In the optical reception apparatus, a DQPSK polarization multiplexed signal light (S) input thereto is split into horizontally/vertically polarized signal lights (S.sub.H, S.sub.V) by a polarization beam splitter (3), and the signal lights (S.sub.H, S.sub.V) each is branched into two by each of optical couplers (4.sub.H, 4.sub.V). Then, one branched lights (S.sub.H1, S.sub.V1) by each of the optical couplers (4.sub.H, 4.sub.V) are supplied to a delay interferometer (5.sub.I) on the I branch via optical circulators (10.sub.I1, 10.sub.I2) to be propagated in bidirectional, and the other branched lights (S.sub.HQ, S.sub.VQ) by each of the optical couplers (4.sub.H, 4.sub.V) are supplied to a delay interferometer (5.sub.Q) on the Q branch side via optical circulators (10.sub.Q1, 10.sub.Q2) to be propagated in bidirectional, so that a set of delay interferometers (5.sub.I, 5.sub.Q) is commonly used for horizontally polarized waves and vertically polarized waves.