This disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for obtaining an uplink-downlink carrier frequency spacing. The method for obtaining an uplink-downlink carrier frequency spacing may include initiating, by user equipment (UE), a request in a first cell to access an NB-IoT, and receiving an indication message sent by a base station. The method may also include determining, by the UE according to the indication information, an uplink-downlink carrier frequency spacing corresponding to the first cell. Therefore, the base station can notify the UE of the uplink-downlink carrier frequency spacing corresponding to the first cell, so that the terminal obtains a correct uplink carrier frequency.