Immigrate vs. Migrate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 15, 2023
Immigrate refers to the act of moving to a new country to reside permanently. Migrate is a broader term that refers to any move from one location to another, whether within the same country or between countries, and can be temporary or permanent.
Difference Between Immigrate and Migrate
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Key Differences
Immigrate and Migrate are both verbs that describe the act of moving from one location to another. However, Immigrate is more specific, often referring to moving across international borders with the intent of permanent residency. Migrate is a broader term, encompassing not only international moves but also moves within a country, and it can be either temporary or permanent.
When someone immigrates, they generally complete legal processes to become a resident of a new country. Immigration suggests a permanency, often involving an extensive legal process that culminates in gaining citizenship or permanent residency status. In contrast, migrating doesn't necessarily entail legal or permanent residency considerations and can be as simple as moving from one state to another within the United States.
In terms of word usage, Immigrate is usually followed by the preposition "to" as in "immigrate to the United States," while Migrate can be followed by either "to" or "from," as in "migrate to the South" or "migrate from the North." This reflects the more focused destination-specific aspect of immigrating as compared to the more flexible and broader concept of migrating.
Grammatically speaking, both Immigrate and Migrate are transitive and intransitive verbs. That is, they can either take an object ("They immigrated to Canada.") or not take an object ("Birds migrate annually."). However, Immigrate is often seen in contexts that include formal objects like "country" or "city," whereas Migrate may be used in broader contexts that might even include non-human subjects like "birds" or "whales."
Comparison Chart
Scope
More specific
Broader
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Permanency
Usually permanent
Can be temporary or permanent
Legal Process
Often involves legal processes
May or may not involve legal processes
Preposition
Generally followed by "to"
Can be followed by "to" or "from"
Typical Subjects
Usually humans
Can be humans or animals
Compare with Definitions
Immigrate
Changing one's country of residence legally.
She had to go through a lengthy process to immigrate.
Migrate
Shifting residence temporarily or permanently.
Families often migrate to find better schools.
Immigrate
Becoming a resident of a different country.
Many people immigrate in search of better living conditions.
Migrate
Moving from one location to another.
Many people migrate for job opportunities.
Immigrate
Moving to a foreign country for permanent residence.
She decided to immigrate to Canada for a better life.
Migrate
The act of traveling to a different place.
Some animals migrate to reproduce.
Immigrate
Entering another country with the intent of long-term stay.
He had to fill out many forms to immigrate successfully.
Migrate
To move from one country or region and settle in another.
Immigrate
Establishing a new life in a foreign nation.
They chose to immigrate for greater economic opportunities.
Migrate
To change location periodically, especially by moving seasonally from one region to another.
Immigrate
Come to live permanently in a foreign country
An Australian who immigrated to Britain in 1982
Migrate
(Computers) To be moved from one system to another
Migrated to an updated version of the platform.
Immigrate
To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native. See Usage Note at migrate.
Migrate
To move (something) from one system to another
Migrated specific applications to a selected server.
Immigrate
To send or introduce as immigrants
Britain immigrated many colonists to the New World.
Migrate
(intransitive) To relocate periodically from one region to another, usually according to the seasons.
Twice a year the geese migrate — from Florida to Canada and back again.
Twice a year the Minnesotans migrate from their state to the Gulf of Mexico.
Immigrate
(intransitive) To move into a foreign country to stay permanently.
Migrate
(intransitive) To change one's geographic pattern of habitation.
Many groups had migrated to western Europe from the plains of eastern Europe.
Immigrate
To come into a country of which one is not a native, for the purpose of permanent residence. See Emigrate.
Migrate
(intransitive) To change habitations across a border; to move from one country or political region to another.
To escape persecution, they migrated to a neutral country.
Immigrate
Migrate to a new environment;
Only few plants can immigrate to the island
Migrate
(intransitive) To move slowly towards, usually in groups.
Once the hosts started bickering in the kitchens, the guests began to migrate towards the living room.
Immigrate
Introduce or send as immigrants;
Britain immigrated many colonists to America
Migrate
: To move computer code or files from one computer or network to another.
They had finished migrating all of the affected code to the production server by 2:00am, three hours later than expected.
Immigrate
Come into a new country and change residency;
Many people immigrated at the beginning of the 20th century
Migrate
To induce customers to shift purchases from one set of a company's related products to another.
We were hoping to migrate the customers of the "C" series to the "E" series and the "E" customers to the "S" series.
Migrate
To remove from one country or region to another, with a view to residence; to change one's place of residence; to remove; as, the Moors who migrated from Africa into Spain; to migrate to the West.
Migrate
To pass periodically from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding; - said of certain birds, fishes, and quadrupeds.
Migrate
Move from one country or region to another and settle there;
Many Germans migrated to South America in the mid-19th century
This tribe transmigrated many times over the centuries
Migrate
Move periodically or seasonally;
Birds migrate in the Winter
The worker migrate to where the crops need harvesting
Migrate
Relocating either within or between countries.
Birds migrate south for the winter.
Migrate
Changing geographic location.
Businesses may migrate to cities with lower taxes.
Common Curiosities
What does Immigrate mean?
Immigrate means moving to a new country with the intent of permanent residence.
Is Immigrate only for international moves?
Immigrate typically refers to international moves aimed at permanent residency.
Is legal paperwork usually involved in immigrating?
Yes, immigrating often involves legal processes like visas or residency applications.
What does Migrate mean?
Migrate means moving from one place to another, either temporarily or permanently.
What preposition is often used with Immigrate?
Immigrate is often followed by the preposition "to."
What prepositions can be used with Migrate?
Migrate can be followed by "to" or "from."
Do you need legal documents to migrate?
Migrating may or may not require legal documents, depending on the context.
Can Migrate refer to moves within the same country?
Yes, you can migrate within the same country or between countries.
Can animals Migrate?
Yes, many animals migrate, such as birds flying south for the winter.
Is Migrate a transitive or intransitive verb?
Migrate can be both transitive and intransitive.
Can Migrate be temporary?
Yes, migration can be either temporary or permanent.
Can animals Immigrate?
The term Immigrate is generally not used for animals.
Can both terms be used interchangeably?
While related, Immigrate and Migrate are not fully interchangeable due to differences in scope and intent.
Is Immigrate always about permanent movement?
Immigrate generally implies the intent for permanent residency.
Is Immigrate a transitive or intransitive verb?
Immigrate can be both transitive and intransitive.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
