Costa Rica and Panama have agreed to a cross-border card and so Costa Ricans and Panamanians no longer need a passport to enter the neighbouring country.
The first ID card was issued by the Dirección de Migración y Extranjería (Costa Rican immigration service) to the Governor of Chiriqui in Panama
According to Presidenta Laura Chinchilla, the idea is that by the end of 2014, some 4.000 Panamanians and Costa Ricans will have the ID card to cross-border.
There is no charge of the ID card and will be most useful to those living closest to the border.