Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for a single card dual standby user equipment to camp on a network and a user equipment, so as to reduce power consumption of a user equipment. The method in the embodiment of the present invention includes: when a circuit switched domain CS domain of a UE camps on a second-generation mobile communications technology 2G/third-generation mobile communications technology 3G network and a packet switched domain PS domain camps on a long term evolution LTE network, executing, by the UE, a routing area update process of the PS domain of the 2G/3G network if the UE meets a preset first condition, so as to make the PS domain of the UE camp on the 2G/3G network; and after the PS domain of the UE camps on the 2G/3G network, turning off an LTE radio frequency unit.