A wet smelting method for nickel oxide ores from which nickel, cobalt, etc. are recovered is provided with which it is possible to reduce the consumption of an acid in leaching, such as sulfuric acid, and to recover valuable metals. The method comprises: step (A) in which nickel oxide ores as a raw material are separated into a limonite-type ore having a low magnesium content and a saprolite-type ore having a high magnesium content; step (B) in which the saprolite-type ore is subjected to normal-pressure leaching under given standardized leaching conditions using the pressure leachate obtained by pressure leaching in step (C); and step (C) in which the limonite-type ore obtained in step (A) is mixed with the normal-pressure leaching residue obtained in step (B) and the mixture is reacted with sulfuric acid in an acidic atmosphere having a high temperature and a high pressure, thereby conducting pressure leaching.