A method and an apparatus for operating a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in order to perform effective wireless local area network (LAN) connection by a multi SIM terminal is provided. The method includes searching for a wireless LAN; identifying whether there is a SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN; and when it is identified that there is the SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN, and the SIM card corresponding to the wireless LAN is unselected, connecting a communication channel with the wireless LAN using information on the unselected SIM card.