Provided is a fingerprint reading apparatus and a fingerprint reading method capable of appropriately reading a fingerprint of a finger that is relatively soft and easily deformed elastically. The fingerprint reading device includes: a placement portion on which the finger is placed； a first position where the finger placed on the placement portion contacts； and a second position where the finger placed on the placement portion separates. A reading surface movably provided between the first and second positions； a driving unit for moving the reading surface between the first position and the second position； and a reading surface located at the first position. A reading unit that reads a fingerprint of a contacting finger, wherein the driving unit moves the reading surface that contacts the finger at the first position to the second position, and further moves the reading surface from the second position to the first position. The reading unit is moved, and the reading unit reads the fingerprint of the finger that contacts the reading surface that has moved from the second position to the first position.比較的に柔らかく容易に大きく弾性変形しうる指の指紋を読み取る場合であっても、指紋を適切に読み取ることができる指紋読取装置及び指紋読取方法を提供する。指紋読取装置は、指が載置される載置部と、載置部に載置された指が接触する第１の位置と、載置部に載置された指が離れる第２の位置との間で移動可能に載置部に設けられた読取面と、読取面を、第１の位置と第２の位置との間で移動させる駆動部と、第１の位置に位置する読取面に接触する指の指紋を読み取る読取部とを有し、駆動部が、第１の位置で指に接触する読取面を、第２の位置に移動させ、さらに第２の位置から第１の位置に移動させ、読取部が、第２の位置から第１の位置に移動した読取面に接触する指の指紋を読み取る。
