A thermal transfer recording medium 1 according to the present invention is to obtain a reliable printed matter with no space between picture information and a protective film thereof and has a melting type transfer portion 16.sub.1 including a melting type primer layer 18.sub.1 whose main component is styrene vinyl acetate copolymer and a melting type ink layer 17.sub.1. Since styrene vinyl acetate copolymer softens or melts by heating to lose mechanical strength thereof, the melting type transfer portion 16.sub.1 is transferred with ease from a base sheet 11 by heating to form a printing layer 47. On the surface of the printing layer 47, a residual resin 49 formed of material of the melting type primer layer 18.sub.1 is exposed; however, since styrene vinyl acetate copolymer sticks well to a thermoplastic resin existing on the surface portion of a protective portion 25.sub.1, there is no space generated between the protective portion 25.sub.1 and the printing layer 47.