantine for travelers from high-risk locations; Norway requires hotel quarantine for most quarantine-required travelers.
Looking ahead
For up-to-date information on COVID-19-related travel bans, restrictions and concessions, among other information, check Fragomen’s dedicated COVID-19 website.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
