Embodiments of the present disclosure provide timing advance (TA) obtaining methods and apparatuses. One example method includes generating, by a base station, an indication message and sending the indication message to UE, and receiving, by the UE, the indication message sent by the base station. The UE can then obtain a TA of a second carrier based on the indication message, where the second carrier is a carrier not used to transmit a PUSCH. Although the second carrier is a carrier not used to transmit a PUSCH, the TA of the second carrier can still be obtained.