Surface-enhanced　Raman　spectroscopy　(SERS)　is　rapidly　emerging　as　a　powerful　analytical　tool　for　trace　analysis　of　metallic　substrates.　While　innovative　numerical　applications　of　SERS　have　been　developed,　it　is　still　a　challenge　to　fabricate　cost-effective　and　reproducible　metallic　substrates　for　SERS　probes.　Laser　processing,　especially　using　ultrafast　pulsed　laser,　can　address　this　issue　owing　to　their　high　quality　processing.　Herein,　we　investigate　critical　technical　requirements　and　the　latest　advancements　in　laser-processing　substrates　for　SERS,　while　highlighting　several　diverse　applications.　In　light　of　its　powerful　enhancement　of　Raman　scattering,　SERS　will　remain　an　exciting　research　area　for　highly　sensitive,　resolved　analysis　into　the　foreseeable　future.