Disclosed is a method for stably producing an isocyanate with high yield for a long time without using phosgene. This method for producing an isocyanate does not cause the problems involved in the prior art. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing an isocyanate, which comprises a step wherein a carbamic acid ester is reacted with an aromatic hydroxy compound, thereby obtaining an aryl carbamate having a group derived from the aromatic hydroxy compound, and a step wherein the aryl carbamate is subjected to a decomposition reaction. This method for producing an isocyanate is characterized in that the aromatic hydroxy compound is an aromatic hydroxy compound represented by the formula (1) below, which has a substituent R<1> at at least one ortho-position of the hydroxyl group. In the formula, ring A represents an optionally substituted monocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ring having 6-20 carbon atoms; R<1> represents a group other than a hydrogen atom, which is an aliphatic alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an aliphatic alkoxy group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6-20 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms or an aralkyloxy group having 7-20 carbon atoms, each containing an atom selected from a carbon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and R<1> and A may combine together to form a ring structure.