Three quarters of the world's population will need biometric visas to visit the UK by the end of next year in a major clampdown on illegal immigration, the Home Secretary John Reid announced today.

In a bid to stop immigrants destroying paper documents and disappearing once they come to Britain on tourist visas, visitors from half the world's countries - which make up three quarters of global population - will need to have scans of fingerprints and irises and obtain special visas before leaving their country of origin by the end of 2008.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, the Home Secretary said new advanced visa requirements would be an essential part of battling illegal immigration.

"That will apply to about half the countries in the world by the end of 2008," he said.

"If you want to come from those countries, you have to have a visa before you leave."

Later on, the Immigration Minister Liam Byrne revealed that all countries outside the EU would over the coming year be assessed by the Home Office to see whether their citizens should also require a visa to visit Britain. Currently 108 countries require visas, and Mr Byrne declined to predict whether the number would rise or fall once the review had been completed.

At the official launch of the border-control plans, the Minister confirmed that the wide-ranging proposals would also see the minimum age for a marriage visa being raised from 18 to 21, in an attempt to tackle forced marriages which often affect teenage girls. Spouses or fiances may also have to pass an English test before they are given permission to settle in Britain on such a visa, he added.

Mr Byrne added that the Government also aimed to introduce measures subjecting Britons who sponsor a family member’s immigration visa to a fine at least £1,000 if its requirements are breached.

The Minister added that a new Government committee would be set up, called the Migration Impact Forum (MIF) which would look at the social impact of immigration on society as a whole.

Ministers say the plans are part of the Government's initiative to double the amount of money spent on border enforcement, as well as better integrating border officials and introducing uniforms for them.

"It’s the next stage in a six or seven-year plan, year in year out, to restore really effective control to the tracking of people in and out of our country," Mr Reid told Sky.

"The people’s highest priority in this country is to see a fair and effective management of immigration."

However, the Government ruled out suggestions of an amnesty for untracked immigrants already in the country, saying it would send out a message encouraging people to come to the UK.

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