UCP 600 Article 14 Explained: Standard for Examination of Documents
What UCP 600 Article 14 says about how banks examine Letter of Credit documents, in plain English.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
UCP 600 Article 14 sets the standard banks use to examine documents under a Letter of Credit. Banks check documents on their face to decide whether they comply, have up to five banking days after presentation to decide, and accept data that is not identical as long as it does not conflict. It also sets the default 21-day presentation period after shipment.
| Examination | On the face of the documents (14(a)) |
|---|---|
| Time to decide | Max. five banking days after presentation (14(b)) |
| Presentation | Within 21 days of shipment by default, never after expiry (14(c)) |
| Data | Need not be identical, must not conflict (14(d)) |
Key sub-articles in plain English
- 14(a): banks examine documents alone to decide if they comply on their face.
- 14(b): up to five banking days following presentation.
- 14(c): original transport documents presented within 21 days after shipment unless the credit says otherwise, and not after expiry.
- 14(d): data must not conflict with the document itself, other documents or the credit.
- 14(e): goods descriptions outside the invoice may be general, if not conflicting.
- 14(g): documents not required are disregarded.
- 14(h): conditions without a stated document are disregarded.
- 14(j): addresses may differ from the credit but must be in the same country.
Sources
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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