diff --git a/changes/unreleased/4750.jJBu7iAgZa96hdqcpHK96W.toml b/changes/unreleased/4750.jJBu7iAgZa96hdqcpHK96W.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5d9d75d7ca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/unreleased/4750.jJBu7iAgZa96hdqcpHK96W.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+features = "Use `timedelta` to represent time periods in class arguments and attributes"
+deprecations = """In this release, we're migrating attributes of Telegram objects that represent durations/time periods from having :obj:`int` type to Python's native :class:`datetime.timedelta`. This change is opt-in for now to allow for a smooth transition phase. It will become opt-out in future releases.
+
+Set ``PTB_TIMEDELTA=true`` or ``PTB_TIMEDELTA=1`` as an environment variable to make these attributes return :obj:`datetime.timedelta` objects instead of integers. Support for :obj:`int` values is deprecated and will be removed in a future major version.
+
+Affected Attributes:
+- :attr:`telegram.ChatFullInfo.slow_mode_delay` and :attr:`telegram.ChatFullInfo.message_auto_delete_time`
+- :attr:`telegram.Animation.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.Audio.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.Video.duration` and :attr:`telegram.Video.start_timestamp`
+- :attr:`telegram.VideoNote.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.Voice.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.PaidMediaPreview.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.VideoChatEnded.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InputMediaVideo.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InputMediaAnimation.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InputMediaAudio.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InputPaidMediaVideo.duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultGif.gif_duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif.mpeg4_duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultVideo.video_duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultAudio.audio_duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultVoice.voice_duration`
+- :attr:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.live_period`
+- :attr:`telegram.Poll.open_period`
+- :attr:`telegram.Location.live_period`
+- :attr:`telegram.MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged.message_auto_delete_time`
+- :attr:`telegram.ChatInviteLink.subscription_period`
+- :attr:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.live_period`
+- :attr:`telegram.error.RetryAfter.retry_after`
+"""
+internal = "Modify `test_official` to handle time periods as timedelta automatically."
+[[pull_requests]]
+uid = "4750"
+author_uid = "aelkheir"
+closes_threads = ["4575"]
diff --git a/docs/substitutions/global.rst b/docs/substitutions/global.rst
index 8fb9e9360d7..ed4b40ecdee 100644
--- a/docs/substitutions/global.rst
+++ b/docs/substitutions/global.rst
@@ -101,3 +101,5 @@
 .. |org-verify| replace:: `on behalf of the organization <https://telegram.org/verify#third-party-verification>`__
 
 .. |time-period-input| replace:: :class:`datetime.timedelta` objects are accepted in addition to plain :obj:`int` values.
+
+.. |time-period-int-deprecated| replace:: In a future major version this attribute will be of type :obj:`datetime.timedelta`. You can opt-in early by setting `PTB_TIMEDELTA=true`  or ``PTB_TIMEDELTA=1`` as an environment variable.
diff --git a/examples/rawapibot.py b/examples/rawapibot.py
index b6a70fc3de0..34ac964c4b7 100644
--- a/examples/rawapibot.py
+++ b/examples/rawapibot.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
+import datetime as dtm
 import logging
 from typing import NoReturn
 
@@ -47,7 +48,9 @@ async def main() -> NoReturn:
 async def echo(bot: Bot, update_id: int) -> int:
     """Echo the message the user sent."""
     # Request updates after the last update_id
-    updates = await bot.get_updates(offset=update_id, timeout=10, allowed_updates=Update.ALL_TYPES)
+    updates = await bot.get_updates(
+        offset=update_id, timeout=dtm.timedelta(seconds=10), allowed_updates=Update.ALL_TYPES
+    )
     for update in updates:
         next_update_id = update.update_id + 1
 
diff --git a/src/telegram/_bot.py b/src/telegram/_bot.py
index 90f6cf0bf42..5f588f430a8 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_bot.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_bot.py
@@ -4519,7 +4519,7 @@ async def get_updates(
         self,
         offset: Optional[int] = None,
         limit: Optional[int] = None,
-        timeout: Optional[int] = None,
+        timeout: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         allowed_updates: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
         *,
         read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
@@ -4554,9 +4554,12 @@ async def get_updates(
                 between :tg-const:`telegram.constants.PollingLimit.MIN_LIMIT`-
                 :tg-const:`telegram.constants.PollingLimit.MAX_LIMIT` are accepted.
                 Defaults to ``100``.
-            timeout (:obj:`int`, optional): Timeout in seconds for long polling. Defaults to ``0``,
-                i.e. usual short polling. Should be positive, short polling should be used for
-                testing purposes only.
+            timeout (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Timeout in seconds for
+                long polling. Defaults to ``0``, i.e. usual short polling. Should be positive,
+                short polling should be used for testing purposes only.
+
+                .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                    |time-period-input|
             allowed_updates (Sequence[:obj:`str`]), optional): A sequence the types of
                 updates you want your bot to receive. For example, specify ["message",
                 "edited_channel_post", "callback_query"] to only receive updates of these types.
@@ -4591,6 +4594,12 @@ async def get_updates(
         else:
             arg_read_timeout = self._request[0].read_timeout or 0
 
+        read_timeout = (
+            (arg_read_timeout + timeout.total_seconds())
+            if isinstance(timeout, dtm.timedelta)
+            else (arg_read_timeout + timeout if timeout else arg_read_timeout)
+        )
+
         # Ideally we'd use an aggressive read timeout for the polling. However,
         # * Short polling should return within 2 seconds.
         # * Long polling poses a different problem: the connection might have been dropped while
@@ -4601,7 +4610,7 @@ async def get_updates(
             await self._post(
                 "getUpdates",
                 data,
-                read_timeout=arg_read_timeout + timeout if timeout else arg_read_timeout,
+                read_timeout=read_timeout,
                 write_timeout=write_timeout,
                 connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 pool_timeout=pool_timeout,
diff --git a/src/telegram/_chatfullinfo.py b/src/telegram/_chatfullinfo.py
index 4b0fae53c6b..7d0a5838063 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_chatfullinfo.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_chatfullinfo.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram ChatFullInfo."""
 import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._birthdate import Birthdate
 from telegram._chat import Chat, _ChatBase
@@ -29,9 +29,18 @@
 from telegram._files.chatphoto import ChatPhoto
 from telegram._gifts import AcceptedGiftTypes
 from telegram._reaction import ReactionType
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import (
+    de_json_optional,
+    de_list_optional,
+    parse_sequence_arg,
+    to_timedelta,
+)
+from telegram._utils.datetime import (
+    extract_tzinfo_from_defaults,
+    from_timestamp,
+    get_timedelta_value,
+)
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 from telegram._utils.warnings import warn
 from telegram._utils.warnings_transition import (
     build_deprecation_warning_message,
@@ -166,17 +175,23 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
             (by sending date).
         permissions (:class:`telegram.ChatPermissions`): Optional. Default chat member permissions,
             for groups and supergroups.
-        slow_mode_delay (:obj:`int`, optional): For supergroups, the minimum allowed delay between
-            consecutive messages sent by each unprivileged user.
+        slow_mode_delay (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): For supergroups,
+            the minimum allowed delay between consecutive messages sent by each unprivileged user.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         unrestrict_boost_count (:obj:`int`, optional): For supergroups, the minimum number of
             boosts that a non-administrator user needs to add in order to ignore slow mode and chat
             permissions.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.0
-        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int`, optional): The time after which all messages sent to
-            the chat will be automatically deleted; in seconds.
+        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): The time
+            after which all messages sent to the chat will be automatically deleted; in seconds.
 
