To provide a substrate holding apparatus which can prevent a liquid from entering into a rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus (PH) is provided with a base material (PHB), a first holding portion (PH1) formed on the base material (PHB) for holding the substrate (P), and a second holding portion (PH2) formed on the base material (PHB) for holding a plate member (T) by surrounding the circumference of a processing substrate (P) held by the first holding portion (PH1). The second holding portion (PH2) holds the plate member (T) so as to form a second space (32) on the side of the rear surface (Tb) of the plate member (T). On the rear surface (Tb) of the plate member (T), an absorbing member (100) is arranged for absorbing the liquid (LQ) entered from a gap (A) between the substrate (P) held by the first holding portion (PH1) and the plate member (T) held by the second holding portion (PH2).