Commerce Department Opens Trader Licensing and Confirms 3,146 Licences in Force

The Commerce Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network today confirmed the arrangements for trader licensing. Applications for a trader licence in each of the four categories, market stall, shop premises, itinerant and distance trading, are accepted from Monday 7 September 2026. Applications are made by writing to the Department, are acknowledged within two working days and are decided within ten working days of a complete application being received.

During the transition period from 10 August to 5 September 2026, traders operating under the arrangements of member organisations were invited to register provisionally with the Department. 3,412 applications for provisional registration were received. Of these, 3,146 were accepted and were converted to full trader licences at establishment on 6 September 2026, 48 were refused, and 218 remain under assessment and will be decided by 18 September 2026.

A trader licence is valid for twelve months and is renewable. Licence fees are set out in the schedule of fees and charges published today, and the fee for a licence converted from a provisional registration is waived for the first year. The steps for applying, the documents required and answers to common questions are set out on the Trader Licensing page of this site. Enquiries may be sent to contact@commerce.gov.vin.