Emigration is the process of moving from one's own country to another for permanent residence. An emigrant is a person who leaves his or her home country in search of better living conditions for political, economic, or social reasons. It is important to distinguish between emigration and immigration: emigration is leaving a country, while immigration is the process of entering another country to live there.

The Main Reasons for Emigration

Among the main factors are:

  • Economic hardship: job shortages, low wages, high unemployment, or inflation can be major factors pushing people to emigrate.
  • Political reasons: political oppression, dictatorship regime, civil wars, terrorism and persecution on various grounds (e.g. religious or ethnic) are some of the main factors for emigration from many countries, especially from states with unstable political systems.
  • Environmental factors: unfavorable living conditions related to the environment, such as disasters or climate change, can also force people to leave their countries.
  • Social factors: limited educational opportunities, poor conditions for the development of children or the elderly, and low levels of social protection may prompt people to seek better conditions abroad.

Types of Emigration

Emigration can be either voluntary (e.g. in search of new opportunities or a better life) or forced (e.g. in case of political persecution or because of war). It is important to note that there are both legal forms of emigration when the process is formalized in accordance with the laws of the host country, and illegal when emigration occurs without the appropriate permits.

Pros and Cons of Emigration

Pros:

  • Opportunity to find a better quality of life.
  • Access to higher wages and better working conditions.
  • Opportunity to get a quality education.

Cons:

  • Difficulties in adapting to a new language and culture.
  • Disruption of social ties and difficulties in reuniting with family.
  • Legal and financial barriers to obtaining a residence permit or citizenship.

A typical example is the emigration of citizens from unstable regions such as Syria or Afghanistan for political reasons. At the same time, economic emigration is widespread among countries with a low standard of living, such as Venezuela or Zimbabwe, where people seek better conditions for themselves and their families abroad.