To provide the method for recovering a high-purity rare-earth oxide by a simple process.

Oxalic acid is added to a soln. where the material contg. the rare-earth element and zinc is dissolved in strong acid to precipitate the rare- earth element as the oxide, and the rare-earth element and zinc are roughly separated in this method for recovering a rare-earth oxide. The precipitate obtained by the addition of oxalic acid is roasted and redissolved in the strong acid, the soln. is brought into contact with a cation-exchange resin to adsorb the rare-earth element and zinc on the resin, then the rare-earth element is eluted by an eluant for selectively eluting the rare-earth element, and the rare- earth element and zinc are precisely separated. A citric acid soln. is preferably used as the eluant.