Gas separation processes using polymeric membranes have been greatly developed during the last few decades due to high energy efficiency and economic advantages. To achieve optimum economic performance, gas separation membranes required high permeability and selectivity. So, a number of reports examining the various polymeric materials for gas separation membranes have been published. Among the studied materials, polyimide (PI), which exhibit high permselectivity for various gas pairs, high chemical resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical strength, have attracted much attention. This paper focuses on the basic principle of gas separation, preparation procedure of membrane along with the recent developments and research trends of PI based materials for gas separation.