A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine (10) includes intake valve control means (50). The internal combustion engine (10) includes a variable intake valve operating mechanism (66) that changes a valve opening characteristic of an intake valve (64), and rich combustion is performed in the internal combustion engine (10) to control an exhaust gas purification catalyst (24) disposed in an exhaust passage (18). The intake valve control means (50) controls the valve opening characteristic of the intake valve (64) to increase a flow rate of intake air in an early stage of an intake stroke when the rich combustion is performed, as compared to when non-rich combustion is performed.