A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The valve timing control apparatus sets target valve timing based on an operational state of the engine. The valve timing control apparatus detects actual valve timing. The valve timing control apparatus computes a control amount based on a deviation between the target valve timing and the actual valve timing, and based on a hold control amount. The valve timing control apparatus determines whether a learning execution condition for executing a learning operation of the hold control amount is satisfied based on a change direction of the detected actual valve timing. The valve timing control apparatus executes the learning operation when the learning execution condition is satisfied.