UCP 600 Article 18: Commercial Invoice Requirements
A plain-language guide to UCP 600 Article 18 on the commercial invoice under a Letter of Credit.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
UCP 600 Article 18 says a commercial invoice must appear to be issued by the beneficiary, be made out in the name of the applicant, be in the same currency as the credit, and need not be signed. The goods description must correspond with the credit. A bank may accept an invoice above the credit amount if it does not honour more than the credit allows.
| Issuer | Beneficiary (18(a)(i)) |
|---|---|
| Made out to | Applicant (18(a)(ii)) |
| Currency | Same as credit (18(a)(iii)) |
| Signature | Not needed (18(a)(iv)) |
Key points
- 18(b): over-amount invoice acceptable if bank pays no more than permitted.
- 18(c): description must correspond with the credit.
- Transferred credits: exceptions for the second beneficiary (Art. 38).
Common discrepancies
- Invoice made out to a different buyer entity.
- Different currency.
- Description missing detail from 45A.
Sources
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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