Late Presentation Under a Letter of Credit: The 21-Day Rule
How the presentation period works under UCP 600, how to calculate your real deadline and what happens if you're late.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
Under UCP 600, when a credit requires original transport documents, they must be presented within the period stated in the credit (field 48) or, if none is stated, no later than 21 calendar days after shipment — and in every case no later than the expiry date. Presenting after the earlier of those dates is a discrepancy called late presentation.
| Default period | 21 calendar days after shipment |
|---|---|
| Credit-specific period | MT700 field 48 |
| Hard stop | Expiry date in field 31D |
How to calculate the deadline
- Take the actual shipment date on the transport document.
- Add the period in field 48 (or 21 days).
- Compare with the expiry date in 31D.
- Your deadline is the earlier date.
If you're going to be late
Ask the applicant to request an amendment extending the period or expiry, or be prepared for the bank to refuse and seek a waiver from the applicant.
Worked example (fictional)
Shipment 2 June, field 48 says 15 days, expiry 30 June. 2 June + 15 days = 17 June, which is earlier than 30 June. Deadline: 17 June.
Sources
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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