Emigrated to Canada as a family in August of 2009 as Permanent Residents. Lived and worked there until May 2014 when we decided to come back home to England.
Resident Card expired in Sept 2014.

Now we are kind of thinking we made a big mistake coming back
My question is..... I know to return we would have to apply for a Travel Document,but how long can we remain outside of Canada and retain our Permanent Residency?

Thanks

So to maintain PR, you have to have 730 days (~2 years) in Canada in the previous five. You can apply now to renew your PR card, which is worth doing. You can prove that you were in Canada for at least 2 years going back 5 years (so if you applied tomorrow, 27-Jan-2015, then you'd have to prove you had 2 years between 27-Jan-2010 and tomorrow, which you do). You should be ablet o have your card renewed then. Not sure how easy it is to do from overseas, though... not sure if you should try t move back first? Hopefully someone else can also weigh in.

AFAIK PR cards can only be renewed in Canada.

I don't think you need travel docs as you are visa exempt passport holders so should just be in the computer that you are PRs. The only issue would be with airline when boarding the plane... So to be safe, if i were you i would

Get PR travel docs
Return to Canada
Renew PR card there

HTH

It can be renewed from outside Canada, but has to be sent to an address within Canada.

What happens if my permanent resident card expires while I am outside Canada?

Ahh... Right. Which depending on OPs circumstances, may not be possible. But nonetheless an option and probably the most straightforward one

Thanks for the replies, however if we decide not to return to Canada straight away,(after having spent 5 years there) how long can we remain outside of Canada and still maintain PR status before we must go back.

Also any ideas on how long it takes to get a Travel document issued applying from the uk? if and when we make a decision to return.

Short version, you can't. The requirement is for 2 years of residency in the previous five.

You left Canada in May 2014... that means you have to move back no later than May 2017 in order to have two years accumulated by May 2019. Make sense?

That's basically the absolute last minute you could go; if you take any holidays outside of Canada, or have to leave for an emergency (family member passing or being sick, etc) then that time outside of Canada does NOT count towards your PR residency requirement.

So while you don't have to move back immediately, you do need to be mindful of maintaining 2 years of residency in the previous 5.

Perfect, now I understand the ruling................... I guess I have 3 years to convince everyone we made a mistake coming back

Thanks everyone