Glossary

The terms below are used throughout this site and in the Ministry's correspondence. They are arranged in three groups: the Network and its bodies, agreements, and protocol. Within each group the terms are listed in the order in which they are usually encountered. Where a term is explained more fully elsewhere on the site, its title is a link to that page.

The Network and its bodies

The Network: The Velocity Interoperability Network: the member organisations together with the Departments and services that serve them.
Member organisation: An organisation that belongs to the Network and is represented through the Ministry in its external relations. Members are recorded in the Register of Member Organisations.
Full member: A member organisation that takes part in every decision of the Council of Members and may be the member concerned in an agreement. Full members appoint a permanent representative.
Associate member: A member organisation admitted for a fixed term, which takes part in the Council of Members without a vote on the admission of members or the adoption of common positions. Associate members appoint a delegate.
Observer: An outside organisation invited by the Council of Members to attend a meeting or a series of meetings without taking part in decisions.
Outside organisation: Any organisation that is not a member of the Network.
The Ministry: The Ministry of the Velocity Interoperability Network, the principal body responsible for the external relations of the Network and for coordination between its members.
Office: One of the four divisions of the Ministry: the Office of the Spokesperson, the Office of Member Relations, the Office of Agreements and the Office of Protocol.
Department: One of the Departments of the Network established on 6 September 2026, each responsible for a field of the Network's business, such as immigration, health or transport.
Council of Members: The assembly of the representatives of all member organisations, convened by the Office of Member Relations. It meets in ordinary session at least four times a year.
Committee: A body of the Council of Members that prepares its business between sessions. Two standing committees exist: the standards committee and the agreements committee.
Permanent representative: The officer appointed by a full member to represent it in the business of the Network and to sit in the Council of Members.
Delegate: The officer appointed by an associate member to represent it in the business of the Network.

Agreements

Agreement: A binding arrangement between the Network and an outside organisation, concluded by the Ministry on behalf of the Network.
Interoperability agreement: An agreement that connects an outside organisation's systems to the Network under Network standards.
Cooperation agreement: An agreement that sets out joint work between the Network and an outside organisation.
Exchange agreement: An agreement that allows staff or students of an outside organisation to work or study within the Network. It is concluded jointly with the Immigration Department.
Memorandum of understanding: A record of shared intention that does not bind either party.
Adopted agreement: An agreement concluded by a member organisation before 6 September 2026 and adopted by the Ministry on behalf of the Network on that date. Adopted agreements continue on the terms on which they were concluded.
Counterpart: The outside organisation that is party to an agreement with the Network.
Member concerned: The member organisation that carries obligations under an agreement, or that proposed it, and that is named as such in the Register of Agreements.
Common position: The single position settled by the Ministry, after consulting members, on a matter where the Network speaks with one voice. Once settled it is followed by every member.
Register: An authoritative record kept by the Ministry. Two registers are published: the Register of Member Organisations and the Register of Agreements.

Protocol, correspondence and records

Precedence: The order in which the bodies, representatives and officers of the Network are ranked on official occasions.
Form of address: The manner in which a body or officer of the Network is addressed in correspondence and in speech, as published by the Office of Protocol.
Official visit: A visit to the Network by the head of an outside organisation, or by the Ministry to an outside organisation, arranged by the Office of Protocol with a full programme.
Working visit: A visit for the purpose of negotiation or joint work, with a programme confined to the business in hand.
Courtesy call: A short visit paid by a representative of an outside organisation to the Ministry, or by a newly appointed representative of a member, without substantive business.
Technical mission: A visit by specialists of an outside organisation to a member organisation, under an agreement, to carry out work specified in it.
Signing: The ceremony at which an agreement is concluded, arranged by the Office of Protocol.
Statement: An official communication issued by the Office of the Spokesperson and published in the Newsroom.
Notice: A communication from the Ministry or another body of the Network circulated to member organisations through the Office of Member Relations.
Record series: A class of records kept by the Ministry, with a retention period and rules of access, as set out on the Records and Publications page.

Terms are added as the Ministry's work develops. A term that is not listed here, or whose meaning is unclear, may be raised with the Office of the Spokesperson through the contact page. For the bodies referred to here, see About the Ministry; for the types of agreement, see Agreements.