PURPOSE:To process continuously a silver halide color photosensitive material at a higher speed for a long period of time by bleaching the photosensitive material in a processing tank having a large aperture area with a bleaching agent consisting of an org. acid ferric complex salt after exposing and developing. CONSTITUTION:The bleaching agent contg. the org. acid ferric complex salt, for example, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid ferric complex salt, diethylene triamine pentaphosphoric acid ferric complex salt, etc. having bleaching powder is prepd. The silver halide photosensitive material is then subjected to imagewise exposing and developing process and is processed with the above-mentioned bleaching agent. The aperture area (air contact area) of the processing tank is made >=6cm for each 1l of the processing liquid and the photosensitive material is continuously processed therein. The bleaching agent is made hardly oxidizable in sulfite by the org. acid ferric complex salt such as aminopolycarboxylic acid or the like and therefore even if the aperture area is made large, the color paper, color negative film, etc. are processed for a long period without deterioration in the shelf life thereof.