Forward　osmosis　(FO)　has　been　developing　rapidly　in　recent　years　and　demonstrated　its　advantages　in　various　applications.　However,　challenges　from　reverse　solute　diffusion,　concentration　polarization　and　membrane　fouling　are　still　extensively　present　in　FO　processes.　To　alleviate　these　problems,　considerable　efforts　have　been　made　in　exploring　appropriate　FO　membranes.　Chemical　modification　on　ready-made　membranes　has　become　an　important　method　in　novel　FO　membrane　exploration　in　recent　years.　This　paper　focuses　on　the　progress　of　FO　membranes　obtained　specially　from　chemical　modifications.　First　of　all,　an　overview　of　FO　membrane　related　to　membrane　materials　and　chemical　modification　approaches　is　provided.　The　strengths　and　weaknesses　of　the　chemical　modification　methods　are　assessed.　Then,　typical　FO　applications　promoted　by　the　chemically　modified　FO　membranes　are　exemplified.　Finally,　challenges　and　future　directions　of　chemical　modification　approaches　in　exploring　novel　FO　membranes　are　highlighted.　This　review　may　provide　new　insights　into　the　future　advancement　of　both　FO　membrane　and　FO　technology.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.