Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for downloading a profile of an operator, where one method includes: sending, by a terminal to the SM-DP by using an SM-SR, a request for downloading a profile of an operator, where the download request carries the download certificate, an ID of an eUICC of the terminal, and addressing information of the SM-DP; and receiving, by the terminal, the profile of the operator that is sent by the SM-DP by using the SM-SR and is corresponding to the download request, and transmitting the profile of the operator to the eUICC, where the profile of the operator is obtained by the SM-DP according to an identity of the profile of the operator after the SM-DP verifies that the certificate that is for downloading the profile of the operator and is carried in the download request is valid.