immigration

Moving to a country where you were not born, intending to live there permanently.

• Immigration has changed this city.
• The government announced new immigration rules.
• Her research focuses on immigration to Canada.

How to use it: immigration to somewhere (Immigration to Australia increased during that period.); immigration from somewhere (The book examines immigration from Italy.)

Opposites: emigration

Common phrases: immigration policy, immigration laws, immigration to something

Checks of passports and permission to enter a country when people arrive at its border.

• We waited at immigration.
• The immigration officer checked my passport.
• How long did it take to get through immigration?

Similar words: passport control

Common phrases: go through immigration, immigration officer, immigration desk

The movement of people or animals into a country or area to live there.

• Immigration increased the town’s population.
• Animal immigration can change the balance of a local ecosystem.
• The study measured immigration into the region over ten years.

How to use it: immigration into/to somewhere (Immigration into the region increased after the railway opened.); immigration from somewhere (Immigration from nearby areas helped the town grow.)

Similar words: inward migration

Opposites: emigration

Common phrases: immigration into something, animal immigration, immigration from something