Hotel quarantine prices for travellers to England from red list countries will increase from 12 August 2021.
The UK Government made the announcement earlier this week. The hotel quarantine prices will reportedly rise to reflect better the cost of PCR tests for arrivals from red-list countries, welfare and cost of transport.
The price increase is a hefty £535 more per adult for the hotel quarantine period from 12 August 2021. The rate for the additional adult will increase by £780. The good news is that there are no price increases for children.
Breytenbachs strongly recommend that persons travelling to England from Southern Africa to take up work or to return to their residences do so without delay. Or at least book the hotel quarantine by 11 August 2021 to avoid the hefty hotel quarantine increases.
Breakdown of Hotel Quarantine Costs
| Hotel Quarantine Costs | Current Rate for Bookings | Rate for Bookings from 12 August 2021 | Price Increase |
| 1 Adult per room for ten days / 11 nights | £1,750 | £2,285 | £535 |
| Additional rate for one adult or child older than 11 years of age | £650 | £1,430 | £780 |
| Additional rate for a child aged 5 to 11 years of age | £325 | £325 | £0 |
Who has to Hotel Quarantine on arrival in England?
If you have been in a so-called red list country in the ten days before you arrive in England, you have to quarantine for ten days. You have to quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel. The day that you arrive in the UK will be counted as Day 0 of the quarantine.
You will also have to take a Covid-19 test. You have to take the test on or before Day 2 and on or after Day 8 or quarantining.
Furthermore, only the following categories of people are allowed to travel to the UK from a red-list country:
- British Citizens;
- Irish Nationals; or
- Persons who have residence rights in the UK. Persons with residence rights would include any person holding a valid UK visa or permit.
The Robot System of Arrivals
The UK currently uses a so-called robot system for arrivals in the UK.
Countries can fall into one of three categories; Green list, Amber List and Red-list countries. The UK Government monitors the risk posed by individual countries and territories. Every three weeks, they review the respective lists, and countries can move between the lists if conditions change.
There are currently several countries on the red list that need to hotel quarantine. Some of the countries include:
South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Pakistan
Unfortunately, it seems like these countries will stay on the red list for the foreseeable future. Persons arriving from Southern Africa will thus have to fulfil the hotel quarantine requirements.
Clients are welcome to check on this UK Government link for up to date information on the classification of countries as Red, Amber or Green.
How Breytenbachs can help you
Breytenbachs have offices in London, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. If you need help with your UK visa or more advice on the hotel quarantine situation, please contact us. Our consultants can assist with all UK immigration matters, visas, permits, including appeals and reviews.