             .. versionadded:: 13.4
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         has_aggressive_anti_spam_enabled (:obj:`bool`, optional): :obj:`True`, if aggressive
             anti-spam checks are enabled in the supergroup. The field is only available to chat
             administrators.
@@ -331,17 +346,23 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
             (by sending date).
         permissions (:class:`telegram.ChatPermissions`): Optional. Default chat member permissions,
             for groups and supergroups.
-        slow_mode_delay (:obj:`int`): Optional. For supergroups, the minimum allowed delay between
-            consecutive messages sent by each unprivileged user.
+        slow_mode_delay (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. For supergroups,
+            the minimum allowed delay between consecutive messages sent by each unprivileged user.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         unrestrict_boost_count (:obj:`int`): Optional. For supergroups, the minimum number of
             boosts that a non-administrator user needs to add in order to ignore slow mode and chat
             permissions.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.0
-        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int`): Optional. The time after which all messages sent to
-            the chat will be automatically deleted; in seconds.
+        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. The time
+            after which all messages sent to the chat will be automatically deleted; in seconds.
 
             .. versionadded:: 13.4
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         has_aggressive_anti_spam_enabled (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if aggressive
             anti-spam checks are enabled in the supergroup. The field is only available to chat
             administrators.
@@ -383,6 +404,8 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
 
     __slots__ = (
         "_can_send_gift",
+        "_message_auto_delete_time",
+        "_slow_mode_delay",
         "accent_color_id",
         "accepted_gift_types",
         "active_usernames",
@@ -411,14 +434,12 @@ class ChatFullInfo(_ChatBase):
         "linked_chat_id",
         "location",
         "max_reaction_count",
-        "message_auto_delete_time",
         "permissions",
         "personal_chat",
         "photo",
         "pinned_message",
         "profile_accent_color_id",
         "profile_background_custom_emoji_id",
-        "slow_mode_delay",
         "sticker_set_name",
         "unrestrict_boost_count",
     )
@@ -456,9 +477,9 @@ def __init__(
         invite_link: Optional[str] = None,
         pinned_message: Optional["Message"] = None,
         permissions: Optional[ChatPermissions] = None,
-        slow_mode_delay: Optional[int] = None,
+        slow_mode_delay: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         unrestrict_boost_count: Optional[int] = None,
-        message_auto_delete_time: Optional[int] = None,
+        message_auto_delete_time: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         has_aggressive_anti_spam_enabled: Optional[bool] = None,
         has_hidden_members: Optional[bool] = None,
         has_protected_content: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -513,9 +534,9 @@ def __init__(
             self.invite_link: Optional[str] = invite_link
             self.pinned_message: Optional[Message] = pinned_message
             self.permissions: Optional[ChatPermissions] = permissions
-            self.slow_mode_delay: Optional[int] = slow_mode_delay
-            self.message_auto_delete_time: Optional[int] = (
-                int(message_auto_delete_time) if message_auto_delete_time is not None else None
+            self._slow_mode_delay: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(slow_mode_delay)
+            self._message_auto_delete_time: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(
+                message_auto_delete_time
             )
             self.has_protected_content: Optional[bool] = has_protected_content
             self.has_visible_history: Optional[bool] = has_visible_history
@@ -576,6 +597,16 @@ def can_send_gift(self) -> Optional[bool]:
         )
         return self._can_send_gift
 
+    @property
+    def slow_mode_delay(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._slow_mode_delay, attribute="slow_mode_delay")
+
+    @property
+    def message_auto_delete_time(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(
+            self._message_auto_delete_time, attribute="message_auto_delete_time"
+        )
+
     @classmethod
     def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatFullInfo":
         """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
diff --git a/src/telegram/_chatinvitelink.py b/src/telegram/_chatinvitelink.py
index 289ee48bdba..dc5486924e6 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_chatinvitelink.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_chatinvitelink.py
@@ -18,13 +18,17 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents an invite link for a chat."""
 import datetime as dtm
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional
-from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import (
+    extract_tzinfo_from_defaults,
+    from_timestamp,
+    get_timedelta_value,
+)
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
@@ -70,10 +74,13 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
             created using this link.
 
             .. versionadded:: 13.8
-        subscription_period (:obj:`int`, optional): The number of seconds the subscription will be
-            active for before the next payment.
+        subscription_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): The number of
+            seconds the subscription will be active for before the next payment.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.5
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         subscription_price (:obj:`int`, optional): The amount of Telegram Stars a user must pay
             initially and after each subsequent subscription period to be a member of the chat
             using the link.
@@ -107,10 +114,13 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
             created using this link.
 
             .. versionadded:: 13.8
-        subscription_period (:obj:`int`): Optional. The number of seconds the subscription will be
-            active for before the next payment.
+        subscription_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. The number of
+            seconds the subscription will be active for before the next payment.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.5
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         subscription_price (:obj:`int`): Optional. The amount of Telegram Stars a user must pay
             initially and after each subsequent subscription period to be a member of the chat
             using the link.
@@ -120,6 +130,7 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_subscription_period",
         "creates_join_request",
         "creator",
         "expire_date",
@@ -129,7 +140,6 @@ class ChatInviteLink(TelegramObject):
         "member_limit",
         "name",
         "pending_join_request_count",
-        "subscription_period",
         "subscription_price",
     )
 
@@ -144,7 +154,7 @@ def __init__(
         member_limit: Optional[int] = None,
         name: Optional[str] = None,
         pending_join_request_count: Optional[int] = None,
-        subscription_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        subscription_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         subscription_price: Optional[int] = None,
         *,
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
@@ -164,7 +174,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.pending_join_request_count: Optional[int] = (
             int(pending_join_request_count) if pending_join_request_count is not None else None
         )
-        self.subscription_period: Optional[int] = subscription_period
+        self._subscription_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(subscription_period)
         self.subscription_price: Optional[int] = subscription_price
 
         self._id_attrs = (
@@ -177,6 +187,10 @@ def __init__(
 
         self._freeze()
 
+    @property
+    def subscription_period(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._subscription_period, attribute="subscription_period")
+
     @classmethod
     def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "ChatInviteLink":
         """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/_inputstorycontent.py b/src/telegram/_files/_inputstorycontent.py
index 1eaf14682f3..dd8f25c5810 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/_inputstorycontent.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/_inputstorycontent.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 from telegram._files.inputfile import InputFile
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
 from telegram._utils.files import parse_file_input
 from telegram._utils.types import FileInput, JSONDict
 
