An authentication method, a communication apparatus, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: a first function network element in a home network determines whether a terminal needs to be authenticated; the first function network element obtains an authentication material when the terminal needs to be authenticated; the first function network element obtains a first authentication vector based on the authentication material; and the first function network element sends a first authentication request message to an AMF to trigger authentication on the terminal, wherein the first authentication request message includes the first authentication vector. According to this application, the first function network element in the home network determines to trigger authentication on the terminal.