Everything you need to know about the UK’s hotel quarantine policy

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that arrivals coming from 33 high-risk countries will be required to quarantine in supervised accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days. The hotel quarantine policy will only apply to those who are still able to enter the U.K. There is already a travel ban in place from these high-risk countries, and so non-nationals and non-residents who have been in the designated high-risk counties in the past 10 days, are already banned from entering the U.K.

When the new rules take effect, all travellers who cannot be denied entry - who are coming from one of the 33 high-risk destinations - will be required to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel. These countries are:

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe

The prime minister said that the move to introduce this new hotel quarantine measure was made in order to prevent new mutant strains from entering the country. By requiring passengers coming from countries with new strains to isolate for 10 days in a government-supervised accommodation, the government is hoping to better police arrivals to ensure they abide by the quarantine measure. The announcement also said that police will be carrying out more physical checks on those entering the country to ensure they are self-isolating.

The U.K.’s travel ban only applies to British or Irish nationals - or third-country nationals with residence rights in the U.K. - who have not been in one of the 30+ high-risk countries in the past 10 days. For example, a non-national or non-resident who is in Brazil could fly to Dubai and stay there for 10 days. After 10 days outside of Brazil, the traveller would then be able to enter the U.K. and would not be required to undergo a hotel quarantine.

They would, however, still be required to self-isolate in their own accommodation for 10 days. Additionally, they must still have a negative COVID-19 test and have completed a passenger locator form in order to board their flight to the U.K.

Yes. Any traveller, regardless of their nationality, coming from one of the 30 high-risk countries will be required to quarantine in the government-supervised accommodation.

At this time, last week's announcement applies to all four nations, however, that could change. Johnson said that the government is “working closely” with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to align on the same finalised policy.

All travellers arriving in the country must still fill out a passenger locator form, regardless of where they’re travelling from. Those entering from the high-risk countries will be “met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine,” Johnson said on Wednesday.

Johnson said that the government are still working with accommodation providers about logistics and to establish the facilities “as quickly as possible.” At the moment, we don’t know which hotels will be participating in the government-supervised quarantine scheme. It’s likely that the government will opt for hotels close to airports, as to avoid extended travel time.

This piece of information is still unclear,  but we expect additional information will be announced this week. Until the new hotel quarantine regulation takes effect, travellers entering the U.K. from the 30+ high-risk countries will be required to self-isolate for 10 days in their own home or arrangement. Additionally, those in their household — even if they did not travel — are required to self-isolate for 10 days.

At this time, there’s no official comment on how much a 10-day government-supervised hotel quarantine will cost travellers. In other parts of the world, such as Australia, where a hotel quarantine policy has been in place since the start of the pandemic, a 14-day quarantine hotel stay costs 3,000 AUD (about £1,675) for one adult.

It’s also unclear if travellers’ hotel quarantine stays will include food, however, it’s likely. In other parts of the world where hotel quarantine has long been the policy, such as in China, Hong Kong, New Zealand and more, food is included in the price. Some countries also allow travellers to order delivery. We will have to wait and see if the U.K.’s policy includes food, allows for alcohol or deliveries.

There are no official government guidelines with regards to exercise. Other countries that have adopted hotel quarantine policies, such as New Zealand, have allowed travellers to take strictly monitored exercise periods at their hotels.

No. Travellers entering the U.K. from the high-risk countries will not be able to test out of a full 10-day quarantine.

All other international arrivals can still utilise the Test to Release scheme in England. With it, a traveller must quarantine for a full five days. After their fifth day, the traveller can purchase a COVID-19 test from a government-approved provider. If the test returns a negative result, the traveller can forgo the rest of their quarantine.

Yes. As of 18 January, all arrivals to the U.K. — with the exception of those arriving from Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Ascension Islands and St Helena — must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. This requirement will also apply to those coming from high-risk countries, who will then have to quarantine for 10 days in a government-supervised hotel.

Both U.K. and foreign nationals arriving in the country must show a negative COVID-19 test result, taken up to three days before departure. If travellers do not have a negative test result, airlines may refuse to allow them to board, and they could be fined £500.

When the new hotel quarantine rules take effect, all other travellers entering the U.K. will follow the same rules. As of 18 January, that includes the following measures:

• Each passenger over the age of 11 must have a negative COVID-19 test result, taken up to three days before scheduled departure
• Each passenger must fill out a passenger locator form prior to arriving in the U.K.
• Each passenger must self-isolate for 10 days

There are some exceptions to the above measures. For example, you do not need to self-isolate in England if you’re travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Additionally, those travelling for certain medical reasons and airline crew will not be required to have a negative COVID-19 test. If you think you may be exempt from one of the above restrictions, it’ll be worth checking on gov.uk for a full list.