A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a character input interface in a terminal having a touchscreen. A single keyboard is displayed in a keyboard area of the touchscreen. A first keyboard and a second keyboard are simultaneously displayed in place of the single keyboard in the keyboard area, upon detecting selection of a key on the single keyboard. At least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard includes a plurality of character-type selection keys, and at least one of the plurality of character-type selection keys includes a language selection key. A controlling unit of the terminal changes a type of characters displayed on one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard, upon detecting selection of one of the plurality of character-type selection keys on the one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard.