A linear groove formation method of forming linear grooves in a steel sheet surface using etching can form linear grooves of a uniform shape while suppressing a decrease in magnetic property of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet caused by laser irradiation for resist removal. A linear groove formation method includes: coating a surface of a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with a resist; performing a laser scan cyclically in a rolling direction of the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet, the laser scan being applying a laser while scanning the laser in a direction crossing the rolling direction to remove the resist in a portion irradiated with the laser; and etching the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet in each portion in which the resist is removed, to form a linear groove. A coating thickness of the resist is 0.5 μm to 10 μm, and a power of the laser is 1500 W or more.