The present disclosure describes a bearer setup method and an apparatus. The method includes: transmitting, by a user equipment, a request message to a control node, where the request message is used to request setup of a transmission bearer for transmitting a data packet of a service between the user equipment and the control node, and the request message includes a parameter of the service; receiving, by the user equipment, a response message transmitted by the control node in response to the request message, where the response message includes configuration information of the transmission bearer; and setting up, by the user equipment, the transmission bearer with the control node according to the configuration information.