Latvia has effectively become home for actress Chulpan Khamatova, as she secured a renewal of her residence permit. Reports indicate that the star managed to extend her status in the Baltic nation, and she now speaks of Latvia as a place she truly considers home.
In discussions with press representatives, she described the renewal as smooth after a period of uncertainty. The elder children faced obstacles in renewing their permits, but Khamatova and her youngest daughter were able to renew. Her eldest daughter now holds a student visa to study at a music academy, while the middle child pursues studies in London, leaving them without Latvian residence permits beyond those student arrangements.
Earlier reports suggested that the residence permit could not be renewed in Latvia. To safeguard her status, Khamatova reportedly purchased land in Latvia and built a house there, a move aimed at supporting the continuation of her residency.
Maintaining a residence permit typically requires an ongoing contract with a local employer. The Riga National Theater did not renew her contract, but a new offer from the Latvian theater Dailes has led to a one-year extension of her permit.
The artist left Russia after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, a move that has shaped the trajectory of her residency in Latvia.
A previous film with Khamatova earned an award at the Venice Film Festival, highlighting her ongoing presence on the international stage.