The work aims to introduce the application of nanocellulose in packaging and current research status in the world. It focuses on the mechanism, mode of action and effect of nanocellulose in improving the gas barrier properties of packaging materials, and prospects for application of nanocellulose in packaging materials. The literatures at home and abroad were summarized. The basic properties and preparation of nanocellulose and the preparation of nanocellulose composites were briefly introduced. The application and progress of nanocellulose composites in the field of gas barrier packaging material were sorted out and analyzed emphatically. Nanocellulose can be prepared from various resources, and it has several excellent properties such as biodegradability reproducibility and high crystallinity. Incorporation of nanocellulose into the packaging materials can significantly improve the barrier properties. With the constant deepening of researches on nanocellulose, the application of nanocellulose in gas barrier packaging material would be more extensive.