A nonbinder type of magnetic recording medium is disclosed. The binder is comprised of a non-magnetic support having thereon, in sequence, a thin magnetic metal film laminated using the evaporation technique and a protecting film, with the thin magnetic metal film converted in its surface part alone to a metal oxide layer by being oxidized with oxygen plasma, to a metal nitride layer by being nitrided with nitrogen plasma or to a glow discharge-processed layer. The protecting film includes a high molecular weight compound, a higher fatty acid, a fatty acid ester or a combination thereof, laminated on the metal oxide layer, the metal nitride layer or the glow discharge-processed layer.