The growth kinetics of intermetallic compound layers formed between eutectic Sn–58Bi solder and (Cu, electroless Ni–P/Cu) substrate were investigated at temperature between 70 and 120°C for 1 to 60 days. The layer growth of intermetallic compound in the couple of the Sn–58Bi/Cu and Sn–58Bi/electroless Ni–P system satisfied the parabolic law at given temperature range. As a whole, because the values of time exponent (n) have approximately 0.5, the layer growth of the intermetallic compound was mainly controlled by diffusion mechanism over the temperature range studied. The apparent activation energies of Cu₆Sn₅ and Ni₃Sn₄ intermetallic compound in the couple of the Sn–58Bi/Cu and Sn–58Bi/electroless Ni–P were 127.9 and 81.6 kJ/mol, respectively.