An ink jet paper as well as a method for its manufacture is disclosed comprising at least one image receiving coating layer and at least one pre-coat layer beneath said image receiving coating layer on a paper substrate, wherein the pre-coat layer comprises 100 parts in dry weight of a pigment part consisting of 20-75 parts in dry weight of a fine particulate calcium carbonate and/or kaolin; 10 - 70 parts in dry weight of at least one fine particulate silica and/or of a fine particulate ground calcium carbonate with surface and internal structure modification as a result of treatment with one or more medium to strong H3O+ ion providers and optionally with additional treatment of gaseous carbon dioxide; and 0 - 30 parts of additional fine particulate pigments 4 - 20 parts in dry weight of a binder part 0-6 parts in dry weight of additives; and the image receiving coating layer comprises 100 parts in dry weight of a pigment part consisting of 50 - 100 parts in dry weight of at least one fine particulate silica; 0 - 50 parts in dry weight of a fine particulate polymer pigment; and 0 - 30 parts of additional fine particulate pigments 2 - 10 parts in dry weight of a binder 0-3 parts in dry weight of additives.
