The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an EL element, capable of preventing deterioration of the element characteristic by the developing agent or the rinsing agent, while providing the advantages of the photolithography method of high light emitting efficiency and taking out efficiency, the manufacturing process simplicity, and the highly sophisticated pattern formation. In order to achieve the above mentioned object, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an organic EL element comprising at least a patterned organic light emitting layer, wherein the patterning is conducted by etching with a protecting layer pattern laminated on an organic light emitting layer.