A process for producing a polyimide which comprises subjecting a diamine and a tetracarboxylic dianhydride to imidization in a solvent comprising 50 to 100 wt.% composition consisting of a nitrogenous cyclic compound represented by the following chemical formula (1) and a phenol represented by the following chemical formula (2) in an equimolar proportion. (In the formula (1), X represents -CH2- or -N(CH3)-. In the formula (2), R1 and R2 may be same or different and each represents -H, -OH, -CH3, -C2H7, -C3H7, -C2H9, -C5H11, -C6H13, -C7H15, -C8H17, -C9H19, -C10H21, -OCH3, -O(C6H5), -NO2, -Cl, -Br, or -F.).