Documents Required Under a Letter of Credit
Which documents a Letter of Credit typically requires, where to find the list in an MT700 and how to prepare each one.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
The documents required under a Letter of Credit are listed in field 46A of the MT700. They commonly include a commercial invoice, a transport document (such as a bill of lading or air waybill), a packing list, an insurance document under CIF/CIP terms, a certificate of origin and other certificates. Field 47A can add conditions that apply to these documents.
| Where listed | MT700 field 46A |
|---|---|
| Extra conditions | MT700 field 47A |
| Typical set | Invoice, transport document, packing list, insurance, certificates |
Common documents
- Commercial invoice — issued by the beneficiary to the applicant.
- Transport document — bill of lading, sea waybill, air waybill or multimodal document.
- Packing list or weight list.
- Insurance policy or certificate — when the credit requires it.
- Certificate of origin.
- Inspection, quality, analysis or phytosanitary certificates.
- Beneficiary's certificate — a statement signed by the beneficiary.
- Draft (bill of exchange) — when field 42C asks for one.
How to read field 46A
Each line usually names a document, the number of originals and copies, who issues it, and what it must show. Treat every adjective as a requirement: 'signed', 'full set', 'clean on board', 'issued by'.
Documents not required
Under UCP 600 Article 14(g), a document presented but not required by the credit is disregarded and may be returned. It doesn't help — and it doesn't hurt.
Sources
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- Swift — MT700 Issue of a Documentary Credit (category 7 standards)
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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