The invention provides a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser element. A cathode electrode (911), cathode pad electrodes (912A, 912B), cathode wiring electrodes (913A, 913B), an anode electrode (921), an anode pad electrode (922), and an anode wiring electrode (923) are disposed on the surface of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser element (10). An emission-region multilayer part comprising an active layer interposed between a cladding layer and a DBR layer is formed directly beneath the anode electrode (921). The region where said emission-region multilayer part is formed constitutes an emission region (700). Said emission region (700) is disposed, so as to be more or less in contact with or at a prescribed distance from a holding region (800) held by a flat collet, more toward one side in a first direction than said holding region (800).