Trader Licensing

The Commerce Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network licenses the traders who sell goods and services to the public within the Velocity Interoperability Network. A trader licence confirms the identity of the holder, the category in which they trade and, where relevant, the premises or sites at which they trade. Licences are issued in four categories, are valid for twelve months and are renewable.

Before establishment, traders were registered separately by each member organisation, on differing terms. During the transition period from 10 August to 5 September 2026 traders were invited to register provisionally with the Department. 3,146 provisional registrations were converted to full licences at establishment on 6 September 2026. Applications for new licences in every category are accepted from Monday 7 September 2026.

Licence categories. Every licence is issued in one of the four categories below. A trader who trades in more than one way holds a licence in each category concerned.

Market stall trader

For selling goods or services from a pitch at a licensed market. One licence covers trading at any licensed market in the Network; the licence number is recorded against every pitch allocation.

Shop premises trader

For selling goods or services to the public from fixed premises at a site of the Network. The licence names the premises; a trader with more than one shop holds a licence for each.

Itinerant trader

For selling from a vehicle, barrow or temporary stand at places other than a licensed market, including door-to-door sales and sales at events. The licence states the sites at which the trader may operate.

Distance trader

For selling to residents of the Network by post, telephone or online from within the Network without premises open to the public. Traders who also hold shop premises do not need a separate distance licence.

Applying for a licence. The steps below apply to applications in every category, whether for a first licence or a renewal.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check which category you need

   Identify the category above that describes how you will trade. A trader who sells both from a market stall and from a shop needs a licence in each category.

2. 2

   Step 2: Prepare your documents

   You will need your staff or citizen identification, a description of the goods or services you will sell, the premises or sites at which you will trade, and, for market stall traders, the markets at which you intend to apply for a pitch.

3. 3

   Step 3: Submit your application

   Send the application and documents to the Department by email. Applications are acknowledged within two working days. If anything is missing, the Department will say what is needed; the assessment period begins when the application is complete.

4. 4

   Step 4: Assessment

   Applications are decided within ten working days of a complete application being received. The Department checks the applicant's identification and trading history within the Network and may ask for further information.

5. 5

   Step 5: Pay the fee

   When an application is granted the licence fee is invoiced by email and is payable within 30 days. The licence takes effect when the fee is received. The fee is waived for the first year of a licence converted from a provisional registration.

6. 6

   Step 6: Receive and display your licence

   The licence document is sent by email. Market stall and shop premises traders must display it, or the licence number in the form issued, where customers can see it. Itinerant and distance traders must quote the number on any invoice or receipt.

Licences at establishment. The figures below record the position on 6 September 2026. Applications received during the transition period that remain under assessment will be decided by 18 September 2026.

3,146

Trader licences in force at establishment on 6 September 2026

3,412

Applications for provisional registration received during the transition period

218

Applications under assessment, to be decided by 18 September 2026

10

Working days within which a complete application is decided

The 48 applications refused during the transition were refused because the applicant could not be identified from the records of a member organisation or because the goods described may not lawfully be sold within the Network. Every refused applicant was told the reasons and of the right to a review. Licences in force by site are published on the Statistics page.

Questions about licensing. The answers below cover the questions most often put to the Department during the transition period.

Fees for each category, and the fee for a variation, are set out on the Fees and Charges page. For the markets at which a market stall trader may apply for a pitch, see Markets. Applications and enquiries may be sent to contact@commerce.gov.vin.