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EDIFACT message guide · Finance

DOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit

The UN/EDIFACT message an advising bank uses to inform the beneficiary of an amendment to a documentary credit.

Sent by
Advising bank or intermediary advising bank
Received by
Beneficiary (usually the exporter)
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT DOCAMA message?

DOCAMA is the UN/EDIFACT advice of an amendment of a documentary credit. The directory defines it as a message originated by the advising bank, or an intermediary advising bank, and sent to the beneficiary, informing it of the terms and conditions of an amendment to a documentary credit requested by the applicant.

The exporter decides whether to accept the amendment. Until it accepts, the original terms still apply to it, so the advice prompts a review and a response, which can be sent with DOCARE.

How the EDIFACT DOCAMA message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit message. Advising bank or intermediary advising bank sends it to beneficiary (usually the exporter). It usually follows DOCAMR. It is usually followed by DOCARE. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and RFF (Reference) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information) and the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address). 1 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT DOCAMA message worksAdvice of an amendment of a documentary credit: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marksmandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCAMRRequest for anamendment of adocumentary creditDOCAMASENDERAdvising bank orintermediary advisingbankRECEIVERBeneficiary (usuallythe exporter)CONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYDOCAREResponse to anamendment of adocumentary credit2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage DOCAMAUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageRFFReferenceBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats up to 5FIIFinancial institution informationMandatory group SG2 · repeats up to 9NADName and address+ 1 conditional group, starting with:AUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for DOCAMA. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT DOCAMA message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit message. Advising bank or intermediary advising bank sends it to beneficiary (usually the exporter). It usually follows DOCAMR. It is usually followed by DOCARE. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and RFF (Reference) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information) and the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address). 1 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT DOCAMAmessage worksAdvice of an amendment of a documentarycredit: who sends it, where it fits and what thedirectory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCAMRRequest for an amendment of adocumentary creditDOCAMASENDERAdvising bank orintermediaryadvising bankRECEIVERBeneficiary(usually theexporter)CONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYDOCAREResponse to an amendment of adocumentary credit2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message DOCAMA (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageRFFReferenceBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats upto 5FIIFinancial institutioninformationMandatory group SG2 · repeats upto 9NADName and address+ 1 conditional group, starting with:AUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for DOCAMA.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends DOCAMA, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around DOCAMA and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

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When it is used

  • Informing an exporter of amended credit terms
  • Starting the beneficiary's acceptance decision
  • Updating document preparation for changed terms

Where it fits in the message flow

Usually follows DOCAMR Request for an amendment of a documentary credit
This message DOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit
Usually followed by DOCARE Response to an amendment of a documentary credit

Structure

Mandatory segments in DOCAMA (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the DOCAMA message has 20 segment positions arranged in 3 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • RFF
  • SG1 (FII)
  • SG2 (NAD)
  • UNT

Practical example

DOCAMA in practice

The exporter's bank receives an amendment extending the shipment date and reducing the quantity. It sends the exporter a DOCAMA with the amended terms. The exporter accepts the extension but checks the quantity change with its sales team before responding.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for DOCAMA

  • Review every amended term before accepting.
  • Respond within agreed times so all parties know the credit's status.
  • Update document preparation once the amendment is accepted.
  • Keep a history of all amendments to the credit.

How ECOM helps

Automate DOCAMA with ECOM

Industry

Financial Services

Secure file transfer and B2B integration for banks and financial institutions.

Solution

Financial Document Automation

Automate invoices, remittances, payment files and bank statements from capture to posting.

Industry

Industrial Manufacturing

Distributor, OEM customer and supplier integration for industrial manufacturers.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

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