PURPOSE: To obtain a surface treated steel sheet for a container having superior seam weldability and corrosion resistance by coating the surfaces of a steel sheet with Ni, Co or Cu, bringing the metal into a diffusion reaction with the base metal, and carrying out tinning and chromating.

CONSTITUTION: Coatings of one or more amont Ni, Co and Cu are formed on the surfaces of a steel sheet by ≤50mg/m2 per one side. The coatings may further contain one or more among P, Cr, Zn and Fe. The coated steel sheet is heated in a reducing atmosphere to diffuse part or all of the metal of the coatings in Fe as the base metal. The steel sheet is then subjected to temper rolling, and it is tinned as usual and chromated without carrying out reflowing. By this method, deterioration in the corrosion resistance and seam weldability can be prevented. In case of conventional thin tinning, such deterioration is caused. Since a reflowing stage is eliminated, a surface treated steel sheet for a container is obtd. at a low cost.