Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a valve body which has a nozzle at one end. A stopper plate is located at the other end of the valve body and has a path for communicating between the upstream and the downstream sides of said stopper plate itself. A needle valve is slidably disposed in the valve body for opening and closing the nozzle. A lift stopper is fixed to the needle valve for limiting the stroke of the needle valve in association with the stopper plate and has at least one path for communicating between the upstream and downstream sides of the lift stopper itself. A first needle guide is fixed to the needle valve at the downstream side of the lift stopper and has at least one path for communicating the upstream and the downstream sides of the first needle guide itself. A second needle guide is fixed to the needle valve at the upstream side of the lift stopper and has at least one path for communicating the upstream and the downstream sides of the second needle guide itself.