Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network locking method and apparatus for a terminal. The method mainly includes: utilizing an IMSI number carried on a SIM card of the terminal to register the SIM card with a network, and obtaining a PLMN number of the network; comparing a PLMN number segment of the network with a valid PLMN number segment pre-stored on the terminal, and allowing or limiting, according to a comparison result, use of the SIM card by the terminal. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the SIM card is registered with the network by utilizing the IMSI number carried on the SIM card and a data card is verified in the terminal and network combined verification manner, which may ensure security of network locking for the terminal.