MT700 Field 31D: Date and Place of Expiry
How the expiry date and place in field 31D work, and how they interact with the presentation period.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
Field 31D states the date and place of expiry of the Letter of Credit — the last day on which documents may be presented, and where. A presentation must be made on or before that date at the place stated. If the last day falls on a day the bank is closed for reasons other than force majeure, UCP 600 Article 29 extends it to the next banking day.
| Field | 31D — Date and Place of Expiry |
|---|---|
| Rule | Presentation on or before expiry (UCP 600 Art. 6(d)) |
| Bank closed | Next banking day (Art. 29) |
Why the place matters
If the credit expires at the issuing bank's counters abroad, documents must arrive there in time — courier time counts. Expiry in the beneficiary's country is safer for the exporter.
Expiry and the presentation period
The real deadline is the earlier of expiry (31D) and the end of the presentation period (field 48, or 21 days after shipment by default).
Sources
- Swift — MT700 Issue of a Documentary Credit (category 7 standards)
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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