<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2023 Workiva-->
<!--r:49393a15-f905-4462-ac4c-09546b085ba6,g:07bb6790-85c2-4891-80f9-659ef91bad17-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ebs-20231121.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_118eab1d-b466-4736-90db-0d7fb53dc684" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_118eab1d-b466-4736-90db-0d7fb53dc684" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_cabc8b5b-341d-4eb2-bd57-681664e50f52" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_cabc8b5b-341d-4eb2-bd57-681664e50f52" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2320ecf0-fd35-4056-9c99-1f96df9160db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2320ecf0-fd35-4056-9c99-1f96df9160db" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_cce30498-353f-427d-af18-f9a58db02a4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_cce30498-353f-427d-af18-f9a58db02a4d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_77f366b9-2091-4b2f-9120-1e7405e0a7b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_77f366b9-2091-4b2f-9120-1e7405e0a7b3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_35cf9655-d560-4045-845f-066ab7805370" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_35cf9655-d560-4045-845f-066ab7805370" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_d45bb9d2-91de-4c91-a837-c9ca3d0ffeec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_d45bb9d2-91de-4c91-a837-c9ca3d0ffeec" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_178345da-c2ad-4a98-a0c9-ca320893aa7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_178345da-c2ad-4a98-a0c9-ca320893aa7d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_40a1f019-dba3-46fd-94b6-2c0658ae000b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_40a1f019-dba3-46fd-94b6-2c0658ae000b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_7314f20c-2182-4ece-a992-cff6161d4cab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_7314f20c-2182-4ece-a992-cff6161d4cab" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_6e01666b-8704-40f7-b8db-9c6427c04418" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_6e01666b-8704-40f7-b8db-9c6427c04418" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_9fae143a-fea8-4e0a-ba16-14af88082383" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_9fae143a-fea8-4e0a-ba16-14af88082383" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_43299d99-16e8-4245-afd2-5a754e981bee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_43299d99-16e8-4245-afd2-5a754e981bee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a1323a33-58ab-44e3-9c19-38d61fd2bc0e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a1323a33-58ab-44e3-9c19-38d61fd2bc0e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_c1d927a9-1f79-405f-8032-789d3c92c0db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_c1d927a9-1f79-405f-8032-789d3c92c0db" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_ded71a10-e89e-4cae-a810-a900227a5566" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_ded71a10-e89e-4cae-a810-a900227a5566" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_fbcc4224-71a3-497c-be9f-71005d31264e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_fbcc4224-71a3-497c-be9f-71005d31264e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_ce4de634-9635-45cf-bb78-5e7450a8adf4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_ce4de634-9635-45cf-bb78-5e7450a8adf4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_3eb13598-d576-4368-b60a-e3a1983542a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_3eb13598-d576-4368-b60a-e3a1983542a2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_63a8024b-d34b-47f2-9809-57acbee52d5b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_63a8024b-d34b-47f2-9809-57acbee52d5b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_cda9541b-e3cb-4ca7-a2db-1f69b397e839" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_cda9541b-e3cb-4ca7-a2db-1f69b397e839" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_87853e5b-5baf-482b-b905-ccbc0ce612af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_87853e5b-5baf-482b-b905-ccbc0ce612af" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1a63f28a-7983-43b5-b886-8fd6662db46d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023/dei-2023.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_ff1af94b-1d83-4d40-978d-9bbfaa9c5448" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1a63f28a-7983-43b5-b886-8fd6662db46d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
