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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:7da7a5fe-3e8b-4947-91de-d2ba68d84585,g:08b2a2a9-6f47-4836-b564-25459fd33107-->
<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-20210110.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" 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_9572ecc4-3779-4890-b7bb-192fad8b91d3" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_9572ecc4-3779-4890-b7bb-192fad8b91d3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_d4018f21-7c91-495b-9c12-4d87d8fe7d40" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_d4018f21-7c91-495b-9c12-4d87d8fe7d40" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2c6b6bc7-b067-403b-b4f4-fdd4dc5b12bf" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2c6b6bc7-b067-403b-b4f4-fdd4dc5b12bf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_bf1c8974-d50b-4167-89b6-a30e5e2003b5" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_bf1c8974-d50b-4167-89b6-a30e5e2003b5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_5a355bb4-00c7-4bc2-88f3-31180fe4027f" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_5a355bb4-00c7-4bc2-88f3-31180fe4027f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5e35e1ef-50ae-400f-b111-3e9ba032ad49" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_5e35e1ef-50ae-400f-b111-3e9ba032ad49" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a11ab3ec-addf-4a1d-ba1f-ed381b38af55" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a11ab3ec-addf-4a1d-ba1f-ed381b38af55" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_d4434fee-54c6-4372-bbbb-b16ee87c1ca5" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_d4434fee-54c6-4372-bbbb-b16ee87c1ca5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_57c01eb6-e49c-45ab-abcd-5aa49d5bc503" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_57c01eb6-e49c-45ab-abcd-5aa49d5bc503" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_f4fb002f-a2e9-4ede-93b6-8b0c4e88af7b" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_f4fb002f-a2e9-4ede-93b6-8b0c4e88af7b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_4e479036-5ec0-497d-ae22-9298085a061d" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_4e479036-5ec0-497d-ae22-9298085a061d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_690237ff-8eae-46c3-b3fd-207e36bd977f" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_690237ff-8eae-46c3-b3fd-207e36bd977f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_61ee4677-b46c-45fc-ac9e-2b11a507fdb1" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_61ee4677-b46c-45fc-ac9e-2b11a507fdb1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_75fac7d7-283b-4cd3-982f-30eb5709dde9" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_75fac7d7-283b-4cd3-982f-30eb5709dde9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_f5fecaa6-a60d-48c3-950a-dc16d1de5881" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_f5fecaa6-a60d-48c3-950a-dc16d1de5881" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_30fb6488-0678-4151-a189-2dbd2714fccc" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_30fb6488-0678-4151-a189-2dbd2714fccc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_18a5542b-064d-4e15-a006-d2a5c480784e" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_18a5542b-064d-4e15-a006-d2a5c480784e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b639e3df-ec8c-4666-b792-37bc7b4b7feb" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_b639e3df-ec8c-4666-b792-37bc7b4b7feb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_fb2af7b1-cddf-4c70-8f3a-f82814adb991" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_fb2af7b1-cddf-4c70-8f3a-f82814adb991" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_5fb0301e-ebf1-4e5e-8818-17b01a7de7c9" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_5fb0301e-ebf1-4e5e-8818-17b01a7de7c9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_08799d81-90ba-40ed-9ac3-63fe7250b0f3" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_08799d81-90ba-40ed-9ac3-63fe7250b0f3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_16a3f2da-9cdb-479a-834f-250d10a373c8" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_16a3f2da-9cdb-479a-834f-250d10a373c8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5af65b3f-a296-4039-a03b-684a17f1f473" 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_4eb203ac-5e11-4e6b-ad10-9a3d16324a18" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5af65b3f-a296-4039-a03b-684a17f1f473" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
