An exhaust temperature raising apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust throttle valve that adjusts an amount of flow of an exhaust gas flowing in an exhaust passage, a valve control device for controlling the exhaust throttle valve to a substantially completely closed state at a time when an amount of an unburned fuel component contained in the exhaust gas is to be reduced, an engine air-fuel ratio control device for operating the internal combustion engine at a theoretical air-fuel ratio or a fuel-excess air-fuel ratio when the exhaust throttle valve is controlled to the substantially completely closed state by the valve control device, and a secondary air supply device for supplying a secondary air to an upstream portion of the exhaust passage when the exhaust throttle valve is controlled to the substantially completely closed state by the valve control device.