An image collating apparatus comprises a device for setting a plurality of predetermined paths in a reference image and a check image and accumulating pixel values in the paths of both images with respect to the plurality of paths to obtain a projected waveform or histogram of the reference and the check image; a device for generating information of a characteristic value as reference characteristic value information based on the projected waveform or histogram of the reference image; a device for generating the information of the characteristic value as check characteristic value information based on the projected waveform or histogram of the check image; and a device for collating the reference image with the check image based on the reference characteristic value information and check characteristic value information.