A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission, including a sequential shift control means for performing sequential shift control in a case where it is necessary to execute the second shift during execution of the first shift. The sequential shift control includes starting reduction of hydraulic fluid pressure in the third friction element when a parameter that varies in accordance with a degree of progress of the first shift has reached a predetermined value, and performing piston stroke control that includes outputting a high hydraulic pressure command as a hydraulic fluid pressure to the second friction element when the selector valve is switched from the second position to the first position, and subsequent to completion of outputting of the high hydraulic pressure command, outputting a low hydraulic pressure command that is lower than the high hydraulic pressure command.