The invention provides a visitor identification method based on infrared radiation detection. The visitor identification method comprises the steps of transmitting an infrared pulse outside a door through an infrared pulse transmitting module; receiving the transmitted infrared pulse through an infrared receiving module on which a filter device is arranged to allow infrared light having the same wavelength as that of the infrared light transmitted by the infrared pulse transmitting module to pass through; examining the difference between the reflection infrared intensity of the infrared light received by the infrared receiving module and the set background infrared intensity; transmitting a first response signal to an indoor host, in response to that the reflection infrared intensity is higher than the set background infrared intensity and when the difference between both reaches a set first threshold; and waking up the indoor host based on the first response signal. The visitor identification method can determine the status of a visitor based on the comparison of the infrared intensity monitored in real time with the background infrared intensity and on a variation trend of the difference thereof, and the timeliness, accuracy and anti-interference property of identification are greatly enhanced.