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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:6e2222cd-2a49-4171-a9c0-30f293868124,g:d7873eca-9161-43ab-aae4-43b970624cd0-->
<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-20210218.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://emergentbiosolutions.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" 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_08a08db5-3abc-4a18-a694-1fc57cee2d5d" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_08a08db5-3abc-4a18-a694-1fc57cee2d5d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_9194a55f-85c1-42ec-a42f-5c5209394383" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_9194a55f-85c1-42ec-a42f-5c5209394383" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_e3e2fce2-1f6d-4f72-849b-1f1ad5e8ada4" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_e3e2fce2-1f6d-4f72-849b-1f1ad5e8ada4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_de5aefff-ab8b-4936-9e3a-6670afa071ce" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_de5aefff-ab8b-4936-9e3a-6670afa071ce" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_0761c729-5acb-44a9-8703-5a91fea573f3" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_0761c729-5acb-44a9-8703-5a91fea573f3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_93edc7a8-dfaf-4b54-9aff-9c577833ca78" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_93edc7a8-dfaf-4b54-9aff-9c577833ca78" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b1887066-a742-4220-aa28-1a91f8e59b74" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b1887066-a742-4220-aa28-1a91f8e59b74" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a7c271e2-3cf2-4b80-bb1b-c855cf925735" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_a7c271e2-3cf2-4b80-bb1b-c855cf925735" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_eb0a1650-8b39-4474-8da9-36e88ac9f9b2" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_eb0a1650-8b39-4474-8da9-36e88ac9f9b2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_24551298-0ca1-4448-8116-71ef68898b97" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_24551298-0ca1-4448-8116-71ef68898b97" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a958aec1-d969-4166-b5e7-781f7c59ec51" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_a958aec1-d969-4166-b5e7-781f7c59ec51" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_efe1c24a-54e7-438a-a30d-cd6393222a2e" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_efe1c24a-54e7-438a-a30d-cd6393222a2e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_2a0fa81a-88d2-40ff-9b82-2803e6d23a77" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_2a0fa81a-88d2-40ff-9b82-2803e6d23a77" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_909514a8-446f-42d3-8a68-c29fef5b5946" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_909514a8-446f-42d3-8a68-c29fef5b5946" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_4ff3275e-a39c-4001-b9d0-e4f4f1de0f83" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_4ff3275e-a39c-4001-b9d0-e4f4f1de0f83" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_dd9f9ca0-d77a-4e57-8c07-06ae78975d84" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_dd9f9ca0-d77a-4e57-8c07-06ae78975d84" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_3e2dc213-e6ae-4080-8026-aecfe2a6742a" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_3e2dc213-e6ae-4080-8026-aecfe2a6742a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_05cd4111-e48e-41e0-810e-a2b103f6459b" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_05cd4111-e48e-41e0-810e-a2b103f6459b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_bb08d76c-288d-4384-87e2-a329553533f2" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_bb08d76c-288d-4384-87e2-a329553533f2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_684bb929-07e1-4580-ac37-268be37d09f7" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_684bb929-07e1-4580-ac37-268be37d09f7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_e49b0b9e-9714-4f6c-a578-e77508f55477" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_e49b0b9e-9714-4f6c-a578-e77508f55477" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_a9ffc984-b112-4ac0-b7c6-67111ae57abb" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_a9ffc984-b112-4ac0-b7c6-67111ae57abb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1a16d75a-0ff4-4e41-b98b-a9c365593ca6" 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_cb993284-c96b-4da0-b3b9-638b89734921" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1a16d75a-0ff4-4e41-b98b-a9c365593ca6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
