One of the most important components of an infrared optical system is the infrared optical element. Owing to its wide transmission band, good achromatic and athermalization performance, and abundant raw materials, chalcogenide glass is an excellent infrared optical material. It has broad application prospects in the infrared field. However, when compared to other infrared optical materials, chalcogenide glass has a high thermal expansion coefficient and a low softening point temperature, making surface coating and film deposition difficult. In this paper, the surface processing and coating methods of the waiting-to-be coated chalcogenide glass surface are introduced, and the methods and research progress of depositing anti-reflection and protective coating on the surface of chalcogenide glass elements are reviewed. In addition, the current situation and existing problems of the surface processing and coating of the waiting-to-be coated chalcogenide glass surface, as well as the development trend of its optical surface preparation and cohesion are summarized.