@@ -158,18 +159,8 @@ def __init__(
 
         with self._unfrozen():
             self.video: Union[str, InputFile] = self._parse_file_input(video)
-            self.duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = self._parse_period_arg(duration)
-            self.cover_frame_timestamp: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = self._parse_period_arg(
+            self.duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
+            self.cover_frame_timestamp: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(
                 cover_frame_timestamp
             )
             self.is_animation: Optional[bool] = is_animation
-
-    # This helper is temporarly here until we can use `argumentparsing.parse_period_arg`
-    # from https://github.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/pull/4750
-    @staticmethod
-    def _parse_period_arg(arg: Optional[Union[float, dtm.timedelta]]) -> Optional[dtm.timedelta]:
-        if arg is None:
-            return None
-        if isinstance(arg, dtm.timedelta):
-            return arg
-        return dtm.timedelta(seconds=arg)
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/animation.py b/src/telegram/_files/animation.py
index 537ffc0a0db..8092888466b 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/animation.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/animation.py
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Animation."""
-from typing import Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._files._basethumbedmedium import _BaseThumbedMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class Animation(_BaseThumbedMedium):
@@ -41,7 +44,11 @@ class Animation(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         width (:obj:`int`): Video width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`): Video height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Duration of the video
+            in seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         file_name (:obj:`str`, optional): Original animation filename as defined by the sender.
         mime_type (:obj:`str`, optional): MIME type of the file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`, optional): File size in bytes.
@@ -58,7 +65,11 @@ class Animation(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         width (:obj:`int`): Video width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`): Video height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the video in seconds
+            as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         file_name (:obj:`str`): Optional. Original animation filename as defined by the sender.
         mime_type (:obj:`str`): Optional. MIME type of the file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`): Optional. File size in bytes.
@@ -69,7 +80,7 @@ class Animation(_BaseThumbedMedium):
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "file_name", "height", "mime_type", "width")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "file_name", "height", "mime_type", "width")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -77,7 +88,7 @@ def __init__(
         file_unique_id: str,
         width: int,
         height: int,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         file_name: Optional[str] = None,
         mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
         file_size: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -96,7 +107,13 @@ def __init__(
             # Required
             self.width: int = width
             self.height: int = height
-            self.duration: int = duration
+            self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
             # Optional
             self.mime_type: Optional[str] = mime_type
             self.file_name: Optional[str] = file_name
+
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/audio.py b/src/telegram/_files/audio.py
index af5e420e1b2..a6ba97bbe27 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/audio.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/audio.py
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Audio."""
-from typing import Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._files._basethumbedmedium import _BaseThumbedMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class Audio(_BaseThumbedMedium):
@@ -39,7 +42,11 @@ class Audio(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             or reuse the file.
         file_unique_id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier for this file, which is supposed to be
             the same over time and for different bots. Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the audio in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the audio in
+            seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         performer (:obj:`str`, optional): Performer of the audio as defined by the sender or by
             audio tags.
         title (:obj:`str`, optional): Title of the audio as defined by the sender or by audio tags.
@@ -56,7 +63,11 @@ class Audio(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             or reuse the file.
         file_unique_id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier for this file, which is supposed to be
             the same over time and for different bots. Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the audio in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the audio in seconds as
+            defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         performer (:obj:`str`): Optional. Performer of the audio as defined by the sender or by
             audio tags.
         title (:obj:`str`): Optional. Title of the audio as defined by the sender or by audio tags.
@@ -71,13 +82,13 @@ class Audio(_BaseThumbedMedium):
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "file_name", "mime_type", "performer", "title")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "file_name", "mime_type", "performer", "title")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         file_id: str,
         file_unique_id: str,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         performer: Optional[str] = None,
         title: Optional[str] = None,
         mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -96,9 +107,15 @@ def __init__(
         )
         with self._unfrozen():
             # Required
-            self.duration: int = duration
+            self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
             # Optional
             self.performer: Optional[str] = performer
             self.title: Optional[str] = title
             self.mime_type: Optional[str] = mime_type
             self.file_name: Optional[str] = file_name
+
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/inputmedia.py b/src/telegram/_files/inputmedia.py
index 2b7e6b21fd5..5746fd5b1ba 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/inputmedia.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/inputmedia.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """Base class for Telegram InputMedia Objects."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import Final, Optional, Union
 
@@ -30,10 +31,11 @@
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
 from telegram._utils.files import parse_file_input
-from telegram._utils.types import FileInput, JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import FileInput, JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InputMediaType
 
 MediaType = Union[Animation, Audio, Document, PhotoSize, Video]
@@ -215,7 +217,10 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
             .. versionchanged:: 21.11
         width (:obj:`int`, optional): Video width.
         height (:obj:`int`, optional): Video height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         supports_streaming (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass :obj:`True`, if the uploaded video is
             suitable for streaming.
 
@@ -233,14 +238,17 @@ class InputPaidMediaVideo(InputPaidMedia):
             .. versionchanged:: 21.11
         width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video width.
         height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         supports_streaming (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if the uploaded video is
             suitable for streaming.
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_duration",
         "cover",
-        "duration",
         "height",
         "start_timestamp",
         "supports_streaming",
@@ -254,7 +262,7 @@ def __init__(
         thumbnail: Optional[FileInput] = None,
         width: Optional[int] = None,
         height: Optional[int] = None,
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = None,
         cover: Optional[FileInput] = None,
         start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -264,7 +272,7 @@ def __init__(
         if isinstance(media, Video):
             width = width if width is not None else media.width
             height = height if height is not None else media.height
-            duration = duration if duration is not None else media.duration
+            duration = duration if duration is not None else media._duration
             media = media.file_id
         else:
             # We use local_mode=True because we don't have access to the actual setting and want
@@ -278,13 +286,17 @@ def __init__(
             )
             self.width: Optional[int] = width
             self.height: Optional[int] = height
-            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
+            self._duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
             self.supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = supports_streaming
             self.cover: Optional[Union[InputFile, str]] = (
                 parse_file_input(cover, attach=True, local_mode=True) if cover else None
             )
             self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp
 
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._duration, attribute="duration")
+
 
 class InputMediaAnimation(InputMedia):
     """Represents an animation file (GIF or H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video without sound) to be sent.
@@ -322,7 +334,11 @@ class InputMediaAnimation(InputMedia):
 
         width (:obj:`int`, optional): Animation width.
         height (:obj:`int`, optional): Animation height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Animation duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Animation duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         has_spoiler (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass :obj:`True`, if the animation needs to be covered
             with a spoiler animation.
 
@@ -350,7 +366,11 @@ class InputMediaAnimation(InputMedia):
                 * |alwaystuple|
         width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Animation width.
         height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Animation height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Animation duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Animation duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         has_spoiler (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if the animation is covered with a
             spoiler animation.
 
@@ -364,7 +384,7 @@ class InputMediaAnimation(InputMedia):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
-        "duration",
+        "_duration",
         "has_spoiler",
         "height",
         "show_caption_above_media",
@@ -379,7 +399,7 @@ def __init__(
         parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
         width: Optional[int] = None,
         height: Optional[int] = None,
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         caption_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
         filename: Optional[str] = None,
         has_spoiler: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -391,7 +411,7 @@ def __init__(
         if isinstance(media, Animation):
             width = media.width if width is None else width
             height = media.height if height is None else height
-            duration = media.duration if duration is None else duration
+            duration = duration if duration is not None else media._duration
             media = media.file_id
         else:
             # We use local_mode=True because we don't have access to the actual setting and want
@@ -412,10 +432,14 @@ def __init__(
             )
             self.width: Optional[int] = width
             self.height: Optional[int] = height
-            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
+            self._duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
             self.has_spoiler: Optional[bool] = has_spoiler
             self.show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = show_caption_above_media
 
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._duration, attribute="duration")
+
 
 class InputMediaPhoto(InputMedia):
     """Represents a photo to be sent.
@@ -545,7 +569,10 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
 
         width (:obj:`int`, optional): Video width.
         height (:obj:`int`, optional): Video height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         supports_streaming (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass :obj:`True`, if the uploaded video is
             suitable for streaming.
         has_spoiler (:obj:`bool`, optional): Pass :obj:`True`, if the video needs to be covered
@@ -582,7 +609,10 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
                 * |alwaystuple|
         width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video width.
         height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video height.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         supports_streaming (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if the uploaded video is
             suitable for streaming.
         has_spoiler (:obj:`bool`): Optional. :obj:`True`, if the video is covered with a
@@ -605,8 +635,8 @@ class InputMediaVideo(InputMedia):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_duration",
         "cover",
-        "duration",
         "has_spoiler",
         "height",
         "show_caption_above_media",
@@ -622,7 +652,7 @@ def __init__(
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         width: Optional[int] = None,
         height: Optional[int] = None,
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         supports_streaming: Optional[bool] = None,
         parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
         caption_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
@@ -638,7 +668,7 @@ def __init__(
         if isinstance(media, Video):
             width = width if width is not None else media.width
             height = height if height is not None else media.height
-            duration = duration if duration is not None else media.duration
+            duration = duration if duration is not None else media._duration
             media = media.file_id
         else:
             # We use local_mode=True because we don't have access to the actual setting and want
@@ -656,7 +686,7 @@ def __init__(
         with self._unfrozen():
             self.width: Optional[int] = width
             self.height: Optional[int] = height
-            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
+            self._duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
             self.thumbnail: Optional[Union[str, InputFile]] = self._parse_thumbnail_input(
                 thumbnail
             )
@@ -668,6 +698,10 @@ def __init__(
             )
             self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp
 
