diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/constants.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/constants.js
index 9122a3e1df40..65234bcad669 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/constants.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/constants.js
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ export function createMapPath(id) {
   return `${MAP_BASE_URL}/${id}`;
 }
 
+export const LAYER_TYPE = {
+  TILE: 'TILE',
+  VECTOR: 'VECTOR',
+  VECTOR_TILE: 'VECTOR_TILE',
+  HEATMAP: 'HEATMAP'
+};
+
+export const EMS_TMS = 'EMS_TMS';
 export const EMS_FILE = 'EMS_FILE';
 export const ES_GEO_GRID = 'ES_GEO_GRID';
 export const ES_SEARCH = 'ES_SEARCH';
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e782f139d629
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import {  EMS_TMS, LAYER_TYPE } from '../constants';
+
+function isEmsTileSource(layerDescriptor) {
+  const sourceType = _.get(layerDescriptor, 'sourceDescriptor.type');
+  return sourceType === EMS_TMS;
+}
+
+function isTileLayer(layerDescriptor) {
+  const layerType = _.get(layerDescriptor, 'type');
+  return layerType === LAYER_TYPE.TILE;
+}
+
+export function emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile({ attributes }) {
+  if (!attributes.layerListJSON) {
+    return attributes;
+  }
+
+  const layerList = JSON.parse(attributes.layerListJSON);
+  layerList.forEach((layer) => {
+    if (isTileLayer(layer) && isEmsTileSource(layer)) {
+      // Just need to switch layer type to migrate TILE layer to VECTOR_TILE layer
+      layer.type = LAYER_TYPE.VECTOR_TILE;
+    }
+  });
+
+  return {
+    ...attributes,
+    layerListJSON: JSON.stringify(layerList),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.test.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8bfe94e7d809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+/* eslint max-len: 0 */
+
+import { emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile } from './ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile';
+
+describe('emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile', () => {
+
+  test('Should handle missing layerListJSON attribute', () => {
+    const attributes = {
+      title: 'my map',
+    };
+    expect(emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile({ attributes })).toEqual({
+      title: 'my map',
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('Should update TILE layers with EMS_TMS sources to VECTOR_TILE layers', () => {
+    const layerListJSON = JSON.stringify([
+      {
+        type: 'TILE',
+        sourceDescriptor: {
+          type: 'EMS_TMS'
+        }
+      }
+    ]);
+    const attributes = {
+      title: 'my map',
+      layerListJSON
+    };
+    expect(emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile({ attributes })).toEqual({
+      title: 'my map',
+      layerListJSON: '[{\"type\":\"VECTOR_TILE\",\"sourceDescriptor\":{\"type\":\"EMS_TMS\"}}]',
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('Should not update TILE layers that are not EMS_TMS source', () => {
+    const layerListJSON = JSON.stringify([
+      {
+        type: 'TILE',
+        sourceDescriptor: {
+          type: 'KIBANA_TILEMAP'
+        }
+      }
+    ]);
+    const attributes = {
+      title: 'my map',
+      layerListJSON
+    };
+    expect(emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile({ attributes })).toEqual({
+      title: 'my map',
+      layerListJSON,
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/migrations.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/migrations.js
index aaceadaa6549..6a97636e679c 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/migrations.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/migrations.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 import { extractReferences } from './common/migrations/references';
+import { emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile } from './common/migrations/ems_raster_tile_to_ems_vector_tile';
 
 export const migrations = {
   'map': {
@@ -17,5 +18,13 @@ export const migrations = {
         references,
       };
     },
+    '7.4.0': (doc) => {
+      const attributes = emsRasterTileToEmsVectorTile(doc);
+
+      return {
+        ...doc,
+        attributes,
+      };
+    }
   },
 };
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/heatmap_layer.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/heatmap_layer.js
index df20cbff84d3..629fb3284ff1 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/heatmap_layer.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/heatmap_layer.js
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ import _ from 'lodash';
 import { AbstractLayer } from './layer';
 import { VectorLayer } from './vector_layer';
 import { HeatmapStyle } from './styles/heatmap_style';
-import { EMPTY_FEATURE_COLLECTION } from '../../common/constants';
+import { EMPTY_FEATURE_COLLECTION, LAYER_TYPE } from '../../common/constants';
 
 const SCALED_PROPERTY_NAME = '__kbn_heatmap_weight__';//unique name to store scaled value for weighting
 
 export class HeatmapLayer extends VectorLayer {
 
-  static type = 'HEATMAP';
+  static type = LAYER_TYPE.HEATMAP;
 
   static createDescriptor(options) {
     const heatmapLayerDescriptor = super.createDescriptor(options);
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/sources/ems_tms_source/ems_tms_source.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/sources/ems_tms_source/ems_tms_source.js
index 2f817aabeda5..be3c90ffb117 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/sources/ems_tms_source/ems_tms_source.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/sources/ems_tms_source/ems_tms_source.js
@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ import { getEMSClient } from '../../../meta';
 import { EMSTMSCreateSourceEditor } from './create_source_editor';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { getDataSourceLabel } from '../../../../common/i18n_getters';
+import { EMS_TMS } from '../../../../common/constants';
 
