The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an EL element, capable of preferably carrying out the peeling operation at the time of peeling off an unnecessary layer such as a photoresist layer. This object is achieved by providing a method for manufacturing an EL element comprising: an organic EL layer forming process of forming an organic EL layer on a substrate, on which at least an electrode layer is formed; a peeling layer forming process of forming a peeling layer on the organic EL layer; a photoresist layer forming process of forming a photoresist layer on the peeling layer; a photoresist layer patterning process of patterning the photoresist layer by exposing and developing; an organic EL layer developing process of removing the organic EL layer of a part not covered with the photoresist layer; and a peeling layer peeling process of removing the photoresist layer laminated thereon by peeling off the peeling layer.