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._duration, attribute="duration")
+
 
 class InputMediaAudio(InputMedia):
     """Represents an audio file to be treated as music to be sent.
@@ -703,7 +737,11 @@ class InputMediaAudio(InputMedia):
             .. versionchanged:: 20.0
                 |sequenceclassargs|
 
-        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Duration of the audio in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Duration of the audio
+            in seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         performer (:obj:`str`, optional): Performer of the audio as defined by the sender or by
             audio tags.
         title (:obj:`str`, optional): Title of the audio as defined by the sender or by audio tags.
@@ -725,7 +763,11 @@ class InputMediaAudio(InputMedia):
 
                 * |tupleclassattrs|
                 * |alwaystuple|
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Duration of the audio in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Duration of the audio
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         performer (:obj:`str`): Optional. Performer of the audio as defined by the sender or by
             audio tags.
         title (:obj:`str`): Optional. Title of the audio as defined by the sender or by audio tags.
@@ -735,14 +777,14 @@ class InputMediaAudio(InputMedia):
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "performer", "thumbnail", "title")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "performer", "thumbnail", "title")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         media: Union[FileInput, Audio],
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         performer: Optional[str] = None,
         title: Optional[str] = None,
         caption_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
@@ -752,7 +794,7 @@ def __init__(
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
     ):
         if isinstance(media, Audio):
-            duration = media.duration if duration is None else duration
+            duration = duration if duration is not None else media._duration
             performer = media.performer if performer is None else performer
             title = media.title if title is None else title
             media = media.file_id
@@ -773,10 +815,14 @@ def __init__(
             self.thumbnail: Optional[Union[str, InputFile]] = self._parse_thumbnail_input(
                 thumbnail
             )
-            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
+            self._duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
             self.title: Optional[str] = title
             self.performer: Optional[str] = performer
 
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._duration, attribute="duration")
+
 
 class InputMediaDocument(InputMedia):
     """Represents a general file to be sent.
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/inputprofilephoto.py b/src/telegram/_files/inputprofilephoto.py
index 8ec1ae93492..5a37ab6af80 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/inputprofilephoto.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/inputprofilephoto.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._utils import enum
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
 from telegram._utils.files import parse_file_input
 from telegram._utils.types import FileInput, JSONDict
 
@@ -134,9 +135,4 @@ def __init__(
                 animation, attach=True, local_mode=True
             )
 
-            if isinstance(main_frame_timestamp, dtm.timedelta):
-                self.main_frame_timestamp: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = main_frame_timestamp
-            elif main_frame_timestamp is None:
-                self.main_frame_timestamp = None
-            else:
-                self.main_frame_timestamp = dtm.timedelta(seconds=main_frame_timestamp)
+            self.main_frame_timestamp: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(main_frame_timestamp)
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/location.py b/src/telegram/_files/location.py
index 87c895b711a..97e8da68993 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/location.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/location.py
@@ -18,11 +18,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Location."""
 
-from typing import Final, Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Final, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class Location(TelegramObject):
@@ -36,8 +39,12 @@ class Location(TelegramObject):
         latitude (:obj:`float`): Latitude as defined by the sender.
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`, optional): The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-:tg-const:`telegram.Location.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`, optional): Time relative to the message sending date, during which
-            the location can be updated, in seconds. For active live locations only.
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Time relative to the
+            message sending date, during which the location can be updated, in seconds. For active
+            live locations only.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         heading (:obj:`int`, optional): The direction in which user is moving, in degrees;
             :tg-const:`telegram.Location.MIN_HEADING`-:tg-const:`telegram.Location.MAX_HEADING`.
             For active live locations only.
@@ -49,8 +56,12 @@ class Location(TelegramObject):
         latitude (:obj:`float`): Latitude as defined by the sender.
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`): Optional. The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-:tg-const:`telegram.Location.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`): Optional. Time relative to the message sending date, during which
-            the location can be updated, in seconds. For active live locations only.
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Time relative to the
+            message sending date, during which the location can be updated, in seconds. For active
+            live locations only.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         heading (:obj:`int`): Optional. The direction in which user is moving, in degrees;
             :tg-const:`telegram.Location.MIN_HEADING`-:tg-const:`telegram.Location.MAX_HEADING`.
             For active live locations only.
@@ -60,10 +71,10 @@ class Location(TelegramObject):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_live_period",
         "heading",
         "horizontal_accuracy",
         "latitude",
-        "live_period",
         "longitude",
         "proximity_alert_radius",
     )
@@ -73,7 +84,7 @@ def __init__(
         longitude: float,
         latitude: float,
         horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = None,
-        live_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        live_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         heading: Optional[int] = None,
         proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = None,
         *,
@@ -86,7 +97,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         # Optionals
         self.horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = horizontal_accuracy
-        self.live_period: Optional[int] = live_period
+        self._live_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(live_period)
         self.heading: Optional[int] = heading
         self.proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = (
             int(proximity_alert_radius) if proximity_alert_radius else None
@@ -96,6 +107,10 @@ def __init__(
 
         self._freeze()
 
+    @property
+    def live_period(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._live_period, attribute="live_period")
+
     HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY: Final[int] = constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY
     """:const:`telegram.constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`
 
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/video.py b/src/telegram/_files/video.py
index 36381ebbf6b..c36676f9194 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/video.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/video.py
@@ -17,13 +17,15 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Video."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._files._basethumbedmedium import _BaseThumbedMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
@@ -46,7 +48,11 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         width (:obj:`int`): Video width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`): Video height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the video
+            in seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         file_name (:obj:`str`, optional): Original filename as defined by the sender.
         mime_type (:obj:`str`, optional): MIME type of a file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`, optional): File size in bytes.
@@ -57,10 +63,13 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             the video in the message.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.11
-        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`, optional): Timestamp in seconds from which the video
-            will play in the message
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Timestamp in seconds
+            from which the video will play in the message
             .. versionadded:: 21.11
 
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
+
     Attributes:
         file_id (:obj:`str`): Identifier for this file, which can be used to download
             or reuse the file.
@@ -69,7 +78,11 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         width (:obj:`int`): Video width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`): Video height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the video in seconds
+            as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         file_name (:obj:`str`): Optional. Original filename as defined by the sender.
         mime_type (:obj:`str`): Optional. MIME type of a file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`): Optional. File size in bytes.
@@ -80,18 +93,21 @@ class Video(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             the video in the message.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.11
-        start_timestamp (:obj:`int`): Optional, Timestamp in seconds from which the video
-            will play in the message
+        start_timestamp (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Timestamp in seconds
+            from which the video will play in the message
             .. versionadded:: 21.11
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_duration",
+        "_start_timestamp",
         "cover",
-        "duration",
         "file_name",
         "height",
         "mime_type",
-        "start_timestamp",
         "width",
     )
 
@@ -101,13 +117,13 @@ def __init__(
         file_unique_id: str,
         width: int,
         height: int,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
         file_size: Optional[int] = None,
         file_name: Optional[str] = None,
         thumbnail: Optional[PhotoSize] = None,
         cover: Optional[Sequence[PhotoSize]] = None,
-        start_timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
+        start_timestamp: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         *,
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
     ):
@@ -122,12 +138,22 @@ def __init__(
             # Required
             self.width: int = width
             self.height: int = height
-            self.duration: int = duration
+            self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
             # Optional
             self.mime_type: Optional[str] = mime_type
             self.file_name: Optional[str] = file_name
             self.cover: Optional[Sequence[PhotoSize]] = parse_sequence_arg(cover)
-            self.start_timestamp: Optional[int] = start_timestamp
+            self._start_timestamp: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(start_timestamp)
+
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def start_timestamp(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._start_timestamp, attribute="start_timestamp")
 
     @classmethod
     def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Video":
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/videonote.py b/src/telegram/_files/videonote.py
index edb9e555372..1c9c10b6cca 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/videonote.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/videonote.py
@@ -18,11 +18,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram VideoNote."""
 
