An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: an SCR catalyst including transition metal ions for reducing NOX in exhaust gas with NH3 as a reducing agent; detection means for detecting temperature of the SCR catalyst; and a heater configured to heat the SCR catalyst. When NOX does not flow into the SCR catalyst, and the temperature detected by the detection means is below a first temperature that is a temperature causing exhibition of valence recovery of transition metal ions, the heater is controlled such that the SCR catalyst is heated up to a first temperature or above and that the SCR catalyst is maintained at or above the first temperature for a prescribed period so as to achieve valence recovery of the transition metal ions put in a deteriorated state.