Emigrate vs Immigrate: Which One Do You Need?
You emigrate from a country and immigrate to one. Same journey, different end of it.
They emigrated from Poland. They immigrated to Canada.
The test that settles it
Follow the prefix. E- means out, as in exit. Im- means in, as in import.
“___ from Ireland in 1890” → leaving, so emigrated.
“___ to Australia last year” → arriving, so immigrated.
Emigrate: to leave a country
The focus is on departure, and it normally takes from. The person is an emigrant as they go.
Her grandparents emigrated from Italy.
Thousands emigrated during the famine.
He plans to emigrate next spring.
Is the sentence about leaving? Then emigrate.
Immigrate: to enter a country
The focus is on arrival, and it normally takes to. The person is an immigrant once there.
They immigrated to Britain in the 1960s.
She immigrated as a child.
Families who immigrated after the war.
Is the sentence about arriving? Then immigrate.
Side by side
| Emigrate | Immigrate |
|---|---|
| Leaving | Arriving |
| Takes from | Takes to |
| Prefix means out | Prefix means in |
| Emigrated from Spain | Immigrated to Chile |
The exception
Migrate is neutral about direction and works for people, birds and data alike. If the sentence does not need a viewpoint, it is often the cleanest word.
In British English emigrate is far more common than immigrate as a verb; people usually say moved to instead.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| They immigrated from Vietnam. | They emigrated from Vietnam. | From means leaving. |
| He emigrated to New Zealand. | He immigrated to New Zealand. | To means arriving — though British speakers often say emigrated to, and it is widely accepted. |
| an emigrant community in London | an immigrant community in London | They have arrived. |
| imigrate | immigrate | Two m, from in- plus migrate. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- Her family ___ from Greece in 1955.
- He ___ to Canada as a student.
- The country welcomed ___ after the war.
- Many ___ during the economic crisis.
- Birds ___ south each autumn.
Show the answers
1. emigrated 2. immigrated 3. immigrants 4. emigrated 5. migrate
Frequently asked
Is emigrated to wrong?
Strictly the prefix says otherwise, but it is extremely common in British English and no reader will misunderstand. In American writing immigrated to is expected.
What about expatriate?
An expat lives outside their home country, usually temporarily and by choice. The word carries different social weight from immigrant, though the situation can be identical.
More words people confuse