-from typing import Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._files._basethumbedmedium import _BaseThumbedMedium
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class VideoNote(_BaseThumbedMedium):
@@ -42,7 +45,11 @@ class VideoNote(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         length (:obj:`int`): Video width and height (diameter of the video message) as defined
             by sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the video in
+            seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         file_size (:obj:`int`, optional): File size in bytes.
         thumbnail (:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`, optional): Video thumbnail.
 
@@ -56,7 +63,11 @@ class VideoNote(_BaseThumbedMedium):
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
         length (:obj:`int`): Video width and height (diameter of the video message) as defined
             by sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the video in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the video in seconds as
+            defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         file_size (:obj:`int`): Optional. File size in bytes.
         thumbnail (:class:`telegram.PhotoSize`): Optional. Video thumbnail.
 
@@ -64,14 +75,14 @@ class VideoNote(_BaseThumbedMedium):
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "length")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "length")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         file_id: str,
         file_unique_id: str,
         length: int,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         file_size: Optional[int] = None,
         thumbnail: Optional[PhotoSize] = None,
         *,
@@ -87,4 +98,10 @@ def __init__(
         with self._unfrozen():
             # Required
             self.length: int = length
-            self.duration: int = duration
+            self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
+
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_files/voice.py b/src/telegram/_files/voice.py
index 19c0e856d14..76baf456aa9 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_files/voice.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_files/voice.py
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Voice."""
-from typing import Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._files._basemedium import _BaseMedium
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class Voice(_BaseMedium):
@@ -35,7 +38,11 @@ class Voice(_BaseMedium):
         file_unique_id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier for this file, which
             is supposed to be the same over time and for different bots.
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the audio in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the audio in
+            seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         mime_type (:obj:`str`, optional): MIME type of the file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`, optional): File size in bytes.
 
@@ -45,19 +52,23 @@ class Voice(_BaseMedium):
         file_unique_id (:obj:`str`): Unique identifier for this file, which
             is supposed to be the same over time and for different bots.
             Can't be used to download or reuse the file.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Duration of the audio in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Duration of the audio in seconds as
+            defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         mime_type (:obj:`str`): Optional. MIME type of the file as defined by the sender.
         file_size (:obj:`int`): Optional. File size in bytes.
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "mime_type")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "mime_type")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         file_id: str,
         file_unique_id: str,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
         file_size: Optional[int] = None,
         *,
@@ -71,6 +82,12 @@ def __init__(
         )
         with self._unfrozen():
             # Required
-            self.duration: int = duration
+            self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
             # Optional
             self.mime_type: Optional[str] = mime_type
+
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultaudio.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultaudio.py
index 8e3376a458f..92b4ae81445 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultaudio.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultaudio.py
@@ -17,15 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultAudio."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InlineQueryResultType
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -47,7 +49,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultAudio(InlineQueryResult):
         audio_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the audio file.
         title (:obj:`str`): Title.
         performer (:obj:`str`, optional): Performer.
-        audio_duration (:obj:`str`, optional): Audio duration in seconds.
+        audio_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Audio duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         caption (:obj:`str`, optional): Caption,
             0-:tg-const:`telegram.constants.MessageLimit.CAPTION_LENGTH` characters after entities
             parsing.
@@ -69,7 +75,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultAudio(InlineQueryResult):
         audio_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the audio file.
         title (:obj:`str`): Title.
         performer (:obj:`str`): Optional. Performer.
-        audio_duration (:obj:`str`): Optional. Audio duration in seconds.
+        audio_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Audio duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         caption (:obj:`str`): Optional. Caption,
             0-:tg-const:`telegram.constants.MessageLimit.CAPTION_LENGTH` characters after entities
             parsing.
@@ -88,7 +98,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultAudio(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
-        "audio_duration",
+        "_audio_duration",
         "audio_url",
         "caption",
         "caption_entities",
@@ -105,7 +115,7 @@ def __init__(
         audio_url: str,
         title: str,
         performer: Optional[str] = None,
-        audio_duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        audio_duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
@@ -122,9 +132,13 @@ def __init__(
 
             # Optionals
             self.performer: Optional[str] = performer
-            self.audio_duration: Optional[int] = audio_duration
+            self._audio_duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(audio_duration)
             self.caption: Optional[str] = caption
             self.parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = parse_mode
             self.caption_entities: tuple[MessageEntity, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(caption_entities)
             self.reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = reply_markup
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
+
+    @property
+    def audio_duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._audio_duration, attribute="audio_duration")
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultgif.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultgif.py
index 398d61cc79a..4ead8759989 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultgif.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultgif.py
@@ -17,15 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultGif."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InlineQueryResultType
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -50,7 +52,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultGif(InlineQueryResult):
         gif_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the GIF file.
         gif_width (:obj:`int`, optional): Width of the GIF.
         gif_height (:obj:`int`, optional): Height of the GIF.
-        gif_duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Duration of the GIF in seconds.
+        gif_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Duration of the GIF
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`): URL of the static (JPEG or GIF) or animated (MPEG4)
             thumbnail for the result.
 
@@ -89,7 +95,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultGif(InlineQueryResult):
         gif_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the GIF file.
         gif_width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Width of the GIF.
         gif_height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Height of the GIF.
-        gif_duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Duration of the GIF in seconds.
+        gif_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Duration of the GIF
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`): URL of the static (JPEG or GIF) or animated (MPEG4) thumbnail
             for the result.
 
@@ -120,9 +130,9 @@ class InlineQueryResultGif(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_gif_duration",
         "caption",
         "caption_entities",
-        "gif_duration",
         "gif_height",
         "gif_url",
         "gif_width",
@@ -146,7 +156,7 @@ def __init__(
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
-        gif_duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        gif_duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
         caption_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
         thumbnail_mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -163,7 +173,7 @@ def __init__(
             # Optionals
             self.gif_width: Optional[int] = gif_width
             self.gif_height: Optional[int] = gif_height
-            self.gif_duration: Optional[int] = gif_duration
+            self._gif_duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(gif_duration)
             self.title: Optional[str] = title
             self.caption: Optional[str] = caption
             self.parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = parse_mode
@@ -172,3 +182,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
             self.thumbnail_mime_type: Optional[str] = thumbnail_mime_type
             self.show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = show_caption_above_media
+
+    @property
+    def gif_duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._gif_duration, attribute="gif_duration")
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultlocation.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultlocation.py
index 01035537840..bbe222157bc 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultlocation.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultlocation.py
@@ -18,12 +18,15 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultLocation."""
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import InputMessageContent
@@ -48,10 +51,13 @@ class InlineQueryResultLocation(InlineQueryResult):
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`, optional): The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`, optional): Period in seconds for which the location will be
-            updated, should be between
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Period in seconds for
+            which the location will be updated, should be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MIN_LIVE_PERIOD` and
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MAX_LIVE_PERIOD`.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         heading (:obj:`int`, optional): For live locations, a direction in which the user is
             moving, in degrees. Must be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MIN_HEADING` and
@@ -86,12 +92,15 @@ class InlineQueryResultLocation(InlineQueryResult):
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`): Optional. The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`): Optional. Period in seconds for which the location will be
-            updated, should be between
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Period in seconds for
+            which the location will be updated, should be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MIN_LIVE_PERIOD` and
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MAX_LIVE_PERIOD` or
             :tg-const:`telegram.constants.LocationLimit.LIVE_PERIOD_FOREVER` for live
             locations that can be edited indefinitely.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         heading (:obj:`int`): Optional. For live locations, a direction in which the user is
             moving, in degrees. Must be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InlineQueryResultLocation.MIN_HEADING` and
@@ -118,11 +127,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultLocation(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_live_period",
         "heading",
         "horizontal_accuracy",
         "input_message_content",
         "latitude",
-        "live_period",
         "longitude",
         "proximity_alert_radius",
         "reply_markup",
@@ -138,7 +147,7 @@ def __init__(
         latitude: float,
         longitude: float,
         title: str,
-        live_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        live_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
         horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = None,
@@ -158,7 +167,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.title: str = title
 
