To　conquer　the　point-to-point　registration　of　3D　face,　we　present　an　automatic　registration　method　for　multi-sample　3D　face　based　on　the　thin-plate　spline(TPS)　transformation　and　the　linear　combination　model.　In　the　method,　the　data　registration　is　divided　into　two　stages.　In　the　first　stage,　each　sample　face　will　be　registered　with　the　selected　reference　face　by　the　TPS　based　non-rigid　registration　method　to　obtain　the　primary　data　registration;　in　the　second　stage,　the　combination　model　is　set　up　based　on　the　first　stage　primarily　registered　multi-sample　data.　For　each　sample　face,　matched　with　the　combination　model　a　similar　reference　face　will　be　generated　to　facilitate　the　accurate　data　registration　by　TPS　registration.　To　eliminate　the　outliers　of　different　face　samples,　countermeasures　are　adopted　in　both　stages　of　the　data　registration.　The　experiments　on　the　BJUT-3D　face　database　show　that　our　method　is　effective　for　the　registration　of　3D　face　and　robust　to　the　outliers　of　face　data.　©　2011　IEEE.