Colonel Edric Zahra Takes Over as CEO of Identità

As of 14th July 2025, Colonel Edric Zahra officially stepped in as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Identità, Malta’s identity and immigration agency. He replaces Steve Agius, who is moving on to take a new role within the Active Ageing Agency.

Zahra brings with him decades of leadership experience, having served most recently as Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). His appointment is seen as a step towards keeping a structured and disciplined approach at Identità, especially as Malta continues to tighten processes in residency, visas, and citizenship management.

From Military Service to Civil Administration

Colonel Zahra has built his career in the Armed Forces of Malta since the late 1990s. His background includes:

• Commanding rescue missions and border control units
• Leading international operations including Frontex missions
• Representing Malta in high-level security trainings across Europe and the U.S.
• Serving as an educator in maritime law and humanitarian operations

Alongside his military service, Zahra holds academic qualifications in law, Maltese studies, geography, anthropology, and maritime strategy, blending practical field knowledge with a solid academic foundation.

A Line of Shifting Leadership

This leadership change follows a period of relatively short tenures at Identità. Steve Agius served as CEO for just under 18 months, stepping in at the start of 2024. During his time, Agius was instrumental in tightening compliance checks, introducing the lease attestation system for third-country nationals, and ramping up investigative activities within the agency. His final major announcement was the rollout of the new labour market policy, which brings stricter controls on third-country national employment and residence rights, officially coming into force from 1st August 2025 and 1st October 2025.

Before Agius, Colonel Mark Mallia held the role between 2022 and 2024, overseeing the rebranding of Identity Malta to Identità and launching the Compliance Unit. With Colonel Zahra now appointed, Identità looks to continue this direction but with greater focus on operational discipline and efficiency.

What Changes at Identità?

While the leadership is changing, early signs point to continuity in direction. In a brief statement, Zahra said he looks forward to:

working closely with the team and building on the solid foundations already in place.

Identità Chairperson Marlene Mizzi highlighted this handover as a smooth transition, recognising Agius for his work in modernising the agency, especially around digital processes and compliance checks for non-EU nationals.

What To Expect?

With Colonel Zahra, expect things to run with more discipline, and fewer surprises. His military background suggests a leadership style that values order, punctuality, and clear rules, so don’t be surprised if things feel a bit more… buttoned-up. That said, it’s not about shaking everything up but tightening the screws where needed: making sure applications get processed on time and compliance is taken seriously. As Malta continues to refine its residency and identity frameworks, Zahra’s steady hand should help keep the ship sailing smoothly through increasingly complex waters.

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