The NSW Government is charging travellers for their quarantine accommodation. Mandatory quarantine is needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in NSW. The quarantine fee is not specifically for covering the cost of the hotel or meals. It goes towards recouping some of the costs incurred and to reduce the financial burden of COVID-19 on NSW taxpayers.
Effective dates for the commencement of quarantine fees for the following travellers who enter into quarantine accommodation are:
Fee waivers can only be applied in the circumstances which are outlined below. To apply for a fee waiver, submit your documents and contact information online.
All travellers (NSW residents and non-NSW residents) required to enter into quarantine under the public health orders will be liable for and charged a quarantine fee. Refer to NSW Government for more information on who will be charged for quarantine fees.
The quarantine fee does not apply:
Travellers in transit from a flight, via NSW, for less than 48 hours will not be charged a fee. Refer NSW Government for further quarantine rules.
The Moratorium period for NSW residents returning from Victoria ceased at 12:01am on 11 September 2020. The quarantine fee will be automatically waived for people who entered hotel quarantine before this time.
You will still be required to quarantine in government arranged accommodation.
You will need to provide documentation that clearly shows when you purchased your flight.
Documents required for each traveller are:
* Note that your documents must list all members of the group that landed in Sydney
To help process your inquiry quickly, please also provide us with a contact phone number and proof of identity for each traveller.
Please submit your documents and information online. Please refer to the Conditions and Requirements section prior to applying.
Apply for a quarantine fee waiver
You will not receive an invoice if your fee waiver is approved, prior to your departure from the quarantine accommodation.
Please note, you can provide the required documents to Revenue NSW after an invoice is issued and if eligible, the invoice will be waived.
If you believe you have received an invoice in error, please contact us.
The hotel quarantine fee is a fixed cost covering 14 days, even if you are required to stay in quarantine for a longer period. The quarantine fee is a contribution towards the overall costs of quarantine incurred by NSW Government.
Travellers will be charged $3,000 for one adult; additional occupants will be added as follows:
For example
All charges are in Australian dollars.
Fees apply to all travellers flying into Sydney including Australian Citizens and Australian permanent residents who are placed in mandatory quarantine accommodation.
If you stay in quarantine for less than 14 days for any reason (for example, if you are a transiting traveller staying in quarantine or need to be treated in hospital) you will be charged a proportion of the applicable fee, which will be charged depending upon the length of your stay in quarantine. For example, if you stayed in quarantine for 72 hours, you will be charged for three days.
If you stay in quarantine for less than 48 hours you will not be charged any fee.
Subsidies may apply to fees for Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) or Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) employees.
If you purchased your airfare prior to the relevant quarantine announcement and you provide the required documents to Revenue NSW, your fee will be waived.
To apply for a fee waiver, submit your documents and contact information online. Please refer to the Conditions and Requirements section before applying.
Apply for a quarantine fee waiver
Documents required are:
* Note that your documents must list all members of the group that landed in Sydney
If you believe you have received an invoice in error, please contact us.
Even if the quarantine fee does not apply to you, you will still be required to quarantine.
The names of the travellers on the flight’s confirmation documents must match the names of travellers that travelled to Australia and quarantined. Names will be compared to passports and travel documentation.
If, following purchase of flights prior to the deadline, the airline changes the day and/or time of the flight or the airline cancels the flight, travellers will not be charged providing they can supply evidence that their original flight was purchased prior to the deadline.
Any bookings made prior to the deadline and then cancelled by travellers are not able to be used as evidence of pre-booked travel for the purposes of a quarantine fee waiver.
After you check out of quarantine, you will receive an invoice from us.
This will be sent to you by email or post.
You will have 30 days to pay the invoice which will be identified on the invoice.
You may be subject to penalties if you do not pay your fees on time. Please see the section on What if I find it difficult to pay? If you think you may be unable to pay on time.
If you entered quarantine as part of a group, the primary occupant (identified at quarantine check in) will receive an invoice from Revenue NSW with other occupants of your group identified on the invoice.
If you entered as an unaccompanied youth (under 18 years of age) you will be invoiced as a child (ie $500) and your invoice will be sent to your next of kin. If you did not provide your next of kin, you will receive the invoice.
If you entered under the Pacific Labour Scheme or the Seasonal Workers Scheme your employer should receive the invoice.
If you entered as air crew your employer should receive the invoice.
You have the following options and further details will be on your invoice.
For further information contact us.
If you quarantined in a designated accommodation facility you are liable for paying the quarantine fee.
We can only help you if your personal, financial, or medical circumstances have left you with insufficient means to pay your fee. S64 State Debt Recovery Act 2018.
Once you have received your invoice, please contact us as soon as possible if you think you will have difficulty paying the fee by the due date.
We can grant an extension of up to 14 days and can assist you to establish a payment plan.
When you contact us please have your invoice number at hand.
If the 14-day extension and payment plans are not affordable, please contact us. We will work with you to determine your capacity to pay the fees. This involves our team asking you questions about your financial and personal circumstances that may affect your ability to pay.
You will be required to provide supporting evidence of your financial circumstances. We will work with you on options to resolve your fees.
Contact your travel insurance company directly to find out whether your insurance policy covers your quarantine accommodation fee.
For related information on this topic, see the NSW Fair Trading website for guidance on travel cancellations
You can get help from a financial counsellor by contacting the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
Financial counsellors provide free, independent and confidential advice to help you manage your debts or negotiate with creditors.
Unlike financial planners or advisors, they don't provide investment advice or recommend products, and they don't receive commissions.
The National Debt Helpline website also has step-by-step guides and useful information on how to deal with specific types of debts.
You can find further information about the quarantine fee on the NSW Government’s website.
If you have further questions about the quarantine fee, please contact us on 1300 433 476 (8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday) or email quarantinefee@revenue.nsw.gov.au.
Please submit your waiver documents online.
Apply for a quarantine fee waiver
If you have concerns or complaints about your quarantine accommodation or meals, please contact the reception desk of your accommodation or quarantine facility.
Refer to NSW Government for latest news and updates on COVID-19
A NSW resident who had not completed 14 days quarantine in Victoria needed to enter NSW via Sydney airport prior to 23 November 2020. Only NSW residents that have completed quarantine can fly into another NSW airport.
Special arrangements were in place for border communities and critical service workers in the border region for entry into NSW prior to 23 November 2020.
Find out more about NSW-Victoria border restrictions if you have travelled from Victoria to Sydney prior to the NSW-Victorian border reopening on 23 November 2020.
Special arrangements are in place for travellers from New Zealand.