An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus of an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger provided with a turbine in an exhaust passage and a compressor in an intake passage, a low pressure EGR passage which connects the exhaust passage downstream of the turbine with the intake passage upstream of the compressor, a high pressure EGR passage which connects the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine with the intake passage downstream of the compressor; an exhaust gas control catalyst provided in the exhaust passage downstream of the turbine and upstream of the low pressure EGR passage; and EGR gas amount changing device for simultaneously changing amounts of EGR gas flowing through the low pressure EGR passage and the high pressure EGR passage such that a temperature of the exhaust gas control catalyst is within a target range.