Laser induced damage to InAs - the material of interest for use as a nonlinear medium for the dinamic holography, phase conjugation etc. at 10.6μm - was studied. Damage thresholds of InAs surfaces both bare and antireflectin coated have been measured for single pulses of 20μs duration and beam spot diameter ⩾/0.5cm. The dependence of thresholds on the surface preparation procedure was found. The performed investigations of damaged sites with help of optical and scanning electron microscopes and X-ray microprobe analiser made evident that the surface heating leaded to the damage. The role of surface absorption and reflectivity are exposed.