An appointment letter is the formal, legally binding employment contract issued at or around joining, superseding the earlier offer letter. It’s the document that actually governs the employment relationship.

What it typically contains, and what’s changing

A complete Indian appointment letter usually covers designation, date of joining, place of posting, the CTC break-up annexure, probation and confirmation terms, working hours, leave policy, notice period, duties and reporting line, confidentiality clauses, statutory benefits, and retirement age. Issuing a written appointment letter to every worker, including fixed-term and contract workers, is increasingly framed as a statutory requirement under the newer labour codes, though state-level rules were still rolling out through 2026 rather than uniformly notified everywhere, so treat this as a genuine requirement in the direction the law is moving rather than a fully settled, uniformly-enforced mandate in every state yet.

Frequently asked questions

Is the appointment letter the same document as the offer letter, just renamed?

No. The offer letter is conditional and comes first. The appointment letter is the binding contract issued once joining is confirmed, and it’s considerably more detailed.

What happens if the appointment letter’s terms differ from the offer letter?

The appointment letter governs going forward, since it supersedes the offer letter, which is exactly why candidates should read it carefully rather than assume it just repeats the offer.

Does an appointment letter change at confirmation?

The appointment letter itself doesn’t, but a separate confirmation letter is typically issued once probation ends, updating notice period and full benefits eligibility.

See what a employee handbook should cover alongside the appointment letter, and how probation terms fit in.