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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:73c4f882-9c38-4d0c-b10e-a8f93854adb7,g:a05d6f43-3c3d-4e2b-88fb-68e2778e0e97-->
<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-20210401.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_67f96025-23dc-4dd5-965d-8890531bcc35" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_67f96025-23dc-4dd5-965d-8890531bcc35" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_dd4f3d47-1847-42ba-91b8-060fdd03be7b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_dd4f3d47-1847-42ba-91b8-060fdd03be7b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_3aa41ed1-16d3-4924-9581-defb89546e8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_3aa41ed1-16d3-4924-9581-defb89546e8c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_8283cfd4-42da-456d-aadc-694f4fe03a0d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_8283cfd4-42da-456d-aadc-694f4fe03a0d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_dcdf16ee-ef60-4bdd-9e69-fcf999a4e6aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_dcdf16ee-ef60-4bdd-9e69-fcf999a4e6aa" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_02e7bdb4-36c1-4a2e-a1c6-5ee4dee25123" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_02e7bdb4-36c1-4a2e-a1c6-5ee4dee25123" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_f1168973-4520-45f0-82a2-520961b272cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_f1168973-4520-45f0-82a2-520961b272cc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_e6d193ba-3a9d-4399-8721-a1e477a2e1be" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_e6d193ba-3a9d-4399-8721-a1e477a2e1be" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_7d4ab2ba-a0dc-46d0-bf9f-c43269111a22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_7d4ab2ba-a0dc-46d0-bf9f-c43269111a22" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_162a8096-60a8-4797-8d1b-ea62e81e7f7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_162a8096-60a8-4797-8d1b-ea62e81e7f7d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_e73c6f90-839b-477f-b637-96c21131ffdd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_e73c6f90-839b-477f-b637-96c21131ffdd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_a7495631-8000-43e0-bec0-541366fe9f09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_a7495631-8000-43e0-bec0-541366fe9f09" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5a3163ca-32fc-4583-9a82-0d3abd029bfa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_5a3163ca-32fc-4583-9a82-0d3abd029bfa" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_435e31f3-b1bd-4920-9595-0b4dcd19bd7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_435e31f3-b1bd-4920-9595-0b4dcd19bd7f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_5787b9b8-5ec6-4553-8558-4f1216c340c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_5787b9b8-5ec6-4553-8558-4f1216c340c1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_7d48762e-a7b3-4da8-9003-d5b4885fe4ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_7d48762e-a7b3-4da8-9003-d5b4885fe4ff" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_7fac77d2-0898-4e9c-a861-76bdc60f4054" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_7fac77d2-0898-4e9c-a861-76bdc60f4054" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_f26106e8-91a5-43fa-83cc-95f8be2a173d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_f26106e8-91a5-43fa-83cc-95f8be2a173d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_693c2aa5-4493-4eae-ac7a-e8f9f25c2898" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_693c2aa5-4493-4eae-ac7a-e8f9f25c2898" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_671da3c5-f945-4bf1-b057-b1994d8413f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_671da3c5-f945-4bf1-b057-b1994d8413f9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_dad9c15b-e7dd-42f9-aca0-d4ec79abeabf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_dad9c15b-e7dd-42f9-aca0-d4ec79abeabf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_78c06e84-2ad3-4fcb-8ddd-f2f7a617eff1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_78c06e84-2ad3-4fcb-8ddd-f2f7a617eff1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_9b686889-4f0e-447c-bed1-d0a0a20ad90d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_f1d8718f-96a6-43c6-986f-09e11916b224" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_9b686889-4f0e-447c-bed1-d0a0a20ad90d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
