Effects of proton irradiation on electronic structure and atomic local structure of N35EH-type NdFeB permanent magnet were investigated by soft X-ray absorption spectrometry and Mossbauer spectrometry. The local coordination environment of Fe atoms changes after proton irradiation, and the average hyper-fine field H-in of the magnets decreases from 288.4 to 286.9 kOe. The effects of irradiation on Fe atoms local environment at different lattice sites are different. The near edge structure of Fe L-3 edge is changed, indicating the density of unoccupied state of Fe 3d electrons increases after proton irradiation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.