There is provided a valve timing control apparatus for an engine, which comprises a variable valve mechanism capable of varying at least one of an opening timing of intake valves and a closing timing of exhaust valves in an engine, an elapsed time detecting device that detects a time period elapsed after cold-starting of the engine, and a timing control device that controls the variable valve mechanism. The timing control device provides advance angle control such that the opening timing of the intake valves and/or the closing timing of the exhaust valves is advanced to be earlier than an exhaust top dead center until the elapsed time period detected by the elapsed time detecting device has reached a predetermined time period.