PURPOSE: To provide an apparatus for inspecting defects on a sheet-like object that can accurately detect any defects existing on the sheet-like object.

CONSTITUTION: The apparatus is provided with an illumination part 10 for applying a linear illumination light 11 onto a sheet-like object 201, a camera part 20 which receives the reflecting lights generated through illuminating from the part 10 and converts them into electrical signals, and a processing part 30 which calculates their intensities based on the electrical signals sent from the part 20 and detects the defects on the object 201. In such an apparatus, an illumination light 11 of the part 10 is inclined to the feeding direction of the object 201 and is applied thereon.