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EDIFACT message guide · Finance

DOCAMR Request for an amendment of a documentary credit

The UN/EDIFACT message an applicant or its bank uses to ask the issuing bank to amend or cancel a documentary credit.

Sent by
Applicant or applicant's bank
Received by
Issuing bank
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT DOCAMR message?

DOCAMR is the UN/EDIFACT request for an amendment of a documentary credit. The directory defines it as a message originated by the applicant, or the applicant's bank, and sent to the issuing bank, requesting it to amend the terms and conditions of an issued documentary credit or to cancel the credit.

Amendments are common when shipment dates slip, quantities change or terms were issued incorrectly. An amendment only takes effect for the beneficiary once it is advised and accepted, which is handled by the following messages in the chain.

How the EDIFACT DOCAMR message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCAMR Request for an amendment of a documentary credit message. Applicant or applicant's bank sends it to issuing bank. It usually follows DOCINF. It is usually followed by DOCAMI and DOCAMA. 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 DOCAMR message worksRequest for an amendment of a documentary credit: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marksmandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCINFDocumentary creditissuance informationDOCAMRSENDERApplicant orapplicant's bankRECEIVERIssuing bankCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYDOCAMIDocumentary creditamendmentinformationDOCAMAAdvice of anamendment of adocumentary credit2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage DOCAMRUNH … 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 DOCAMR. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT DOCAMR message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCAMR Request for an amendment of a documentary credit message. Applicant or applicant's bank sends it to issuing bank. It usually follows DOCINF. It is usually followed by DOCAMI and DOCAMA. 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 DOCAMRmessage worksRequest for an amendment of a documentarycredit: who sends it, where it fits and what thedirectory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCINFDocumentary credit issuanceinformationDOCAMRSENDERApplicant orapplicant's bankRECEIVERIssuing bankCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYDOCAMIDocumentary credit amendmentinformationDOCAMAAdvice of an amendment of adocumentary credit2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message DOCAMR (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 DOCAMR.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends DOCAMR, 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 DOCAMR 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.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Extending shipment or expiry dates
  • Changing amounts or quantities
  • Correcting terms or cancelling a credit

Where it fits in the message flow

Usually follows DOCINF Documentary credit issuance information
This message DOCAMR Request for an amendment of a documentary credit
Usually followed by DOCAMI Documentary credit amendment informationDOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit

Structure

Mandatory segments in DOCAMR (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the DOCAMR 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

DOCAMR in practice

A vessel delay means an exporter cannot ship by the credit's latest shipment date. The importer's trade finance system sends its bank a DOCAMR extending the shipment and expiry dates by three weeks. The bank amends the credit, confirms with a DOCAMI, and the exporter receives the amendment through its advising bank.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for DOCAMR

  • Request amendments early; changes take time to reach the beneficiary.
  • Reference the credit number and current terms exactly.
  • Coordinate with the exporter, who must accept the amendment.
  • Track amendment status through to acceptance.

How ECOM helps

Automate DOCAMR 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

Trucking and Transportation

Load tenders, responses, status and freight invoices for carriers, brokers and shippers, integrated with the TMS.

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

Related messages

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