<p>Nickel is a critical metal for the development of new energy technologies and high-end manufacturing industries, particularly under national strategies targeting carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Among nickel-bearing resources, limonitic nickel laterite ore has attracted increasing attention due to its abundant reserves. However, its high iron and low nickel content, coupled with complex mineralogy, presents considerable challenges for conventional hydrometallurgical processes in terms of leaching efficiency, resource utilization, and carbon emission control. This review systematically assesses the evolution and current status of hydrometallurgical technologies for limonitic nickel laterite ore, providing a comparative analysis of major processes including high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL), atmospheric acid leaching (AL), and the reduction roasting–ammonia leaching process (Caron process). Emphasis is placed on metal recovery performance, impurity control, energy consumption, and environmental impact. To address the growing demand for green and low-carbon metallurgy, this review proposes a novel hydrometallurgical pathway dependent on hydrogen-based mineral phase transformation combined with synergistic multi-metal extraction. It offers new insights into process intensification and metallurgical system innovation, providing technical guidance for the development of efficient, low-carbon hydrometallurgical routes aligned with the principles of advanced mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.</p>