An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes the adsorbent, the catalyst and the heat generating element, wherein in cases where the residual capacity of the battery is smaller than a first predetermined value required for raising the temperature of the catalyst to an activation temperature thereof, and in cases where the residual capacity of the battery is larger than a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value and which is required for raising the temperature of the adsorbent to a predetermined temperature at which the adsorbent exhibits adsorption performance required at the time of starting of the internal combustion engine, an amount of electric power to be supplied to the heat generating element from the battery is adjusted such that the temperature of the adsorbent becomes the predetermined temperature.