This paper investigates the influence of nanostructured ceria (CeO 2 ) coating on high temperature oxidation behaviour of 2?25 Cr-1 Mo steel. The isothermal corrosion study of the micrometre size and nanostructured CeO 2 coated specimens was conducted in air oxidation environment at 973 K for 8 h. The corrosion rate and reaction kinetics were studied, and the post-corroded scales were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results clearly indicate that the nanostructured CeO 2 coated specimen improves the oxidation resistance than does the micrometre size CeO 2 coated specimen. The improvement of oxidation resistance in the case of nanostructured CeO 2 can be attributed to the formation of semimolten zone, which consists of nanostructured CeO 2 particle. On the other hand, in the absence of semimolten nanostructured zone, the micrometre size powder coated specimen shows higher corrosion rate in comparison to the nanosize CeO 2 powder coated specimen.