Provided is a producing of a surface-emitting laser capable of aligning a center axis of a surface relief structure with that of a current confinement structure with high precision to reduce a surface damage during the producing. The producing of the laser having the relief provided on a laminated semiconductor layer and a mesa structure, the process comprising the steps of: forming, on the layer, one of a first dielectric film and a first resist film having a first pattern for defining the mesa and a second pattern for defining the relief and then forming the other one of the films; forming a second resist film to cover the second pattern and expose the first pattern; and forming the mesa by removing the layer under the first pattern using the second resist film.