Eligibility and Residence
Citizenship of the Velocity Interoperability Network is granted on one of five routes. Each route has its own qualifying period and its own documents; all but descent and grant require a knowledge assessment. The Citizenship Office of the Velocity Interoperability Network decides every application against the requirements of the route relied upon, and holds no discretion to admit an applicant who does not meet them.
Read this page before you apply. Most applications that are refused fail on the qualifying period rather than on the documents: an applicant applies before the period is complete, or an absence has broken it without the applicant realising. If you are unsure whether your period is complete, write to the Office with the dates and it will tell you before you apply.
The five routes. An applicant may hold an application on only one route at a time.
- Citizenship by residence
- For a person who has resided continuously at one or more sites of the Network for five years and holds a lawful residence permission on the day of application. This is the route on which most applications are made.
- Citizenship by service
- For a person who has served a member organisation of the Network continuously for four years, whether or not resident at a site throughout that period. Service must be verified by a statement from each organisation concerned.
- Citizenship by descent
- For a person one of whose parents was a citizen of the Network at the time of that person's birth. There is no residence requirement, and no knowledge assessment is set. The register number of the parent must be supplied.
- Citizenship by adoption
- For a person adopted by a citizen of the Network who has been in that citizen's care for two years. Where the person adopted is under sixteen the application is made on their behalf by the adopting citizen.
- Citizenship by grant
- For a person to whom the Network Assembly has resolved to grant citizenship in recognition of an exceptional contribution to the Network. The Office does not itself decide such applications; it records the resolution and arranges the ceremony.
Qualifying periods and absence. The table below sets out what each route requires. The limits on absence apply to the qualifying period only, not to the time between the application and the ceremony.
| Route | Qualifying period | Absence permitted | Knowledge assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence | Five years' continuous residence | 180 days in any qualifying year; 450 days over the period | Yes |
| Service | Four years' continuous service | Absence on the duties of the organisation is disregarded | Yes |
| Descent | None | Not applicable | No |
| Adoption | Two years in the care of the adopting citizen | 90 days in any qualifying year | Yes, if aged sixteen or over |
| Grant | None | Not applicable | No |
How absences are treated. Certain absences are disregarded in whole or in part. Record every absence of more than fourteen days in your application, whether or not you believe it is disregarded, and supply the evidence shown below.
| Reason for absence | Treatment | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Duties of a member organisation | Disregarded in full | Statement of service from the organisation |
| Medical treatment outside the Network | Disregarded in full | Confirmation from the treating practitioner |
| Study on a course recognised by the Network | Disregarded up to 365 days | Confirmation of enrolment and of completion |
| Care of a relative outside the Network | Disregarded up to 180 days | Written account and, where held, supporting records |
| Any other absence | Counted in full against the limits | None required |
Residence questions. The questions below are those most often put to the Office about the counting of residence.
Questions about your own qualifying period may be sent to contact@citizenship.gov.vin; include the dates and the addresses concerned. For the steps that follow, see Applying for Citizenship; for the general questions the Office is asked, see the frequently asked questions.