A navigation satellite signal receiver and a cold start method therefor. The method comprises: receiving navigation message data of a plurality of satellites, performing bit synchronisation on the navigation message data, and storing the bit-synchronised navigation message data; performing frame synchronisation on the navigation message data, and after finishing frame synchronisation, acquiring a TOW and sub-frame number of a current sub-frame; determining a sub-frame number of a previous sub-frame according to the current sub-frame number, if the sub-frame number of the previous sub-frame is 1, 2 or 3, reversely searching navigation message data of the previous sub-frame to obtain partial ephemeris data, and storing same into an ephemeris storage area; continuously receiving the navigation message data, storing ephemeris data in the navigation message data into the ephemeris storage area, after obtaining complete ephemeris data of a first sub-frame, a second sub-frame and a third sub-frame, decoding the ephemeris data, and acquiring all ephemeris parameters; and after acquiring ephemeris parameters of a pre-set number of satellites, starting to perform positioning. The method achieves quick cold start of a navigation satellite signal receiver.