The present invention relates to a polishing composition for silicon wafer comprising silica; a basic compound; at least one compound selected from the group consisting of amino acid derivatives represented by formula (1)
wherein R1, R2 and R3 are identical or different one another, C1-12alkylene group that may be substituted by hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, phenyl group or amino group, and formula (2)
wherein R4 and R5 are identical or different each other, hydrogen atom, or C1-12alkyl group that may be substituted by hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, phenyl group or amino group, with a proviso that both R4 and R5 are not hydrogen at the same time, and R6 is C1-12alkylene group that may be substituted by hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, phenyl group or amino group, and the salts of the amino acid derivatives; and water. The polishing composition can prevent metal contamination, particularly copper contamination in polishing of silicon wafer.