A lens driving apparatus includes a lens holder and a driver for providing linear motion to the lens holder along an optical axis of the lens. The driver includes an electromagnetic mechanism, provided at the outer circumference of the lens holder in an enclosing manner, for generating a torque around the optical axis; and a switching mechanism for switching the generated torque to a linear driving force along the optical axis so as to linearly move the lens holders. The driver surrounds the lens holder along the outer circumference to allow a smaller sized lens driving apparatus than that where the lens holder is at a side of the lens driving apparatus. In addition, the switching mechanism prevents the lens holder from moving in the optical axial direction, when power is turned off or even when an external force is applied to the lens holder.