We consider the transmission eigenvalue problem for an impenetrable obstacle with Dirichlet boundary condition surrounded by a thin layer of non-absorbing inhomogeneous material. We derive a rigorous asymptotic expansion for the first transmission eigenvalue with respect to the thickness of the thin layer. Our convergence analysis is based on a Max–Min principle and an iterative approach which involves estimates on the corresponding eigenfunctions. We provide explicit expressions for the terms in the asymptotic expansion up to order 3.