MANDATORY HOTEL QUARANTINE IN IRELAND
(EFFECTIVE AS OF 26 MARCH 2021)
MANDATORY HOTEL QUARANTINE (MQH)
- Effective from 26 March 2021, Ireland will be imposing mandatory quarantine at designated facilities for arrivals into the state
- Those who are subjected to complete the mandatory hotel quarantine (MQH) are as follows:
- Any passenger travelling from one of the designated states labelled as ‘high risk’
- Any passenger who has been in one of the designated States in the 14 days before arrival in Ireland (including passengers who have travelled through (a port or airport in a designated State (transit passengers)
- As of 24 March 2021, 33 states were included in the list. The list is subject to change at short notice and travellers are advised to check the list before travelling. Please go to the following URL for the full list:
- Any passenger arriving into Ireland from any country, who travel without evidence of a negative / not detected RT-PCR Test taken no more than 72 hours before arriving will also be required to undergo the MQH
BOOKING AND COST FOR MQH IN IRELAND
- Passengers are required to pre-book accommodation in a designated quarantine facility and to pre-pay for their stay. The designated facility can be booked at :
www.quarantinehotelsireland.ie
- All cost must be borne by the passenger
- The cost for one adult is €1,875. There are graduated rates for additional family members, with the additional rate for one adult (or child over 12 years) sharing being €625 and the additional rate for a child (aged 4 to 12) sharing being €360. There is no charge for children aged 3 and under
- Passengers will be asked to show evidence of their booking at boarding. Where the air transport operator is not satisfied of this requirement, they shall inform the passenger that they are not allowed to board the aircraft
- Where a longer quarantine stay is required, for example should the passenger subsequently test positive for COVID-19, the cost will be €150 per day per adult for each additional day (additional €55 per day for adult sharing; €30 per day for child sharing)
OTHER ARRIVALS (QUARANTINE AT PLACE OF RESIDENCE FOR 14 DAYS)
- Applies to passengers arriving into Ireland from any other country (outside the Designated State list), and possess evidence of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
EXEMPTIONS
- Those who are exempt from MQH are as follows:
- arriving into the State in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)
- arriving in the State in the course of duty and are drivers of a heavy goods vehicle
- airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew and who arrive in the State in the course of performing duties
- travelling to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation
- a member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling to the State in course of duty
- travelling to the State for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons and these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State
- having been outside of the state to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament
- diplomats and certain other categories of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State
- Passengers entitled to an exemption from MQH should carry with them evidence of their entitlement.
- There is no exemption from mandatory quarantine for passengers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19
REVIEW / APPEAL SYSTEM
- Where a passenger believes that he/she is not required to undergo quarantine, or is required to leave quarantine early, he/she may request a review. This can only be done once the passenger is already in quarantine
- It is not possible to request a review before travelling
- A review can only be requested for the limited reasons set out in the relevant legislation (s. 38B(16) of the Health Act 1947, as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2021)
- The State Liaison Officer (Irish Defence Forces) at the hotel can provide further information on how to apply
- Where a passenger from a designated State has an urgent or compelling reason to travel to Ireland but does not have the means to pay for mandatory hotel quarantine, Irish Embassies and Consulates can issue a ‘Deferral of Payment’ certificate that will enable the passenger to board the plane or ship in order to travel to Ireland. However, this certificate does not necessarily mean that the passenger will be exempt from payment. The decision as to whether or not the passenger can be exempt from paying for mandatory hotel quarantine will be taken by the State Liaison Officer after the passenger’s arrival
ADDITIONAL NOTE
- The Government of Ireland advises against all non-essential international travel. All travellers coming into Ireland must:
- complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form; and
- provide evidence that you have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before you arrive into Ireland, or have evidence that you are exempt from this legal requirement
Further information on travelling to Ireland during the pandemic and the mandatory quarantine can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Thank you.
Embassy of Malaysia, Dublin, Ireland
24 March 2021