The present invention provides a virtual network function network element management method, apparatus, and system. A VNF resource pool management apparatus receives a VNF network element request message sent by a VNF resource pool user apparatus, where the VNF network element request message includes attribute information and a location policy of a VNF network element that is requested; the VNF resource pool management apparatus determines a first VNF network element that matches the attribute information and the location policy from the VNF resource pool; and the VNF resource pool management apparatus sends a VNF network element response message to the VNF resource pool user apparatus, where the VNF network element response message includes identification information of the first VNF network element. In this way, a risk that a functional group formed by VNF network elements cannot properly work can be avoided.