Malta’s residency programs are poised for a new chapter with Jonathan Cardona at the helm. A seasoned leader in investment migration, Cardona brings a wealth of expertise to Residency Malta. This interview delves into his strategic vision for the agency, including plans to streamline processes, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and amplify the program’s positive impact on the Maltese economy.
We’d like to hear about Mr. Cardona’s strategic vision for Residency Malta. What are his short-term and long-term goals for the agency, and how does he plan to achieve them?
Jonathan Cardona is not new to the business. Having headed Malta’s Investor Immigration Programme for a number of years, he draws on his expertise and insights from his experience as a key figure in the investment migration sector. Now heading Residency Malta, Jonathan is eager to make his mark on Malta’s propositions. “My personal objective is to offer outstanding migratory pathways to prospects wishing to give a better lifestyle to their family and to those making Malta their temporary home, while they keep their employment abroad or to use our country as a launch pad for innovative startups. To do this, we will hinge onto our due diligence best practices to ensure only individuals of good conduct are granted Maltese residency. The ultimate aim is to maintain sustainable programmes that positively impact the Maltese economy and from which direct benefits to Maltese citizens are derived.”
Residency Malta plays a crucial role in facilitating residency and citizenship processes for individuals and families. How does Mr. Cardona plan to enhance the customer experience and streamline processes for applicants?
“The journey of streamlining processes is an ongoing one. We regularly revise our procedures, tweaking where necessary, so that the application lifecycle is always at its optimal. And we do this without compromising our due diligence checks. In the meantime we are also on a digital transformation trajectory where we are automating process flows intended to maintain data integrity, increase efficiencies and always decreasing the incidence of human error. We have recently launched a completely-online Nomad Permit application and we are working towards replicating this for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme application. Our team places much importance to service excellence and we try achieving this at all levels, whether it is face-to-face, or via our licensed agents, or through our digital touch points. Automation and digital solutions allow team members to dedicate their energies to more creative tasks and to look at the bigger picture.”
In order to remain competitive, regulations for residence schemes must be able to continually evolve. What new regulations have been implemented and how does Mr. Cardona view these changes? Will there be further changes in the foreseeable future?
“Competition can be seen from two perspectives – from a programme point of view and from a jurisdictional standpoint. We believe the Malta Permanent Residence Programme is already very competitive and its requirements are clear cut. Nevertheless, if there is opportunity to refine requirements in the future, we are always open to it. However I believe it’s when we come to our country – Malta – that we have an upper-hand over competing European programmes. Most of our clients are driven by the wish to give their families a better lifestyle. Malta is one of the safest countries in the world with a society based on family values. Residents enjoy Island life with 300 days of glorious sunshine and an outdoor style of life. English is a national language and the language for doing business. This means settling fast is easy and communicating with the majority of our hospitable population is a breeze. We boast reputable health care and excellent educational institutions. These are all elements that I believe position us as a cut above others.”
With a focus on positively impacting Malta’s economy, how does Mr. Cardona plan to amplify Residency Malta’s role in fostering economic growth and prosperity through its operational strategies and initiatives? What has been the impact of Residency Malta on the economy to date?
“I think the key word here is sustainability and maintaining the balance between offering good value to new residents while channeling foreign investment into the Maltese economy. The contributions to government that beneficiaries are required to make go directly towards the Consolidated Fund. These are then spent on projects that improve areas of our society, for the ultimate benefit of citizens and of the new residents themselves.
Just last year, this programme generated €55.8 million. This figure can be broken down into €31.5 million deposited in the Consolidated Fund, €1.7 million in the National Development and Social Fund, €17.6 million in property purchase and nearly €5 million in property lease. These statistics do not include the effect of consumption by beneficiaries in different sectors of the economy and the generation of jobs.
Since 2016 from when the programme was launched, the MPRP has generated €84 million for the Consolidated Fund and the NDSF, with a total contribution of nearly €600 million in the economy.”
Residency Malta interacts with various stakeholders, including government bodies, legal professionals, and international partners. How does Mr. Cardona plan to foster positive relationships with these stakeholders to further the agency’s objectives and enhance its reputation globally?
I’m a firm believer of open communication and transparency. We formally consult with our licensed agents where necessary in order to involve them as much as possible, so that we are sure that what we are offering makes sense to the market. We keep channels of communication open and we have a department wholly dedicated to client relations to ensure timely and accurate responses. Without our willingness to give a great service, we would not have built the reputation we enjoy today.
What would you say to those looking at Malta’s Residency Program as an option for residency for themselves and/or families?
I would entice them to make Malta their next vacation destination to get a feel of who we are and what we offer, and to experience at first hand our hospitality, our culture and lifestyle. The next step would be to choose a licensed agent from the list we have on our website. Applications for the MPRP can only be submitted via an agent on this list. We look forward to hosting new residents in Malta.
For more information about Residency Malta’s Programmes visit www.residencymalta.gov.mt
