What's the difference between 'inmigración,' 'emigración,' and 'migración'?

These three terms describe different perspectives of the same phenomenon: 'inmigración' is movement INTO a country (from the receiving country's perspective), 'emigración' is movement OUT of a country (from the sending country's perspective), and 'migración' is the neutral, general term for human movement regardless of direction.

How do you say 'immigrant' in Spanish?

An immigrant is 'inmigrante' (who comes into a country) while an emigrant is 'emigrante' (who leaves a country)—both are gender-neutral nouns that use 'el/la inmigrante' depending on the person's gender, without any change to the word itself.

What is 'immigration office' in Spanish?

The immigration office is called 'oficina de inmigración' or 'oficina de migración' in most countries, though specific institutional names vary—Mexico has the 'Instituto Nacional de Migración' (INM), while Spain uses 'Oficina de Extranjería' for immigrant affairs.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Immigration in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Inmigración · noun · een-mee-grah-see-OHN

Immigration in Spanish is 'inmigración,' a direct cognate that looks and sounds similar to the English word. The key distinction in Spanish is between 'inmigración' (coming into a country), 'emigración' (leaving a country), and 'migración' (the general movement of people). All three share the root 'migrar' (to migrate).

Say een-mee-grah-see-OHN with stress on the final syllable. Note the 'nm' cluster at the beginning, which distinguishes it from 'emigración' (eh-mee-grah-see-OHN). The double 'n+m' should both be articulated clearly.

La inmigración es un tema complejo que afecta a muchos países.

Immigration is a complex topic that affects many countries.

Immigration in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for immigration, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
inmigración	immigration	een-mee-grah-see-OHN	Default, widely understood
migración	immigration		general migration (in/out)

How Native Speakers Use Inmigración

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Political discussion

Las políticas de inmigración varían mucho entre países.

Immigration policies vary greatly between countries.

Discussing immigration as a political topic using formal vocabulary.

Personal experience

Mis padres pasaron por un largo proceso de inmigración.

My parents went through a long immigration process.

Sharing a family's experience with the immigration system.

At the airport

Tienes que pasar por el control de inmigración al llegar.

You have to go through immigration control upon arrival.

Practical travel situation at international borders.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Inmigración

Confusing 'inmigración' with 'emigración'

Incorrect: La inmigración de personas que salen del país es alta.

Correct: La emigración de personas que salen del país es alta.

'Inmigración' refers to people coming INTO a country, while 'emigración' refers to people LEAVING a country. The perspective determines which word to use.

Spelling without 'n' before 'm'

Incorrect: La imigración es un derecho humano.

Correct: La inmigración es un derecho humano.

Unlike English 'immigration' which uses 'mm,' Spanish uses 'nm'—'inmigración.' The prefix 'in-' (into) combines with 'migración,' keeping both consonants.

Lock in Immigration Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Inmigración used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using inmigración in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La inmigración es un tema complejo que afecta a muchos países. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

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Common Questions About Immigration in Spanish

What's the difference between 'inmigración,' 'emigración,' and 'migración'?: These three terms describe different perspectives of the same phenomenon: 'inmigración' is movement INTO a country (from the receiving country's perspective), 'emigración' is movement OUT of a country (from the sending country's perspective), and 'migración' is the neutral, general term for human movement regardless of direction.
How do you say 'immigrant' in Spanish?: An immigrant is 'inmigrante' (who comes into a country) while an emigrant is 'emigrante' (who leaves a country)—both are gender-neutral nouns that use 'el/la inmigrante' depending on the person's gender, without any change to the word itself.
What is 'immigration office' in Spanish?: The immigration office is called 'oficina de inmigración' or 'oficina de migración' in most countries, though specific institutional names vary—Mexico has the 'Instituto Nacional de Migración' (INM), while Spain uses 'Oficina de Extranjería' for immigrant affairs.