Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has said that a total of about 45,000 Indians residing illegally in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to seek amnesty that is being offered by the government of the gulf country.

The UAE government has announced two-month amnesty from today till February 3. The programme allows illegal residents to either leave the country without penalty or regularise their visas. Ravi has written letters to Chief Ministers of various states asking them to make arrangements like free air tickets for poor workers to be brought back to India.

"In the last amnesty in 2007, approximately 40,000 Indians exited UAE based on the ECs issued by the mission. As per our mission estimate, around 45,000 Indian staying illegally in UAE will seek amnesty as and when it is announced," Ravi wrote in the letter to the Chief Ministers.

The UAE government has said that the amnesty will only be offered to those who have overstayed their visit or resident visas in the UAE. No amnesty will be available to those who arrived without visas in the country and will be treated as criminals.