diff --git a/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/virtual/provider/VirtualFlowRuleProvider.java b/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/virtual/provider/VirtualFlowRuleProvider.java
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/virtual/provider/VirtualFlowRuleProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.incubator.net.virtual.provider;
+
+import org.onosproject.incubator.net.virtual.NetworkId;
+import org.onosproject.net.flow.FlowRule;
+
+/**
+ * Abstraction of a virtual flow rule provider.
+ * This provider virtualizes and de-virtualizes FlowRule.
+ * See {@link org.onosproject.net.flow.FlowRule}.
+ */
+public interface VirtualFlowRuleProvider extends VirtualProvider {
+
+    /**
+     * Instructs the provider to apply the specified flow rules to their
+     * respective virtual devices.
+     *
+     * @param networkId the identity of the virtual network where this rule applies
+     * @param flowRules one or more flow rules
+     */
+    void applyFlowRule(NetworkId networkId, FlowRule... flowRules);
+
+    /**
+     * Instructs the provider to remove the specified flow rules to their
+     * respective virtual devices.
+     *
+     * @param networkId the identity of the virtual network where this rule applies
+     * @param flowRules one or more flow rules
+     */
+    void removeFlowRule(NetworkId networkId, FlowRule... flowRules);
+}