 export class EMSTMSSource extends AbstractTMSSource {
 
-  static type = 'EMS_TMS';
+  static type = EMS_TMS;
   static title = i18n.translate('xpack.maps.source.emsTileTitle', {
     defaultMessage: 'Tiles'
   });
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/tile_layer.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/tile_layer.js
index b932b5303d40..3dfe83ac83d0 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/tile_layer.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/tile_layer.js
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
 
 import { AbstractLayer } from './layer';
 import _ from 'lodash';
-import { SOURCE_DATA_ID_ORIGIN } from '../../common/constants';
+import { SOURCE_DATA_ID_ORIGIN, LAYER_TYPE } from '../../common/constants';
 
 export class TileLayer extends AbstractLayer {
 
-  static type = 'TILE';
+  static type = LAYER_TYPE.TILE;
 
   constructor({ layerDescriptor, source, style }) {
     super({ layerDescriptor, source, style });
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_layer.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_layer.js
index b9f6599da59c..5033979843ab 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_layer.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_layer.js
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import {
   FEATURE_ID_PROPERTY_NAME,
   SOURCE_DATA_ID_ORIGIN,
   FEATURE_VISIBLE_PROPERTY_NAME,
-  EMPTY_FEATURE_COLLECTION
+  EMPTY_FEATURE_COLLECTION,
+  LAYER_TYPE
 } from '../../common/constants';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 import { JoinTooltipProperty } from './tooltips/join_tooltip_property';
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ function generateNumericalId() {
 
 export class VectorLayer extends AbstractLayer {
 
-  static type = 'VECTOR';
+  static type = LAYER_TYPE.VECTOR;
 
   static createDescriptor(options, mapColors) {
     const layerDescriptor = super.createDescriptor(options);
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_tile_layer.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_tile_layer.js
index f15ffa417d2b..a7f0346b09ef 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_tile_layer.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/public/layers/vector_tile_layer.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import { TileLayer } from './tile_layer';
 import _ from 'lodash';
-import { SOURCE_DATA_ID_ORIGIN } from '../../common/constants';
+import { SOURCE_DATA_ID_ORIGIN, LAYER_TYPE } from '../../common/constants';
 import { isRetina } from '../meta';
 import { addSpritesheetToMap } from '../connected_components/map/mb/utils';//todo move this implementation
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const MB_STYLE_TYPE_TO_OPACITY = {
 
 export class VectorTileLayer extends TileLayer {
 
-  static type = 'VECTOR_TILE';
+  static type = LAYER_TYPE.VECTOR_TILE;
 
   constructor({ layerDescriptor, source, style }) {
     super({ layerDescriptor, source, style });
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/ecommerce_saved_objects.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/ecommerce_saved_objects.js
index 44a6f38177e2..4e8007966e8a 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/ecommerce_saved_objects.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/ecommerce_saved_objects.js
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ export const getEcommerceSavedObjects = () => {
         }
       ],
       'migrationVersion': {
-        'map': '7.2.0'
+        'map': '7.4.0'
       },
       'attributes': {
         'title': i18n.translate('xpack.maps.sampleData.ecommerceSpec.mapsTitle', {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/flights_saved_objects.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/flights_saved_objects.js
index d404946ec3e7..881c2275feed 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/flights_saved_objects.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/flights_saved_objects.js
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export const getFlightsSavedObjects = () => {
         }
       ],
       'migrationVersion': {
-        'map': '7.2.0'
+        'map': '7.4.0'
       },
       'attributes': {
         'title': i18n.translate('xpack.maps.sampleData.flightaSpec.mapsTitle', {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/web_logs_saved_objects.js b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/web_logs_saved_objects.js
index f1f10bbbf1c4..2ac1de70b17d 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/web_logs_saved_objects.js
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/maps/server/sample_data/web_logs_saved_objects.js
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ export const getWebLogsSavedObjects = () => {
         }
       ],
       'migrationVersion': {
-        'map': '7.2.0'
+        'map': '7.4.0'
       },
       'attributes': {
         'title': i18n.translate('xpack.maps.sampleData.flightaSpec.logsTitle', {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/maps/migrations.js b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/maps/migrations.js
index 6cab94c99138..d8bdc5e61cb1 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/maps/migrations.js
+++ b/x-pack/test/api_integration/apis/maps/migrations.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }) {
           type: 'index-pattern'
         }
       ]);
-      expect(resp.body.migrationVersion).to.eql({ map: '7.2.0' });
+      expect(resp.body.migrationVersion).to.eql({ map: '7.4.0' });
       expect(resp.body.attributes.layerListJSON.includes('indexPatternRefName')).to.be(true);
     });
   });