Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress deterioration of a catalyst that is ascribable to a control delay of a variable valve operating apparatus when transitioning to a valve stopped state accompanying a fuel-cut operation, or when transitioning from the valve stopped state to a combustion limit operating state. An intake variable valve operating apparatus capable of changing the operating state of an intake valve to a valve stopped state by continuously changing a lift amount and working angle of the intake valve is included. When the temperature of a catalyst is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, fuel injection is executed to supply fuel into an exhaust passage during a period in which the operating state of the intake valve transitions to the valve stopped state, during a period in which a fuel-cut operation is executed in the valve stopped state, or during a period in which the operating state of the intake valve transitions from the valve stopped state to a return limit operating state.