             # Optionals
-            self.live_period: Optional[int] = live_period
+            self._live_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(live_period)
             self.reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = reply_markup
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
             self.thumbnail_url: Optional[str] = thumbnail_url
@@ -170,6 +179,10 @@ def __init__(
                 int(proximity_alert_radius) if proximity_alert_radius else None
             )
 
+    @property
+    def live_period(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._live_period, attribute="live_period")
+
     HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY: Final[int] = constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY
     """:const:`telegram.constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`
 
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
index b47faa0186a..4a521642d01 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
@@ -17,15 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InlineQueryResultType
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -51,7 +53,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif(InlineQueryResult):
         mpeg4_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the MP4 file.
         mpeg4_width (:obj:`int`, optional): Video width.
         mpeg4_height (:obj:`int`, optional): Video height.
-        mpeg4_duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+        mpeg4_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Video duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`): URL of the static (JPEG or GIF) or animated (MPEG4)
             thumbnail for the result.
 
@@ -91,7 +97,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif(InlineQueryResult):
         mpeg4_url (:obj:`str`): A valid URL for the MP4 file.
         mpeg4_width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video width.
         mpeg4_height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video height.
-        mpeg4_duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+        mpeg4_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Video duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         thumbnail_url (:obj:`str`): URL of the static (JPEG or GIF) or animated (MPEG4) thumbnail
             for the result.
 
@@ -122,10 +132,10 @@ class InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_mpeg4_duration",
         "caption",
         "caption_entities",
         "input_message_content",
-        "mpeg4_duration",
         "mpeg4_height",
         "mpeg4_url",
         "mpeg4_width",
@@ -148,7 +158,7 @@ def __init__(
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
-        mpeg4_duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        mpeg4_duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = DEFAULT_NONE,
         caption_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
         thumbnail_mime_type: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -165,7 +175,7 @@ def __init__(
             # Optional
             self.mpeg4_width: Optional[int] = mpeg4_width
             self.mpeg4_height: Optional[int] = mpeg4_height
-            self.mpeg4_duration: Optional[int] = mpeg4_duration
+            self._mpeg4_duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(mpeg4_duration)
             self.title: Optional[str] = title
             self.caption: Optional[str] = caption
             self.parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = parse_mode
@@ -174,3 +184,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
             self.thumbnail_mime_type: Optional[str] = thumbnail_mime_type
             self.show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = show_caption_above_media
+
+    @property
+    def mpeg4_duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._mpeg4_duration, attribute="mpeg4_duration")
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvideo.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvideo.py
index edc6ce343ac..5b98aa00557 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvideo.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvideo.py
@@ -17,15 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultVideo."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InlineQueryResultType
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -73,7 +75,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultVideo(InlineQueryResult):
 
         video_width (:obj:`int`, optional): Video width.
         video_height (:obj:`int`, optional): Video height.
-        video_duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Video duration in seconds.
+        video_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Video duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         description (:obj:`str`, optional): Short description of the result.
         reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`, optional): Inline keyboard attached
             to the message.
@@ -110,7 +116,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultVideo(InlineQueryResult):
 
         video_width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video width.
         video_height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video height.
-        video_duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Video duration in seconds.
+        video_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Video duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         description (:obj:`str`): Optional. Short description of the result.
         reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`): Optional. Inline keyboard attached
             to the message.
@@ -125,6 +135,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultVideo(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_video_duration",
         "caption",
         "caption_entities",
         "description",
@@ -135,7 +146,6 @@ class InlineQueryResultVideo(InlineQueryResult):
         "show_caption_above_media",
         "thumbnail_url",
         "title",
-        "video_duration",
         "video_height",
         "video_url",
         "video_width",
@@ -151,7 +161,7 @@ def __init__(
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         video_width: Optional[int] = None,
         video_height: Optional[int] = None,
-        video_duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        video_duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         description: Optional[str] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
@@ -175,8 +185,12 @@ def __init__(
             self.caption_entities: tuple[MessageEntity, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(caption_entities)
             self.video_width: Optional[int] = video_width
             self.video_height: Optional[int] = video_height
-            self.video_duration: Optional[int] = video_duration
+            self._video_duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(video_duration)
             self.description: Optional[str] = description
             self.reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = reply_markup
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
             self.show_caption_above_media: Optional[bool] = show_caption_above_media
+
+    @property
+    def video_duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._video_duration, attribute="video_duration")
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvoice.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvoice.py
index b798040b1aa..9dfcd0b94e0 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvoice.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inlinequeryresultvoice.py
@@ -17,15 +17,17 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InlineQueryResultVoice."""
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._inline.inlinekeyboardmarkup import InlineKeyboardMarkup
 from telegram._inline.inlinequeryresult import InlineQueryResult
 from telegram._messageentity import MessageEntity
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram.constants import InlineQueryResultType
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -56,7 +58,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultVoice(InlineQueryResult):
             .. versionchanged:: 20.0
                 |sequenceclassargs|
 
-        voice_duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Recording duration in seconds.
+        voice_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Recording duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`, optional): Inline keyboard attached
             to the message.
         input_message_content (:class:`telegram.InputMessageContent`, optional): Content of the
@@ -79,7 +85,11 @@ class InlineQueryResultVoice(InlineQueryResult):
 
                 * |tupleclassattrs|
                 * |alwaystuple|
-        voice_duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Recording duration in seconds.
+        voice_duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Recording duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         reply_markup (:class:`telegram.InlineKeyboardMarkup`): Optional. Inline keyboard attached
             to the message.
         input_message_content (:class:`telegram.InputMessageContent`): Optional. Content of the
@@ -88,13 +98,13 @@ class InlineQueryResultVoice(InlineQueryResult):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_voice_duration",
         "caption",
         "caption_entities",
         "input_message_content",
         "parse_mode",
         "reply_markup",
         "title",
-        "voice_duration",
         "voice_url",
     )
 
@@ -103,7 +113,7 @@ def __init__(
         id: str,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
         voice_url: str,
         title: str,
-        voice_duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        voice_duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         caption: Optional[str] = None,
         reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = None,
         input_message_content: Optional["InputMessageContent"] = None,
@@ -119,9 +129,13 @@ def __init__(
             self.title: str = title
 
             # Optional
-            self.voice_duration: Optional[int] = voice_duration
+            self._voice_duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(voice_duration)
             self.caption: Optional[str] = caption
             self.parse_mode: ODVInput[str] = parse_mode
             self.caption_entities: tuple[MessageEntity, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(caption_entities)
             self.reply_markup: Optional[InlineKeyboardMarkup] = reply_markup
             self.input_message_content: Optional[InputMessageContent] = input_message_content
+
+    @property
+    def voice_duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._voice_duration, attribute="voice_duration")
diff --git a/src/telegram/_inline/inputlocationmessagecontent.py b/src/telegram/_inline/inputlocationmessagecontent.py
index f71a716c259..94ea4e2d893 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_inline/inputlocationmessagecontent.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_inline/inputlocationmessagecontent.py
@@ -18,11 +18,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the classes that represent Telegram InputLocationMessageContent."""
 
