Is a traveldocument with expired pr card needed when flying on a returnticket?

[iggypick]

Hello everyone

My new PR card has come in, and i want (have) to pick it up before the end of april.
My old one expired in august last year, but i had to fly to The Netherlands before that time.
It is my intent to fly to Canada to pick it up and fly back to the Netherlands on a returnticket, and return to Canada when it suits me better, probably later this year.
I am a Dutch citizen and carry of course a valid passport from this country, and currently living in The Netherlands as well (family circumstances) but i have lived and worked in Canada from 2004 to 2008, and short periods after that.
I am from a visa exempt country, though the Canadian embassy i Berlin tells me i need a travel document.
I find this odd and hard to believe

Although i would be able to take care of this, Berlin is for European standards a long way,and costly, from where i live to travel to,(Amsterdam area), and some say that if you enter Canada over land by non commercial vehicle you don't need it, i find this all a lot of hassle which i wouldn't need if i'd just be a tourist.
Experts please advise

 

[Leon]

No, you don't need a travel document because you are visa exempt. When you get on the plane, you don't have to say anything but when you arrive in Canada, say that you are a PR and bring your landing document, expired PR card or whatever you have and state that you are there to pick up your renewed PR card (if you have a letter, bring it too).

Travel documents are more for people who are not visa exempt and they mostly need them to be able to board the plane.

Also keep in mind that in order to continue to meet the residency requirements, you can be outside Canada no more than 1095 days (3 years) in any rolling 5 year period so if you left in 2008 and only stayed for short periods after that, this time is nearing for you.

 

[iggypick]

Thank you Leon for your comprehensive explanation, this makes a lot of sense to me (why can't immigration officials explain it like that?)
I have met my residency obligation for the first 5 years of my pr card just shy of one week and have the card at the immigration office waiting for me to be picked up.
I said i had been in Canada for short periods after 2008, but was there during 2010/11 for almost a full year, to me this was a short period after having lived and worked there for 4 years straight (the first years on fulltime employment through a workpermit).
Appreciate your response and will keep you guys updated, thank you!