An authorization method and a network element are disclosed, to implement a third-party authorization function based on a 5G service-based network architecture. The method is: receiving, by a resource control network element, a resource usage request message sent by a terminal device; replacing a first user identifier in the resource usage request message with a second user identifier; sending an authorization request message carrying the second user identifier to an authorization server by using an NEF; receiving, by using the NEF, an authorization response message sent by the authorization server, where the authorization response message includes an authorization result that is obtained by performing authorization based on the second user identifier and the resource usage request message; and allocating a network resource to the terminal device based on the authorization result, and sending a resource allocation response message to the terminal device.