Official headnote:

The requirement to prove the existence of “contracts” in paragraph 41-SD of Appendix A to the immigration rules does not itself require the contracts in question to be contained in documents. There is, however, a need for such contracts to be evidenced in documentary form.

The Home Office attempted to argue that contracts have to be set out in a single document. The tribunal disagree, pointing out that many other forms of contract are legally effective. Nevertheless, the tribunal accepts that some sort of written evidence of contacts is required but that it might be spread out over several documents.

Contracts are not required for all types of entrepreneur application: graduate entrepreneurs can instead rely on a letter from the bank stating that a business account is open and operating. As always with the Points Based System, it is incredibly important to read the detail of the requirements.

Source: Shebl (Entrepreneur: proof of contracts) [2014] UKUT 216 (IAC).