The invention relates to a method and a terminal using a virtual SIM card. The terminal comprises a physical SIM card, a virtual SIM card and a communication unit; the physical SIM card and the virtual SIM card are separately connected with an external card management platform by the communication unit; the physical SIM card is used for sending SIM card application request information to the card management platform, wherein the SIM card application request information comprises configuration information of the terminal and necessary business information; and the virtual SIM card is used for receiving and storing SIM card data information sent by the card management platform, wherein the SIM card data information is generated by the card management platform according to the SIM card application request information. According to the method and the terminal provided by the invention, SIM card data with preferential tariff can be provided for the user, due to the design of the virtual SIM card, the design of a hardware neck is reduced, the cost of the terminal is reduced, the hardware design space is saved, and it is beneficial for the miniaturization of the terminal, moreover, the physical SIM card and the virtual SIM card independently communication, and the user can simultaneously uses a second path of independent data channel while normally using a number.