If you are Costa Rican, say goodbye to the long lines at the airports of Great Britain, where thousands of tourists wait long hours to talk to a migration officer.
Since November 21st, in an unprecedented measure in the relationship between the UK and Latin America, citizens of 12 countries in the region may choose not to make the line and may leave without any hassle.
Costa Rica is on the list of beneficiary countries alongside with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Those who have traveled to the United Kingdom four times in the last 24 months will be able to access fast-track counters, as well as members of the European Union.
The Home Office says that the idea is to encourage business between the two regions.
The initiative adds to these countries in the form of Registered Traveler, which allows frequent visitors to pay $85 (£70) per year to avoid having to fill out the landing card and to access the passenger counters of the United Kingdom and the EU.
So far only 9 countries could benefit, but none of them were Latin American.
On Monday, 16 other countries will join: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Last year visitors to the new countries from the list spent about £ 1,000 million (about $ 1,230 million) and trade relations left billions to the UK economy,”
said Interior Minister, Amber Rudd.