The complete F gene of SF02 of goose paramyxovirus (GPV) has been cloned and analyzed. The sequence analysis demonstrated that the F gene of SF02 contains 1 662 nt and encodes 553 amino acids, and its cleavage activation site of F gene has the same deduced amino acid sequence, (112)R-R-Q-K-R-F(117), as the velogenic (highly pathogenic) strain of newcastle disease virus. The latter correlated with the virulence of the isolate in biological assays. The F gene of SF02 isolate with the domestic standard velogenic strain NDV, F48E9, shared 86.5% homology in nucleotide and 90.8% homology in amino acid sequences. The SF02 isolate is closer to some NDV strains prevalent in Taiwan and West-European countries in recent years. Based on the F gene sequence a multiplex RT-PCR method has been developed. It could be used for the discrimination of GPV from NDV.