In　recent　years,　paper-based　point-of-care　testing　(POCT)　has　been　widely　used　in　medical　diagnostics,　food　safety　and　environmental　monitoring.　However,　a　high-cost,　time-consuming　and　equipment-dependent　sample　pretreatment　technique　is　generally　required　for　raw　sample　processing,　which　are　impractical　for　low-resource　and　disease-endemic　areas.　Therefore,　there　is　an　escalating　demand　for　a　cost-effective,　simple　and　portable　pretreatment　technique,　to　be　coupled　with　the　commonly　used　paper-based　assay　(e.g.　lateral　flow　assay)　in　POCT.　In　this　review,　we　focus　on　the　importance　of　using　paper　as　a　platform　for　sample　pretreatment.　We　firstly　discuss　the　beneficial　use　of　paper　for　sample　pretreatment,　including　sample　collection　and　storage,　separation,　extraction,　and　concentration.　We　highlight　the　working　principle　and　fabrication　of　each　sample　pretreatment　device,　the　existing　challenges　and　the　future　perspectives　for　developing　paper-based　sample　pretreatment　technique.