-from typing import Final, Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Final, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._inline.inputmessagecontent import InputMessageContent
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class InputLocationMessageContent(InputMessageContent):
@@ -39,12 +42,15 @@ class InputLocationMessageContent(InputMessageContent):
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`, optional): The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`, optional): Period in seconds for which the location will be
-            updated, should be between
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Period in seconds for
+            which the location will be updated, should be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MIN_LIVE_PERIOD` and
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MAX_LIVE_PERIOD` or
             :tg-const:`telegram.constants.LocationLimit.LIVE_PERIOD_FOREVER` for live
             locations that can be edited indefinitely.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         heading (:obj:`int`, optional): For live locations, a direction in which the user is
             moving, in degrees. Must be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MIN_HEADING` and
@@ -61,10 +67,13 @@ class InputLocationMessageContent(InputMessageContent):
         horizontal_accuracy (:obj:`float`): Optional. The radius of uncertainty for the location,
             measured in meters; 0-
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`.
-        live_period (:obj:`int`): Optional. Period in seconds for which the location can be
-            updated, should be between
+        live_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Period in seconds for
+            which the location can be updated, should be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MIN_LIVE_PERIOD` and
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MAX_LIVE_PERIOD`.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         heading (:obj:`int`): Optional. For live locations, a direction in which the user is
             moving, in degrees. Must be between
             :tg-const:`telegram.InputLocationMessageContent.MIN_HEADING` and
@@ -78,19 +87,20 @@ class InputLocationMessageContent(InputMessageContent):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_live_period",
         "heading",
         "horizontal_accuracy",
         "latitude",
-        "live_period",
         "longitude",
-        "proximity_alert_radius")
+        "proximity_alert_radius",
+    )
     # fmt: on
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         latitude: float,
         longitude: float,
-        live_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        live_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = None,
         heading: Optional[int] = None,
         proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -104,7 +114,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.longitude: float = longitude
 
             # Optionals
-            self.live_period: Optional[int] = live_period
+            self._live_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(live_period)
             self.horizontal_accuracy: Optional[float] = horizontal_accuracy
             self.heading: Optional[int] = heading
             self.proximity_alert_radius: Optional[int] = (
@@ -113,6 +123,10 @@ def __init__(
 
             self._id_attrs = (self.latitude, self.longitude)
 
+    @property
+    def live_period(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._live_period, attribute="live_period")
+
     HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY: Final[int] = constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY
     """:const:`telegram.constants.LocationLimit.HORIZONTAL_ACCURACY`
 
diff --git a/src/telegram/_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py b/src/telegram/_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
index 1653c050d59..c8f51c0c672 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
@@ -20,10 +20,13 @@
 deletion.
 """
 
-from typing import Optional
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 
 class MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(TelegramObject):
@@ -35,26 +38,38 @@ class MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(TelegramObject):
     .. versionadded:: 13.4
 
     Args:
-        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int`): New auto-delete time for messages in the
-            chat.
+        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): New auto-delete time
+            for messages in the chat.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
 
     Attributes:
-        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int`): New auto-delete time for messages in the
-            chat.
+        message_auto_delete_time (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): New auto-delete time
+            for messages in the chat.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("message_auto_delete_time",)
+    __slots__ = ("_message_auto_delete_time",)
 
     def __init__(
         self,
-        message_auto_delete_time: int,
+        message_auto_delete_time: TimePeriod,
         *,
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__(api_kwargs=api_kwargs)
-        self.message_auto_delete_time: int = message_auto_delete_time
+        self._message_auto_delete_time: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(message_auto_delete_time)
 
         self._id_attrs = (self.message_auto_delete_time,)
 
         self._freeze()
+
+    @property
+    def message_auto_delete_time(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._message_auto_delete_time, attribute="message_auto_delete_time"
+        )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_paidmedia.py b/src/telegram/_paidmedia.py
index 972c46fa333..fe8ace75d1e 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_paidmedia.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_paidmedia.py
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
 # along with this program. If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains objects that represent paid media in Telegram."""
 
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._files.photosize import PhotoSize
@@ -27,8 +28,14 @@
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import (
+    de_json_optional,
+    de_list_optional,
+    parse_sequence_arg,
+    to_timedelta,
+)
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
@@ -98,6 +105,9 @@ def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "PaidMedia":
         if cls is PaidMedia and data.get("type") in _class_mapping:
             return _class_mapping[data.pop("type")].de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
 
+        if "duration" in data:
+            data["duration"] = dtm.timedelta(seconds=s) if (s := data.get("duration")) else None
+
         return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)
 
 
@@ -110,26 +120,38 @@ class PaidMediaPreview(PaidMedia):
 
     .. versionadded:: 21.4
 
+    .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+       As part of the migration to representing time periods using ``datetime.timedelta``,
+       equality comparison now considers integer durations and equivalent timedeltas as equal.
+
     Args:
         type (:obj:`str`): Type of the paid media, always :tg-const:`telegram.PaidMedia.PREVIEW`.
         width (:obj:`int`, optional): Media width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`, optional): Media height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`, optional): Duration of the media in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Duration of the media in
+            seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
 
     Attributes:
         type (:obj:`str`): Type of the paid media, always :tg-const:`telegram.PaidMedia.PREVIEW`.
         width (:obj:`int`): Optional. Media width as defined by the sender.
         height (:obj:`int`): Optional. Media height as defined by the sender.
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Optional. Duration of the media in seconds as defined by the sender.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Duration of the media in
+            seconds as defined by the sender.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration", "height", "width")
+    __slots__ = ("_duration", "height", "width")
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         width: Optional[int] = None,
         height: Optional[int] = None,
-        duration: Optional[int] = None,
+        duration: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         *,
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
     ) -> None:
@@ -138,9 +160,13 @@ def __init__(
         with self._unfrozen():
             self.width: Optional[int] = width
             self.height: Optional[int] = height
-            self.duration: Optional[int] = duration
+            self._duration: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(duration)
+
+            self._id_attrs = (self.type, self.width, self.height, self._duration)
 
-            self._id_attrs = (self.type, self.width, self.height, self.duration)
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._duration, attribute="duration")
 
 
 class PaidMediaPhoto(PaidMedia):
diff --git a/src/telegram/_payment/stars/staramount.py b/src/telegram/_payment/stars/staramount.py
index a8d61b2a118..c78a4aa9aba 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_payment/stars/staramount.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_payment/stars/staramount.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
-# pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram StarAmount."""
 
 
diff --git a/src/telegram/_payment/stars/transactionpartner.py b/src/telegram/_payment/stars/transactionpartner.py
index 723e4d826c7..ab02cea0a99 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_payment/stars/transactionpartner.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_payment/stars/transactionpartner.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 # along with this program. If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 """This module contains the classes for Telegram Stars transaction partners."""
-import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional
 
@@ -29,13 +28,20 @@
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import (
+    de_json_optional,
+    de_list_optional,
+    parse_sequence_arg,
+    to_timedelta,
+)
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 from .affiliateinfo import AffiliateInfo
 from .revenuewithdrawalstate import RevenueWithdrawalState
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import datetime as dtm
+
     from telegram import Bot
 
 
@@ -312,11 +318,14 @@ class TransactionPartnerUser(TransactionPartner):
         invoice_payload (:obj:`str`, optional): Bot-specified invoice payload. Can be available
             only for :tg-const:`telegram.constants.TransactionPartnerUser.INVOICE_PAYMENT`
             transactions.
-        subscription_period (:class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): The duration of the paid
-            subscription. Can be available only for
+        subscription_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): The duration of
+            the paid subscription. Can be available only for
             :tg-const:`telegram.constants.TransactionPartnerUser.INVOICE_PAYMENT` transactions.
 
