An object of this invention is to provide a method for the production of a porous material by polymerizing a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion in a briefer time than a conventional technique without impairing the stability of the emulsion. The object of this invention can be accomplished by a method for the production of a porous material comprising a step of polymerizing a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion containing a polymerization initiator, wherein the polymerization initiator is a redox type initiator combining an oil-soluble oxidizing agent and a reducing agent, either of the oil-soluble oxidizing agent or the reducing agent is preparatorily added to form the emulsion, and thereafter the remainder of the reducing agent or the oil-soluble oxidizing agent is added to the emulsion to polymerize the added emulsion.