A method and apparatus for continuously synthesizing oriented carbon nanotubes, with which oriented carbon nanotubes can be stably synthesized in large quantities, is presented.The method and apparatus for continuously synthesizing oriented carbon nanotubes comprise: a coating and drying step in which a catalyst liquid is applied and dried to form a catalyst layer on a substrate surface; a catalyst substrate formation step in which the catalyst layer is heated to form a catalyst substrate having a catalyst particle layer on the substrate surface; a synthesis step in which a raw material gas heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a synthesis temperature for the oriented carbon nanotubes is brought into contact with the surface of the catalyst substrate to synthesize oriented carbon nanotubes; and a collection step in which the oriented carbon nanotubes are collected. In the synthesis step, a carrier gas having a temperature equal to or higher than the synthesis temperature is supplied to the periphery of the raw material gas which is in contact with the surface of the catalytic substrate, or to its front and rear stages. Thus, oriented carbon nanotubes are continuously or intermittently synthesized.