Applicants aged five and older will from June 21 need to visit the British Embassy visa application centre run by VFS Thailand.

Applicants will have their fingerprints electronically scanned and a digital photograph taken.

"The process is relatively simple and should take no more than five minutes. There is no additional charge," an embassy statement said.

The embassy is bracing for complaints from those accustomed to the old, more relaxed rules. The changes, the embassy said, were necessary.

"The British Embassy apologises to customers for any inconvenience the move to this new visa system may cause. The addition of biometric data is necessary to combat visa fraud, including identity theft, and to improve security for all visitors to the UK.

"Biometric visas for the UK have already been introduced in a number of other countries in the region and are being introduced worldwide," the embassy said.

Applicants' fingertips need to be free from any form of decoration, abrasions or other markings, and facial cuts and bruises must be healed or unnoticeable. They may prevent acceptable fingerprint scans and photographs. Digital photographs cannot be taken with applicants wearing dark glasses or coverings hiding the face or neck.

All applications for UK visas will be suspended and the VFS office closed from this Friday until next Wednesday inclusive so equipment required can be installed and staff trained to use it.

Biometric data is mandatory for all applicants except for holders of diplomatic passports and accompanying dependants travelling on official government business and holders of official passports travelling on government business in the UK.

UN officials holding UN travel documents travelling on official business do not require the biometric visa. Neither do Commonwealth and NATO armed-forces personnel posted for service in the UK or holders of a certificate of entitlement confirming right of abode in the UK.

Exceptions may be granted to applicants who for genuine medical reasons cannot provide fingerprint scans.

For more information visit the embassy website ukvac-th.com, email it at info@ukvac-th.com or call 02 800 8050.