Emigrate and immigrate describe the same move from different points of view.
Use emigrate when the focus is on leaving a country. It usually pairs with from. Example: She plans to emigrate from Brazil next year.
Use immigrate when the focus is on entering a new country to live there. It usually pairs with to. Example: They hope to immigrate to Canada in the fall.
- Emigrate = leave a country
- Immigrate = enter a new country
- A useful memory trick is from for emigrate, to for immigrate
Both words can describe the same person. Someone can emigrate from India and immigrate to Australia. The action is one move, but the viewpoint changes.
If you are talking about departure, choose emigrate. If you are talking about arrival, choose immigrate.