Ni (5 wt.%) catalysts over yttrium modified CeO2 oxides synthesized by hydrothermal method were prepared. For comparison Ni was supported over pure CeO2 and Y2O3. Characterizations by N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD, XPS, TEM/HRTEM, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD and TGA were carried out. The catalytic performance in CO2 methanation reaction were tested between 200-450 °C, under atmospheric pressure, at WHSV of 60,000 h-1 •gcat-1 and reactant molar ratio of CO2/H2/Ar=15/60/25. Steady-state tests were carried out at 300 °C for 7 h over selected catalysts. Doping CeO2 with Y promotes the decrease of the particle size of CeO2 and the formation of CeO2 nanorods, increases the specific surface area and the number of oxygen vacancies, enhances the metal-support interaction with respect to the un-promoted Ni/CeO2. The methanation results showed that the 2 wt.% Y modified Ni/CeO2 catalyst exhibited the best CO2 conversion and high selectivity towards methane.