Do sponsorships expire when residency is not kept up to date?

[blunderbus]

Hello,
Would be grateful for some advice.
The Question: Do we need to re-apply from scratch for wife and kids (sponsorship etc) or just for kids?
The context/facts:
Me: Canada born.
Wife: British.
Previously lived all my life in Canada. Married in 1995 (Canada).
Initial application for sponsorship in 1995, wife gained permanent residency gained in 1996.
Left Canada together to move to UK in 1998.
Liveing in UK since April 1998.
2 Britain born children (3 yrs and 5 yrs old).
Circumstances are ripe for change and we wish to return to Canada (Halifax).
Thus: Do we need to re-apply from scratch for wife and kids (sponsorship etc) or just for kids?
Is there an expiry date on the sponsorship undertaking?
Is it that we don't need to re-sponsor but still do need to apply for residency?
Do I put wife and kids on same sponsorship form (as if applying from scratch) or just put the kids and assume that wife doesn't require re-sponsoring?
Many questions - but really they're all basically the same question...
I look forward to your replies.
Yours, gratefully in advance!
JT

[Leon]

You are a Canadian citizen?  If yes, your wifes permanent residency is protected because she's married to and staying with a citizen.  To return to Canada, she only needs to apply for a PR travel document, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp

She will fill out her absences from Canada for the last 5 years and include the information that she's has been staying with a Canadian citizen spouse.  Once she gets to Canada, she can apply for a PR card, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-how.asp

As for the kids, as long as they are your kids and you are Canadian, they are Canadian too.  You need to apply for their proof of citizenship, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp  You can also apply for their temporary Canadian passports.  They can get proper passports when they have their citizenship cards.

You need to talk to the Canadian embassy about all this, see http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/missions/unitedkingdom-royaumeuni/menu-eng.asp

[blunderbus]

Yes I am Canadian citizen -- though have not been back to Canada in almost 5 years, nor resident in Canada for over 11 years.

So it's protected? THat is good news! Thanks,
JT