<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII"?>
<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!-- -->
<link:linkbase xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" 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">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:href="ebs-20200528.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedNetLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedNetLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTerseLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTerseLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTotalLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTotalLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/netLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/net-2009-12-16.xsd#netLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_584C7977B4705E1691A3FD2F47939287" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="1" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_584C7977B4705E1691A3FD2F47939287" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_4D578E5A8D18588CB5EF74BDA5FF3A9E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="2" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_4D578E5A8D18588CB5EF74BDA5FF3A9E" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_E4B0DCD4EB3458BBB7797DD5F4AEBB28" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="3" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_E4B0DCD4EB3458BBB7797DD5F4AEBB28" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7265B71B9ACF5E5EA362C8E183135756" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="4" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7265B71B9ACF5E5EA362C8E183135756" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_310D7B5E6A735496B06FD920ED951885" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="5" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_310D7B5E6A735496B06FD920ED951885" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_6EDE2A64ACD95CEBBE43296A9163FCF6" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="6" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_6EDE2A64ACD95CEBBE43296A9163FCF6" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_532824E25D4A5B8F9FA46156F62881C1" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="7" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_532824E25D4A5B8F9FA46156F62881C1" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_D1EF81F25DB653CE86C799498D5B29D6" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="8" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_D1EF81F25DB653CE86C799498D5B29D6" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_F8A5A47B8AB4557F9DA6D055DF6C8A96" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="9" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_F8A5A47B8AB4557F9DA6D055DF6C8A96" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_6DC3CBA47D9B5BEFA4CB608B3F0F0CA2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="10" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_6DC3CBA47D9B5BEFA4CB608B3F0F0CA2" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_EC347B0DA295533EA95D7611C54C3242" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="11" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_EC347B0DA295533EA95D7611C54C3242" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_454C959D129154DA9449B24A0DD11F76" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="12" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_454C959D129154DA9449B24A0DD11F76" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_9656E62A2FE75CC9A4D14405DC89559A" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="13" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_9656E62A2FE75CC9A4D14405DC89559A" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_C03D0EEEFADE55D8BBC9F4C11C213237" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="14" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_C03D0EEEFADE55D8BBC9F4C11C213237" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_DA5C3CACAF0250D39F4246E8706950DB" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="15" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_DA5C3CACAF0250D39F4246E8706950DB" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_EF9643D51D5C5724A817A6C3C74E82D5" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="16" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_EF9643D51D5C5724A817A6C3C74E82D5" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_0911F2F3D3E15CF4930F0966FA37861E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="17" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_0911F2F3D3E15CF4930F0966FA37861E" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_84260370FA20507EBD022F78F0ECFCB7" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="18" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_84260370FA20507EBD022F78F0ECFCB7" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_C547334961255F7ABE979F65CAA38206" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="19" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_C547334961255F7ABE979F65CAA38206" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_7BBB115025155634882204C18C4455E1" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="20" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_7BBB115025155634882204C18C4455E1" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_17F83458A7B8501D944735A0A976C7FC" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="21" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_17F83458A7B8501D944735A0A976C7FC" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_F5A59DFBF70150CFACA6637333C1B004" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="22" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_F5A59DFBF70150CFACA6637333C1B004" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_0EB56C78DA9A543DB353923C2805E56C" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="23" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3C428F8A08F15AF4BA74F16EB006D63E" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_0EB56C78DA9A543DB353923C2805E56C" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
