Emigration, Immigration and Migration: What are the differences?
If you consider moving to another country or even another region, you will definitely come across such terms as “migration”, “emigration” and “immigration”. However, articles rarely explain the difference between these terms and sometimes even mix them. To understand what these terms mean, read this article.
Migration
Migration is a general term that involves any moving process from one location to another that is applicable to humans and animals. According to the International Organization for Migration, human migration may take different forms depending on its direction, duration, causes and legal status.
From biology classes at school, we know about animal migration. Birds flying south for the winter is a clear example of a seasonal migration. Animals migrate within one country and across borders. National borders are obviously of no importance for them.
Human migration is a narrower term that involves the movement of people from one place to another under various circumstances. Human migration can be of the following types:
- external or internal;
- voluntary or forced;
- temporary or permanent;
- legal or illegal;
- immigration or emigration;
- depending on the cause: political, military, social, economic and even
We will describe each type separately providing examples from history and from the everyday practice of our advisers.
External and internal migration
When people move within one country, migration is called internal. Urbanisation is one of the examples: massive industrialisation makes millions of people move from the countryside into the cities in search of a better life as labour force is always in demand there.
When people move from one country to another, migration is external. The reasons for external migration can be various: work in another country or desire to find a better place for living (for example, migration from developing countries to Europe).
External migration can be intercontinental (like a ballistic missile) and continental. The majority of refugees from Somalia to Europe stay in Sweden. This is an obvious example of an intercontinental migration. Citizens of Yugoslavia who left the country in the 1990s because of the civil war were continental migrants.
Migration corridor: what does it mean?
Migration corridors are routes followed by people while moving from one country to another. To date, the largest migration corridor is from Mexico to the USA. Mexicans flee to the USA for a better life as the economic situation in their home country is difficult and there are constant skirmishes with drug traders. In 2010, these confrontations resulted in 15,273 deaths. This number is comparable to casualties during some current regional wars.
The table below presents 12 of the world’s largest international migration corridors based on the UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024.
| Migration corridor | 2000, million people | 2024, million people | Change, million people |
| Mexico – United States | 9.4 | 11.3 | 1.9 |
| India – United Arab Emirates | 0.9 | 3.2 | 2.3 |
| Ukraine – Russia | 3.5 | 2.9 | -0.6 |
| Russia – Ukraine | 3.7 | 3.4 | -0.3 |
| Syria – Türkiye | 0 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Bangladesh – India | 3.9 | 2.3 | -1.6 |
| Kazakhstan – Russia | 2.6 | 1.3 | -1.3 |
| China – United States | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.2 |
| Russia – Kazakhstan | 2.0 | 0.6 | -1.4 |
| Afghanistan – Iran | 2.1 | 3.8 | 1.7 |
| India – United States | 1.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 |
| India – Saudi Arabia | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
Voluntary and forced migration
Voluntary migration is migration that a person undertakes willingly, not due to external circumstances and without critical pressure coming from a state or a third party. For example, a person may decide to migrate to earn more money or to live closer to their relatives.
Forced migration, as its name suggests, is not undertaken of one’s free will. There are always some dangerous circumstances for a migrant or for their family that induce migration: war, civil unrest, economic collapse, political repressions, epidemic or natural disasters.
The International Organization for Migration defines forced migration as movement involving force, compulsion or coercion.
Permanent and temporary migration
Permanent migration occurs when a person willingly decides to live in another country or another region of the country and moves to another place for good.
Temporary migration involves changing location only for a certain period of time. Then, a migrant returns home or moves to another place where they stay permanently. Here are some examples of a temporary migration:
- international exchange of students or pupils;
- seasonal farm work in Western Europe;
- labour migration from Central Asia to Russia;
- migration from the country where there are violent interethnic or religious wars.
Legal and illegal migration
Legal migration means legally moving to another country, for example, through residence. Legal migration implies that the receiving country accepts a migrant as a future resident and confirms their application. Applicants should show their complete loyalty to their new home country and sometimes have to wait or to make an investment to get permanent residence or citizenship.
Imperial & Legal has a rich experience in organising legal migration to the UK and EU countries. Our advisers also act as agents of investment programmes for Caribbean countries. A Caribbean passport is your ticket to more than 143 countries where you don`t need a visa!
