British owners of holiday homes risk being thrown out of the European Union (EU) amid a border crackdown that comes into force this weekend.

The EU’s entry and exit system (EES) will be switched on from Sunday, meaning thousands of British holidaymakers and second home owners alike will face new border checks.

Unlike the current process, in which date stamps are made in passports by border control officers, a computer system will now automatically calculate whether British passport holders have complied with the so-called 90/180-day rule.

The rule says that within any rolling six-month period, a British citizen on holiday can only stay in an EU country for a maximum of 90 days.

Those exceeding the permitted three-month stay now risk fines, being asked to leave, or even deportation with a “no-return” ban lasting for years.

Increased queues and waiting times at airports are widely expected as British travellers not only grapple with fingerprint-scanning technology, being introduced for the first time under the new EU rules, but also with US border control-style questions about return tickets, health insurance and whether travellers have enough funds to support themselves during their planned stay.