The mutual separation characteristics were investigated for the neighboring Sm, Eu and Gd from their ternary oxide mixture Sm 2O 3 Eu 2O 3 Gd 2O 3 by a stepwise chlorination chemical vapor transport reaction within 6 h using AlCl 3 as complex former. The rare earth chlorides were more readily transported and concentrated in the middle temperature range of 980～1100 K and the transport efficiency was in the order of Sm≈Gd>Eu. The separation factor, expressed as molar ratio for the resulting chlorides, was 1 70 for Eu∶Sm, 1 88 for Eu∶Gd, 1 24 for Sm∶Gd in the higher temperature region, and 2 76 for Sm∶Eu, 2 83 for Gd∶Eu and 1 12 for Gd∶Sm in the lower temperature region, respectively. All results are much higher than those of the conventional wet process.