UCP 600 Explained: The Documentary Credit Rules Exporters Need
A practical overview of UCP 600, the ICC rules most Letters of Credit follow, and the articles exporters use most.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
UCP 600 is the International Chamber of Commerce's set of rules for documentary credits, in force since 2007. It applies when a Letter of Credit says it is subject to UCP 600, and it governs how banks examine documents, deadlines, refusals and specific document types. The credit's own terms can modify or exclude its articles.
| Publisher | International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) |
|---|---|
| In force | 1 July 2007 |
| Articles | 39 |
| Applies when | The credit expressly incorporates it (Art. 1) |
Articles exporters use most
- Art. 6 — availability, expiry and place for presentation.
- Art. 14 — standard for examining documents.
- Art. 16 — discrepant documents, waiver and notice.
- Art. 18 — commercial invoice.
- Art. 20 — bill of lading.
- Art. 28 — insurance documents.
- Art. 29 — extension of expiry or last day for presentation.
- Art. 30 — tolerance in amount, quantity and unit price.
Key principles
- Banks deal with documents, not goods (Art. 5).
- Credits are independent of the sales contract (Art. 4).
- Data need not be identical, but must not conflict (Art. 14(d)).
Sources
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- ICC Academy — avoiding Letter of Credit discrepancies
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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