Wafer processing method and device chip manufacturing method

A device chip manufacturing method for manufacturing device chips by dividing a wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and having a plurality of devices formed on the first surface, the device chip manufacturing method comprising:

• a protective layer forming step of positioning a first focal point of a first laser beam having a wavelength capable of penetrating the wafer at a first height within the wafer and emitting the first laser beam onto the wafer from a side on which the second surface lies while moving the first focal point and the wafer relative to each other along the first surface, thereby forming a protective layer at the first height in the wafer;
• a separation start position forming step of, after the protective layer forming step, positioning a second focal point of a second laser beam having a wavelength capable of penetrating the wafer at a second height within the wafer, the second height being more distant from the first surface than the first height, and emitting the second laser beam onto the wafer from the side on which the second surface lies while moving the second focal point and the wafer relative to each other along the first surface, thereby forming a modified layer at the second height in the wafer and forming a crack extending from the modified layer, to form a separation start position made up of the modified layer and the crack;
• a separation step of, after the separation start position forming step, applying an external force to the wafer to divide the wafer at the separation start position and separating a piece including the second surface from the wafer, thereby eliminating the second surface from the wafer;
• a grinding step of, after the separation step, grinding a rear surface of the wafer exposed on a side opposite to the first surface, thereby removing the protective layer and flattening the rear surface;
• and
• a division step of dividing the wafer into pieces each having one of the devices, thereby manufacturing a plurality of device chips each provided with one of the devices.