The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses. The method includes: controlling message traffic through an ordinary license; judging whether the triggering conditions of using the first extended license are fulfilled, and, if the triggering conditions are fulfilled, using the first extended license to control the message traffic. The apparatus includes: a license management module, adapted to switch between the licenses according to the triggering conditions of the message traffic license; and a control module, adapted to control the message traffic by using the license selected by the license management module. The method and the apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses provided in an embodiment of the present invention perform hierarchical control on the short message traffic to overcome waste of system resources in the prior art caused by unitary setting of the maximum traffic and reduce the system resources occupied by invalid license traffic in the Short Message Service Center (SMSC).