Foreigners will be thrown out of Britain if they refuse to give details for ID cards

Foreigners who repeatedly flout the rules when they are made to apply for ID cards will be thrown out, the Government said yesterday.

Immigrants will have to give two fingerprints, iris scans and a raft of personal details to the Home Office when the scheme is introduced for foreign nationals only later this year.

Ministers said that, if they fail to comply with these "primary requirements", they could have their permission to stay in the UK revoked.

But papers released yesterday revealed that only serial offenders - who break the rules at least three times in five years - will face removal.

Initially, they will face only fines of £250 per offence. And refugees will face only fines - up to a maximum of £1,000 - as human rights laws bar them from being deported.

A consultation document on penalties under the scheme, which is a fore-runner of the national ID card for all British citizens, also said there was no power to jail anyone who failed to pay the civil fines.

But the offence of contempt, which can carry a jail term, "may be applicable", it added.

Someone with indefinite leave to remain in Britain would only have their leave cancelled in "compelling circumstances", the paper went on. Fines would be discounted for people on benefits.

The roll-out will begin later this year, with the children of foreign nationals also expected to carry the cards.

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Opposition MPs said it offered a glimpse into how the ID card scheme for British citizens could work, when it is introduced from 2009.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Chris Huhne said: "This shows the kind of punitive measures that every British citizen can expect when ID cards are eventually rolled out nationally.

"ID cards for foreign nationals are not going to solve the problems of identity fraud and illegal working. All they will do is threaten the immigration status of hard working people who bring benefits to this country."

But Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "Britain's border security is currently undergoing the biggest shake-up in a generation, ensuring it stays among the toughest in the world.

"ID cards for foreign nationals will cement the triple ring of security protecting our shores, along with fingerprint visas abroad and a single border force here at home."