An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which has a so-called EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve provided with a vacuum actuator for controlling the amount of exhaust gas to be recirculated. An air introducing pipe is opened to the intake system for introducing an extra amount of air into the engine. An air control valve is provided on the air introducing pipe for stopping this introduction of the extra amount of air into the engine so that a rich air-fuel mixture can be supplied into the engine when the engine is beginning to accelerate from a low rotational speed. The vacuum actuator of the EGR valve is connected to this air introducing pipe, in order to carry out an EGR operation when a rich combustible mixture is supplied to the engine.