disclosed are a method and an apparatus for discriminating a latent fingerprint that can prevent a fingerprint recognition apparatus from mis - recognizing a latent fingerprint as a fingerprint of a biomass due to a fingerprint residual on an imaging surface of an optical fingerprint input apparatus . according to the present invention . there is provided backlight control means for controlling switching on and off of the backlight ; image acquisition means for acquiring a fingerprint image without illuminating the backlight onto the imaging surface : fingerprint detection means for detecting an existence of a fingerprint from the image acquired by the image acquisition means ; and fingerprint discriminating means for discriminating that the fingerprint if detected by the fingerprint detection means , is a latent fingerprint detected due to an external light .