In a control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission, when the difference between a target transmission gear ratio calculated immediately after switching the control mode from a manual shift mode to an automatic shift mode and a current transmission gear ratio (that is, a fixed transmission gear ratio of the transmission gear stage selected in the manual shift mode immediately before the switching) is greater than or equal to a set value, a shift control unit sets a temporary target transmission gear ratio between the target transmission gear ratio and the current transmission gear ratio. If a temporary target transmission gear ratio is set, the shift control unit causes the transmission gear ratio obtained during transition of mode from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode to match the target transmission gear ratio stepwise via the temporary target transmission gear ratio.