West Virginia (WOAY) Travelers dreaming about their next international getaway may want to start with one important task: Checking their passport.
As National Passport Awareness Month gets underway, AAA is urging Americans to check their passport expiration dates, review entry requirements for their destination, and renew their documents well before travel.
That’s because some countries require a passport to remain valid for months after a trip ends.
AAA says routine passport processing currently takes about four to six weeks, not including mailing time, which could add several more weeks.
The U.S. Department of State issued a record 27.3 million passport books and cards in fiscal year 2025.
Travelers should also know the difference between the two.
Passport books are required for international air travel and can also be used for international travel by land or sea.
Passport cards, however, cannot be used for international air travel. They can be used to enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico by land or sea, as well as to reach some Caribbean destinations by sea.
AAA says anyone planning international travel should check their passport now, especially if it expires this year, and begin the renewal process as soon as possible.