Illegal migration is moving to another country without any legal permission. Such migrants violate the law because they cross borders and live in another country illegally. In developed countries, there is a dual attitude towards illegal migrants. On the one hand, if found, illegal migrants are usually deported to their home lands and are prohibited to enter the country again for a long time. On the other hand, in some European countries illegal migrants who spend more than 10-12 years in the country may obtain a permanent residence or even citizenship.
Immigration and emigration
Emigration is leaving one country for another one on a voluntary basis for economic, political, personal or other reasons. If people are forced to migrate, it is called deportation.
Immigration means entering another country for a permanent or temporary residence or for some other reasons.
So, if you leave your country, you will be an emigrant for your fellow citizens. The second wave of Russian emigration after the October Revolution is one of the examples.
For the receiving country you will be an immigrant. For example, economic immigration of foreign investors to theRepublic of Malta.
The distinction between emigration and immigration lies in the direction of movement. The term “emigration” comes from the Latin emigrare, meaning “to move away”, while “immigration” derives from immigrare, meaning “to move into”.
According to the latest UN estimates, the United States remained the world’s leading destination for international migrants in 2024. Around 52.4 million people born outside the country were living in the USA, reflecting its continuing appeal as a destination for employment, education, family reunification and new opportunities.
| Destination country | International migrants in 2024, million | Country of origin | People living abroad in 2024, million |
| United States | 52.4 | India | 18.5 |
| Germany | 16.8 | China | 11.7 |
| Saudi Arabia | 13.7 | Mexico | 11.6 |
| United Kingdom | 11.8 | Ukraine | 9.8 |
| France | 9.2 | Russia | 9.1 |
| Spain | 8.9 | Syria | 8.9 |
| Canada | 8.8 | Bangladesh | 8.7 |
| United Arab Emirates | 8.2 | Venezuela | 8.3 |
| Australia | 8.1 | Afghanistan | 7.5 |
| Russia | 7.6 | Philippines | 7.0 |
| Türkiye | 7.1 | Pakistan | 6.9 |
| Italy | 6.6 | Egypt | 4.8 |
| Jordan | 5.3 | United Kingdom | 4.8 |
| Ukraine | 5.1 | Romania | 4.6 |
| India | 4.8 | Poland | 4.6 |
Emigration and immigration causes
The most common causes of emigration are economic when people search for a better living environment where their children will have more opportunities. Political processes, like repressions or civil wars, can also sometimes lead to emigration.
Migration flows are usually directed towards the most developed countries and regions of the country. Native citizens and immigrants often have common history. It is true for the UK immigrants who mainly come from the former colonial territories.
It is important to underline that historic and economic ties are not obligatory for migration. You may have nothing to do with the country you want to move to. For example, if you have sufficient financial resources, you can benefit from one of the investment programmes that offer residence by investment or citizenship by investment. Or you can relocate to a country with a spouse visa, if you are a partner or spouse of its citizen.
Immigration to Europe: how to do it?
The conditions for legally moving to an EU country depend on the applicant’s nationality, purpose of residence and the immigration rules of the chosen country. Official information on work, study and family migration is available through the EU Immigration Portal.
Immigration is possible when you have close relatives in the receiving country or when you immigrate only for the purpose of study, work or business.
If you want to immigrate only to obtain the document that will allow you to travel across the world and stay in any country for up to 180 days, Caribbean passport programme is just for you. A Caribbean passport guarantees visa-free entry to the Schengen zone, the UK and 100 other jurisdictions across the world. To get a passport, you don`t have to become an emigrant: most Caribbean countries that implement passport programmes allow investors get passports without leaving their home country.
Emigration and immigration: pros and cons?
Unfortunately, migration is not always caused by the desire to improve living conditions. Wars, uncontrolled natural disasters and economic crisis still exist in our world. Fortunately, the ability to choose a place for living and work turns into a basic need of a modern person. So, the typical “citizens of the world” approach is not condemned now.
For many years, Imperial & Legal has been helping people to find their new home in Europe and the UK. Qualified assistance will allow you and your family to move to any country you like without hassle.
