In this paper, we present the general governing equations of electrodynamics and continuum mechanics that need to be considered while mathematically modelling the behaviour of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs). We consider the existence of finite deformations for soft materials and the possibility of electric currents, temperature gradients, and internal heat generation due to dissipation. Starting with Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism and balance laws of nonlinear elasticity, we present the governing equations and boundary conditions in incremental form in order to solve wave propagation problems of boundary value type.