Emigrate or Immigrate: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-04 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Many writers mix up emigrate or immigrate, but the distinction is clear. Emigrate is to leave a country permanently. Immigrate is to move into a new country to live. Knowing which term applies depends entirely on the direction of the person's travel and their point of origin.

The Short Answer

To determine the correct word, remember that emigrate is to leave a country, while immigrate is to move into one. This simple distinction dictates which term you should use based on the subject's direction of travel relative to a national border.

People often confuse these two words because they share the same root and describe the same life event. The difference lies only in perspective: one focuses on the departure from the old home, and the other focuses on the arrival at the new destination.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
Emigrate	Correct	Describing the act of leaving one's native country.
Immigrate	Correct	Describing the act of entering a new country to settle.
Emigrate	Verb	You need an action word for departing a nation.
Immigrate	Verb	You need an action word for arriving in a nation.

Correct Example Sentences

My grandparents decided to emigrate from Italy during the war.
They plan to immigrate to Canada next spring for better jobs.
She will emigrate from her current residence in July.
Thousands of people immigrate to the United States every year.
We want to emigrate to a place with a milder climate.
Did you know he chose to immigrate to Australia instead?
Families often emigrate to escape political instability in their region.
Newcomers who immigrate to the city bring diverse cultural traditions.
It is difficult to emigrate without proper documentation and visas.
Many artists immigrate to find greater creative freedom and support.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

They plan to emigrate to France next month.: They plan to immigrate to France next month.
She wants to immigrate from her current job.: She wants to emigrate from her current country.
My uncle decided to emigrate into the new nation.: My uncle decided to immigrate into the new nation.
He hopes to immigrate out of his home country.: He hopes to emigrate out of his home country.
Will you emigrate to the city for school?: Will you immigrate to the city for school?
They immigrated from the island last year.: They emigrated from the island last year.

A Quick Test You Can Use

Ask yourself whether the subject is exiting or entering a place. If they are leaving their country behind, use emigrate. If they are arriving to live in a new country, use immigrate. The direction of movement determines the correct choice every single time.

Related Word Pairs

Elicit vs. Illicit: Elicit means to draw out a response; illicit means unlawful.
Immune vs. Imminent: Immune refers to protection from disease; imminent means about to happen.
Emigrate vs. Emigrant: Emigrate is the verb action; emigrant is the person leaving.
Immigrate vs. Immigrant: Immigrate is the verb action; immigrant is the person arriving.
Emerge vs. Immerse: Emerge means to appear; immerse means to submerge completely.

More Example Sentences

She decided to emigrate from her native village to seek better educational opportunities.
The family plans to immigrate to Canada next year to enjoy its stable economy.
He hopes to emigrate from his current country due to rising political tensions.
Many skilled workers choose to immigrate to Germany for its robust job market.
They will emigrate from their home town once the new passport arrives.
It is a common dream to immigrate to New Zealand for its serene landscapes.
She wants to emigrate from her small town to experience life in a bustling metropolis.
Thousands of people immigrate to the United States each year for diverse opportunities.
They plan to emigrate from their homeland in search of greater personal freedoms.
He intends to immigrate to Japan to study traditional arts and culture.

Quick Practice

She plans to from her current residence to a warmer climate.

emigrate

He chose to to France to pursue a career in culinary arts.

immigrate

They will from their home country as soon as they secure visas.

emigrate

Many families to Canada to benefit from its excellent public schools.

immigrate

She hopes to from her village to find more job opportunities.

emigrate

He decided to to Australia for its unique wildlife and culture.

immigrate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between emigrate and immigrate?

The main difference is direction. Emigrate means to leave your country of origin, while immigrate means to enter a new country to live there permanently or for an extended period.

Can I use emigrate and immigrate in the same sentence?

Yes, you can use both if describing the full journey. For example, a person might emigrate from their home country and then immigrate to their destination country to start a new life.

Is it emigrate to or emigrate from?

You typically emigrate from a place. You would say someone emigrated from their native land. If you are talking about where they went, you usually switch to the word immigrate instead.

What is an easy way to remember the spelling?

Think of the prefix as a clue. The 'e' in emigrate stands for exit, meaning you are leaving. The 'i' in immigrate stands for in, meaning you are going into a new place.