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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OUHXf+DyNzirIVqsXRryfgamkXBvB/sVdh7yRI3qLByoStpmosUiF8B6xWsi9SbY
 FoSSx2qd0Q5denfY/t9RFQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001249919-03-000004.txt : 20030711
<SEC-HEADER>0001249919-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030711
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030710215958
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001249919-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030707
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030711

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHARMAN JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001072537

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31721
		FILM NUMBER:		03782832

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHARMAN UNDERWRITING #1 MINSTER CRT
		STREET 2:		MINCING LANE LONDON ENGLAND BC3R7AA

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD
		STREET 2:		106 PITTS BAY RD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			99999999

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214816
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		106 PITTS BAY ROAD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412962600
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-07</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001214816</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072537</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHARMAN JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Shares</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-07</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>208300</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>22</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2803476</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired pursuant to the Directed Share Program in the initial public offering of the common stock of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 402,064 shares held directly, and 1,595,408 shares held by Dragon Holdings Trust and 597,704 shares held by JR Charman Children's Settlement.  Mr. Charman disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the trusts.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John R. Charman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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