A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising: a variable valve operating apparatus (62, 64) which is capable of changing an operational state of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state, in which the valves (58, 60) are configured to be drivable by at least one cam fixed to a camshaft, the valve operating state is a state in which at least one of the valves (58, 60) that is driven by the cam fixed to the camshaft opens and closes in each cycle and the valve closed/stopped state is a state in which at least one of the valves (58, 60) remains closed continuously during one cycle, and the variable valve operating apparatus (62, 64) comprises an electrically-driven actuator, and is configured so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) becomes the valve closed/stopped state in response to a valve stop command to the actuator and so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) is returned to the valve operating state when a camshaft rotates by a predetermined angle after a valve return command to the actuator is issued; valve stop command means arranged to issue the valve stop command to the actuator so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) becomes the valve closed/stopped state when fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is to be stopped in response to an establishment of a predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine; valve return command means arranged to issue the valve return command to the actuator so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) is returned to the valve operating state, when an engine rotational speed reaches a predetermined engine rotational speed after establishment of the predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine or after a completion of the stopping operation; and camshaft drive means arranged to rotationally drive the camshaft by the predetermined angle required to return the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) to the valve operating state after a time point when the valve return command is issued by the valve return command means. a variable valve operating apparatus (62, 64) which is capable of changing an operational state of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state, in which the valves (58, 60) are configured to be drivable by at least one cam fixed to a camshaft, the valve operating state is a state in which at least one of the valves (58, 60) that is driven by the cam fixed to the camshaft opens and closes in each cycle and the valve closed/stopped state is a state in which at least one of the valves (58, 60) remains closed continuously during one cycle, and the variable valve operating apparatus (62, 64) comprises an electrically-driven actuator, and is configured so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) becomes the valve closed/stopped state in response to a valve stop command to the actuator and so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) is returned to the valve operating state when a camshaft rotates by a predetermined angle after a valve return command to the actuator is issued; valve stop command means arranged to issue the valve stop command to the actuator so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) becomes the valve closed/stopped state when fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is to be stopped in response to an establishment of a predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine; valve return command means arranged to issue the valve return command to the actuator so that the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) is returned to the valve operating state, when an engine rotational speed reaches a predetermined engine rotational speed after establishment of the predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine or after a completion of the stopping operation; and camshaft drive means arranged to rotationally drive the camshaft by the predetermined angle required to return the operational state of the at least one of the valves (58, 60) to the valve operating state after a time point when the valve return command is issued by the valve return command means.