To explore the method of laser low-damage processing of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). The feasibility of reducing the thermal damage of CFRP by laser processing with a 450 W QCW fiber laser through a multi-pass strategy was investigated by the design of experiments (DOE) in this paper. The mechanism of material removal and heat-affected zone (HAZ) formation of laser processing CFRP were elucidated by experimental study and finite element analysis. The results show that HAZ formation can be effectively controlled by the pulsed mode with a multi-pass strategy (up to 7 cuts) and high cutting speed (up to 200 mm/s), with the minimum surface HAZ 19.5 μm. The low-power multi-pass strategy is conducive to the effective cooling of the internal kerf by the auxiliary gas, which avoids the thermal damage of the material caused by excessive heat accumulation, and the processing quality is improved. The finite element model shows that the temperature field distribution range is smaller when the laser is parallel to the axis of the carbon fiber, and a smaller HAZ and a larger groove width can be obtained. The HAZ will be formed when the removal of resin and carbon fiber is inconsistent. Finally, the statistics analyze the influence of process parameters on machining quality, and the process parameters are optimized and matched. This study provides a reference for low-damage laser processing of CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]