To provide a method for producing a mold for forming an optical element, wherein the surface property of a molding product is excellent, a molding durability is excellent, and a molding cycle is short.

In the method for producing a mold for forming an optical element, a release layer, which is composed of amorphous carbon film formed by means of vapor deposition with ionic beams, is formed at least on the release face of a mold material. The surface temperature of the release face at the time of forming the amorphous carbon film is lowered to 180°C or below by cooling the molding material.