The invention provides a core-shell structure type copper-based catalyst as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The catalyst takes Cu as a core and takes mesoporous SiO2 as a shell layer material, the weight percentage of Cu is 8-25%, and the weight percentage of SiO2 is 75-92%. The core-shell structure type nano-composite catalyst material is uniform in grain distribution, adjustable in size, good in dispersibility, small in inner core copper grain, large in specific surface area, good in stability performance, and long in service life; in CO2 hydrogenation reaction operation, the catalyst is stable in performance, and high in activity, and can be operated at a high temperature (240-300 DEG C); the high CO2 conversion per pass can be still kept after long period evaluation, and the core-shell structure type copper-based catalyst has the advantages of being low in cost, easy to operate, easy to enlarge in industry and the like.