Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) materials have become a hot topic of research at home and abroad in recent years due to their high porosity, large specific surface area and easily adjustable pore structure. The introduction of MOFs as nanoparticle additives into polymeric separation membranes can enable polymeric separation membranes to obtain high flux and retention rates simultaneously in special wastewater treatment, which is expected to break the trade-off effect between permeability and selectivity of traditional separation membranes. This paper reviewed the properties of different types of MOFs commonly used for organic membrane doping, focusing on the preparation and characteristics of polymer/MOFs composite membranes by in-situ growth, co-blending and interfacial polymerization, and briefly discussed the applications of the resulting polymer/MOFs composite membranes in special separation fields such as heavy metal ion wastewater, organic dyes, seawater desalination. In addition, possible opportunities and challenges for the further development of polymer/MOFs composite membranes were also pointed out.