The underwater imaging could be severely degraded by the particles in the water due to the backscatter veiling and signal attenuation. The polarimetric image recovery method is one of the most effective way to enhance the quality of underwater imaging. Based on the polarization property, the polarimetric method can separate the target intensity from the backscattering, estimate the intensity of backscattering and medium transmittance, and then realize clear imaging. In recent years, polarimetric imaging technique has been applied to many fields more efficiently and extensively, such as underwater image restoration and target recognition, etc. As an intersection of optical imaging technique and image processing technique, the polarimetric recovery method for image restoration has aroused a wide concern and gained fruitful research results. In this paper, we mainly introduced the basic principle of underwater image restoration technique based on polarimetric imaging and the methods of polarization information processing. We also reviewed the recent advances of representative improved approaches in underwater image restoration technique based on polarimetric imaging.