A method and an apparatus for forwarding an MPLS data packet are provided, which are used in an environment of hybrid networking of an SR network and a non-SR network. The method is as follows: when obtaining a to-be-sent MPLS data packet, a first SR router in an SR network determines whether a next-hop router supports an SR characteristic; the first SR router encapsulates the MPLS data packet into an IP tunnel when determining that the next-hop router does not support the SR characteristic, and sends an encapsulated MPLS data packet to the next-hop router to enable the encapsulated MPLS data packet to be forwarded, based on an IP routing table, to a second SR router. In this way, correct forwarding of an MPLS data packet is completed in an environment of hybrid networking of an SR router and a non-SR router.