Entry Rules
Everyone entering the Velocity Interoperability Network is subject to the rules below, whether they hold a visa or a passport of the Network. Items that are not permitted will be refused entry and may be retained. Items that must be declared are inspected on arrival and are normally released the same day.
The rules took effect on 6 September 2026 and are applied at every point of entry. They exist to protect the interoperability of the Network: every device connected to it must behave as the standards require, and nothing may be brought in that would alter, intercept or impersonate the protocols on which the Network depends. The rules are not concerned with what a traveller carries for personal use, and personal effects, documents and data are admitted without question.
Three things are asked of every traveller: to bring nothing that is not permitted, to declare what must be declared, and to register the devices that will be connected. The lists below set out what falls under each heading. The thresholds that decide whether a declaration is needed are given in the table beneath them, and the questions most often asked about the rules are answered at the foot of the page.
Permitted
- Devices certified to Network interoperability standards, registered on arrival.
- Software carrying a current Network compatibility mark.
- Personal effects, documents and data belonging to the traveller.
- Professional equipment declared on arrival and removed on departure.
Not permitted
- Uncertified devices that transmit on Network channels.
- Software that alters, intercepts or impersonates Network protocols.
- Malicious code of any kind, whether or not it is intended for use.
- Credentials, keys or tokens belonging to another person or organisation.
- Hazardous materials and weapons, other than those carried by authorised Defence personnel.
Must be declared on arrival
- More than three connected devices.
- Any device that has been connected to a network outside the Velocity Interoperability Network in the previous 30 days.
- Cryptographic hardware and removable storage exceeding 1 terabyte.
- Goods intended for sale or for use by an organisation inside the Network.
Declaration thresholds
| Item | Threshold before a declaration is required | Treatment on declaration | Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected devices | Up to 3 per traveller | Declaration; each device registered and counted | Same day |
| Connection to an outside network | None within the previous 30 days | Declaration; device inspected before registration | Same day |
| Removable storage | Up to 1 terabyte per item | Declaration; item inspected | Same day |
| Cryptographic hardware | None | Declaration in every case; registered to a named holder | Same day |
| Network equipment | None | Declaration in every case; inspected before registration | Same day |
| Goods for sale or for an organisation | None | Declaration; goods inspected and the receiving organisation recorded | Same day, or the next working day for large consignments |
| Professional equipment | None | Declaration; registered for the period of the assignment | Same day |
The classes of device, the certification each requires and the obligations of a registered holder are described under Device Registration.
Questions about entry
If you are unsure whether something may be brought into the Network, ask before you travel by emailing contact@immigration.gov.vin. To apply for a visa, see Visas; for where you may enter and what happens on arrival, see Points of Entry.