The effect of the surface oxide on hydrogen permeation through Nichrome and Inconel 600 was investigated using a gaseous permeation technique in the temperature range between 673K and 1073K. The surface oxide produced by exposure to enclosed hydrogen or air decreased the hydrogen permeation rate by about two orders of magnitude from the value obtained without the oxide, while the change in the apparent diffusivity was much smaller. However, the time transient of the permeation rate immediately after the hydrogen charging off, monitored for the determination of the diffusivity, did not agree well with the theoretical curve, indicating that some amount of hydrogen was trapped in the oxide layer.