The white space resource acquisition method provided according to the embodiments of the present invention includes: receiving, by a white space resource request device, a white space resource request message sent by a white space device; and sending, by the white space resource request device, a white space resource response message to the white space device, where the white space resource response message includes white space resource information that is requested from a white space database and that is corresponding to first white space requirement information of the white space device. According to the white space resource acquisition method provided in the embodiments of the present invention, a white space resource request device requests, based on the PAWS protocol, white space resource information from a white space database, and interaction between a white space device and the white space resource request device may be established by using an existing protocol.