The polyamide production method of the present invention comprises the steps of: producing a low-order condensate by effecting a polycondensation reaction between a dicarboxylic acid component containing between about 5 and about 40 mol. % of terephthalic acid, and a diamine component containing between about 70 and about 100 mol. % of a xylylenediamine in which the content of paraxylylenediamine is between about 50 and about 100 mol. %, under conditions of a reaction temperature of at least about 200° C. and less than about 230° C.; discharging and cooling the low-order condensate at a pressure at or below atmospheric pressure, in an inert gas atmosphere; and subjecting the discharged and cooled low-order condensate to solid state polymerization. The production method makes it possible to obtain a polyamide having outstanding mechanical strength, heat resistance, colour tone and the like without problems such as gelling.