An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus is provided with an exhaust gas particulate filter, an oxidation catalytic converter and a regeneration control component. The exhaust gas particulate filter is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for capturing particulate matter in exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The oxidation catalytic converter is arranged upstream of the exhaust gas particulate filter in the exhaust passage. The regeneration control component is configured to control an exhaust gas recirculation rate and a temperature of recirculated exhaust gas being recirculated to an air induction system of the internal combustion engine for controlling a temperature of the exhaust gas particulate filter and a concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the exhaust gas particulate filter such that nitrogen dioxide generated by the oxidation catalytic converter is used to burn the particulate matter captured in the exhaust gas particulate filter.