An object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a light-emitting element at a lower cost than a conventional cost with suppressing the deterioration of the substrate due to thermal distortion in comparison with a conventional method of recycling a substrate and further having an effect equal to that of the method of recycling a substrate. The method of forming a light-emitting element by growing a separation layer and a light-emitting layer in this order on a first substrate, bonding the light-emitting layer onto a second substrate, and removing the separation layer to form the light-emitting layer on the second substrate, includes growing a plurality of groups each containing the separation layer and light-emitting layer on the first substrate; patterning the light-emitting layer existing as a uppermost layer into an island shape, and then bonding the light-emitting layer onto the second substrate, and etching the separation layer adjacent to the light-emitting layer patterned into the island shape to form the light-emitting layer patterned into the island shape on the second substrate.