Objective To study the effect of citric acid addition on the properties of polyvinyl alcohol film. Methods Citric acid was dissolved in the PVA mother liquor with a mass fraction of 10%. Citric acid / PVA antimicrobial films were prepared by casting. Results The results showed that addition of citric acid could reduce the water absorption and solubility of PVA film. With the increase of the citric acid proportion, the water vapor permeability of PVA films decreased. Observation of scanning electron microscopy showed that citric acid was evenly dispersed in PVA films. With Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as indices of the antibacterial properties, the test results showed that the Citric acid-loaded PVA antibacterial films had good antibacterial activity. Conclusion Citric acid addition could reduce the water absorption, solubility and the water vapor permeability of the PVA film, and grant the films with antibacterial properties.