One of the major differences between domestic trade and foreign trade is documentation (单据的使用). Every shipment must be accompanied by a number of correct documents. If they are not the correct ones, the importer will have difficulties in taking delivery of 提货the goods, and delays caused by incorrect documentation may affect future business relations between the trading partners. In the case of documentary letter of credit, any discrepancy不同, even in minor details, between the documents presented and those specified in the credit may lead to refusal by the bank to make payment. Different documents are required for different transactions, depending on the nature of the deal, the term of delivery, the type of commodity, stipulations of credit, regulations and practices in different countries, etc. However, most transactions require the following major documents.
The commercial invoice：Generally called “the invoice” for short, this document is the general description of the quality and quantity of the goods and the unit and total price. It constitutes the basis on which other documents are to be prepared制作, and the banks check the conformity between credit terms and documents 单证一致and the conformity between the documents单单一致. A commercial invoice normally include the following contents: Invoice number and the date; name and address of the buyer and the seller; contract number and credit number; description of the goods including name of the commodity, quantity, specifications, etc.; unit price, total price, price terms, and commission and discount if any; terms of delivery and terms of payment; packing, shipping marks唛头, etc.; and seal or signature of the exporter. It should be noted that the description of the goods in the invoice must comply with the credit while in other documents the goods can be described in general terms, and that the total invoice value should not exceed the total amount of the covering（适用的）L/C.
The packing list （is a document that）gives information such as the number, date, name and description of the goods, shipping marks, packing, number of packages, specific contents of each package and its net weight and gross weight etc. Sometimes the credit stipulates for specification list规格清单 which is similar to the packing list but emphasizes the description of the specifications of the goods. The weight list, weight note, or weight memo are also similar to the packing list in content and function but emphasis on the weight of the goods and are generally used for goods which are based on the weight for price calculation.
The Bill of lading is one of the most important documents and has three major functions: 1. It serves as a cargo receipt signed by the carrier and issued to the shipper or consignor; 2. It constitutes a contract of carriage（transport）between the carrier and the consignor; 3. It is a document of title所有权 to the goods, and the legal holder 合法持有人of the bill of lading is the owner of the goods it covers.
The major contents of the bill of lading include: 1. the carrier, i. e. the shipping company; 2. the shipper or consignor, it is normally the exporter; 3. the consignee收货人. It is generally either the importer or made out “to order”; 4. the notify party, i. e. the party to be advised通知 after arrival of the goods at the port of destination. It is often the agent of the consignee or the consignee himself. 5. a general description of the goods including the name, number of packages, weight, measurement 尺寸etc. 6. shipping marks; 7. the port of shipment and the port of destination; 8. the freight运费, for CIF and CFR it should be “freight prepaid”, or “freight paid”, for FOB it should be “freight to collect”, or “freight to be paid”, or “freight payable at destination”. 9. the place where the bill of lading is issued; 10. the date when the bill of lading is issued which is regarded as the time of shipment 交货时间(time of delivery) and can by no means (never) be later than that stipulated in the credit.
There are quite a few types of bills of lading classified in several ways. However, most letters of credit stipulate for “clean, on board bill of lading”. A clean bill of lading is one which states (indicate) that the goods have been shipped in apparent (表面上) good order and condition. It is meant that the document is devoid of 没有any qualifying remarks 批注性话语concerning the packing and the outer appearance of the goods. And the carrier admits full liability 承担全部责任for the goods described in the bill of lading and is bound to 有责任carry the goods and deliver them in like (similar) condition in which he has received them. An on board bill of lading indicates that the shipment has been actually loaded on the carrying vessel 承运船只bound for 开往the port of destination. Traditionally, this has been the only acceptable type to be presented by the seller under the term CFR and CIF.
The document similar to the ocean bill of lading 海运提单is called airway bill for air transportation and railway bill, cargo receipt etc. for railway transportation.
The insurance policy and the insurance certificate are similar in function, the only difference being that the latter is a bit simpler than the former. The main contents of such insurance documents include: 1. the insured. Under CIF terms, the insured is generally the beneficiary of the credit unless otherwise specified, while under CFR and FOB terms，the insured is usually the importer. 2. cargo description including name, quantity, weight, shipping marks etc . 3. the amount insured and the risks covered 险别. It should be noted that the currency of the amount insured should be the same as that of the credit. 4. contents concerning transportation including the carrying vessel, the port of shipment and the port of destination, the sailing date起航日期 etc. 5. the place where claims are to be settled (settle a claim索赔地点). Unless otherwise specified in the credit, the port of destination is taken as the place for settling claims. 6. the date on which the document is issued. It can be made earlier but by no means later than the date of the bill of lading.
Various certificates may be required depending on the nature of the commodity and the stipulations of the specific countries. The major types are certificate of quality; certificate of weight; certificate of quantity; certificate of health; certificate of disinfection; veterinary certificate; certificate of origin（原）产地证明; etc.
Other documents that may be required are customs invoice, consular invoice, consular visa, shipping advice装船通知 etc.
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