A heat transfer recording medium which comprises tissue paper having thereon an ink layer comprised of material fluidizable or sublimatable upon the application of heat. The tissue paper has a thickness of 5 to 25 .mu.m, a density of 0.8 to 1.45 g/cm.sup.3, a smoothness of 200 to 20,000 seconds (determined by the Oken type measurement) and a water content adjusted to 6 to 13 wt % after forming the ink layer thereon. The medium does not generate puckers when employed in a transfer type heat sensitive recording apparatus under high temperature and humidity conditions.