[PROBLEM] Provided is a method for producing an SOI wafer which the method can prevent occurrence of thermal strain, detachment, crack and the like attributed to a difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the insulating substrate and the SOI layer and also improve the uniformity of film thickness of the SOI layer.[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM] Provided is a method for producing an SOI wafer comprising steps of: performing a surface activation treatment on at least one of a surface of an insulator wafer and a hydrogen ion-implanted surface of a single crystal silicon wafer having a hydrogen ion-implanted layer; bonding the hydrogen ion-implanted surface to the surface of the insulator wafer to obtain bonded wafers; heating the bonded wafers at a first temperature; grinding and/or etching a surface of a single crystal silicon wafer side of the bonded wafers thus heated so as to thin the single crystal silicon wafer of the bonded wafers; heating the bonded wafers thus ground and/or etched at a second temperature which is higher the first temperature; and performing detachment at the hydrogen ion-implanted layer by applying a mechanical impact to the hydrogen ion-implanted layer of the bonded wafers thus heated at the second temperature.