             .. versionadded:: 21.8
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                Accepts :obj:`int` objects as well as :class:`datetime.timedelta`.
         paid_media (Sequence[:class:`telegram.PaidMedia`], optional): Information about the paid
             media bought by the user. for
             :tg-const:`telegram.constants.TransactionPartnerUser.PAID_MEDIA_PAYMENT`
@@ -411,7 +420,7 @@ def __init__(
         invoice_payload: Optional[str] = None,
         paid_media: Optional[Sequence[PaidMedia]] = None,
         paid_media_payload: Optional[str] = None,
-        subscription_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = None,
+        subscription_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         gift: Optional[Gift] = None,
         affiliate: Optional[AffiliateInfo] = None,
         premium_subscription_duration: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -432,7 +441,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.invoice_payload: Optional[str] = invoice_payload
             self.paid_media: Optional[tuple[PaidMedia, ...]] = parse_sequence_arg(paid_media)
             self.paid_media_payload: Optional[str] = paid_media_payload
-            self.subscription_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = subscription_period
+            self.subscription_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(subscription_period)
             self.gift: Optional[Gift] = gift
             self.premium_subscription_duration: Optional[int] = premium_subscription_duration
             self.transaction_type: str = transaction_type
@@ -451,11 +460,6 @@ def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "TransactionPar
         data["user"] = de_json_optional(data.get("user"), User, bot)
         data["affiliate"] = de_json_optional(data.get("affiliate"), AffiliateInfo, bot)
         data["paid_media"] = de_list_optional(data.get("paid_media"), PaidMedia, bot)
-        data["subscription_period"] = (
-            dtm.timedelta(seconds=sp)
-            if (sp := data.get("subscription_period")) is not None
-            else None
-        )
         data["gift"] = de_json_optional(data.get("gift"), Gift, bot)
 
         return super().de_json(data=data, bot=bot)  # type: ignore[return-value]
diff --git a/src/telegram/_poll.py b/src/telegram/_poll.py
index 8ecdc4105f9..eaa3b8a33c0 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_poll.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_poll.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Poll."""
 import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram import constants
 from telegram._chat import Chat
@@ -27,11 +27,20 @@
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
 from telegram._utils import enum
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import de_json_optional, de_list_optional, parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import (
+    de_json_optional,
+    de_list_optional,
+    parse_sequence_arg,
+    to_timedelta,
+)
+from telegram._utils.datetime import (
+    extract_tzinfo_from_defaults,
+    from_timestamp,
+    get_timedelta_value,
+)
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_NONE
 from telegram._utils.entities import parse_message_entities, parse_message_entity
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
@@ -343,8 +352,11 @@ class Poll(TelegramObject):
 
                * This attribute is now always a (possibly empty) list and never :obj:`None`.
                * |sequenceclassargs|
-        open_period (:obj:`int`, optional): Amount of time in seconds the poll will be active
-            after creation.
+        open_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Amount of time in seconds
+            the poll will be active after creation.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
         close_date (:obj:`datetime.datetime`, optional): Point in time (Unix timestamp) when the
             poll will be automatically closed. Converted to :obj:`datetime.datetime`.
 
@@ -384,8 +396,11 @@ class Poll(TelegramObject):
 
             .. versionchanged:: 20.0
                This attribute is now always a (possibly empty) list and never :obj:`None`.
-        open_period (:obj:`int`): Optional. Amount of time in seconds the poll will be active
-            after creation.
+        open_period (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Optional. Amount of time in seconds
+            the poll will be active after creation.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
         close_date (:obj:`datetime.datetime`): Optional. Point in time when the poll will be
             automatically closed.
 
@@ -401,6 +416,7 @@ class Poll(TelegramObject):
     """
 
     __slots__ = (
+        "_open_period",
         "allows_multiple_answers",
         "close_date",
         "correct_option_id",
@@ -409,7 +425,6 @@ class Poll(TelegramObject):
         "id",
         "is_anonymous",
         "is_closed",
-        "open_period",
         "options",
         "question",
         "question_entities",
@@ -430,7 +445,7 @@ def __init__(
         correct_option_id: Optional[int] = None,
         explanation: Optional[str] = None,
         explanation_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
-        open_period: Optional[int] = None,
+        open_period: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         close_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = None,
         question_entities: Optional[Sequence[MessageEntity]] = None,
         *,
@@ -450,7 +465,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.explanation_entities: tuple[MessageEntity, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(
             explanation_entities
         )
-        self.open_period: Optional[int] = open_period
+        self._open_period: Optional[dtm.timedelta] = to_timedelta(open_period)
         self.close_date: Optional[dtm.datetime] = close_date
         self.question_entities: tuple[MessageEntity, ...] = parse_sequence_arg(question_entities)
 
@@ -458,6 +473,10 @@ def __init__(
 
         self._freeze()
 
+    @property
+    def open_period(self) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(self._open_period, attribute="open_period")
+
     @classmethod
     def de_json(cls, data: JSONDict, bot: Optional["Bot"] = None) -> "Poll":
         """See :meth:`telegram.TelegramObject.de_json`."""
diff --git a/src/telegram/_telegramobject.py b/src/telegram/_telegramobject.py
index ca0d20555eb..a05c116633c 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_telegramobject.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_telegramobject.py
@@ -499,6 +499,12 @@ def _apply_api_kwargs(self, api_kwargs: JSONDict) -> None:
             elif getattr(self, key, True) is None:
                 setattr(self, key, api_kwargs.pop(key))
 
+    def _is_deprecated_attr(self, attr: str) -> bool:
+        """Checks whether `attr` is in the list of deprecated time period attributes."""
+        return (
+            class_name := self.__class__.__name__
+        ) in _TIME_PERIOD_DEPRECATIONS and attr in _TIME_PERIOD_DEPRECATIONS[class_name]
+
     def _get_attrs_names(self, include_private: bool) -> Iterator[str]:
         """
         Returns the names of the attributes of this object. This is used to determine which
@@ -521,7 +527,12 @@ def _get_attrs_names(self, include_private: bool) -> Iterator[str]:
 
         if include_private:
             return all_attrs
-        return (attr for attr in all_attrs if not attr.startswith("_"))
+        return (
+            attr
+            for attr in all_attrs
+            # Include deprecated private attributes, which are exposed via properties
+            if not attr.startswith("_") or self._is_deprecated_attr(attr)
+        )
 
     def _get_attrs(
         self,
@@ -603,6 +614,7 @@ def to_dict(self, recursive: bool = True) -> JSONDict:
         # datetimes to timestamps. This mostly eliminates the need for subclasses to override
         # `to_dict`
         pop_keys: set[str] = set()
+        timedelta_dict: dict = {}
         for key, value in out.items():
             if isinstance(value, (tuple, list)):
                 if not value:
@@ -629,11 +641,25 @@ def to_dict(self, recursive: bool = True) -> JSONDict:
             elif isinstance(value, dtm.datetime):
                 out[key] = to_timestamp(value)
             elif isinstance(value, dtm.timedelta):
-                out[key] = value.total_seconds()
+                # Converting to int here is neccassry in some cases where Bot API returns
+                # 'BadRquest' when expecting integers (e.g. InputMediaVideo.duration).
+                # Other times, floats are accepted but the Bot API handles ints just as well
+                # (e.g. InputStoryContentVideo.duration).
+                # Not updating `out` directly to avoid changing the dict size during iteration
+                timedelta_dict[key.removeprefix("_")] = (
+                    int(seconds) if (seconds := value.total_seconds()).is_integer() else seconds
+                )
+                # This will sometimes add non-deprecated timedelta attributes to pop_keys.
+                # We'll restore them shortly.
+                pop_keys.add(key)
 
         for key in pop_keys:
             out.pop(key)
 
+        # `out.update` must to be called *after* we pop deprecated time period attributes
+        # this ensures that we restore attributes that were already using datetime.timdelta
+        out.update(timedelta_dict)
+
         # Effectively "unpack" api_kwargs into `out`:
         out.update(out.pop("api_kwargs", {}))  # type: ignore[call-overload]
         return out
@@ -665,3 +691,31 @@ def set_bot(self, bot: Optional["Bot"]) -> None:
             bot (:class:`telegram.Bot` | :obj:`None`): The bot instance.
         """
         self._bot = bot
+
+
+# We use str keys to avoid importing which causes circular dependencies
+_TIME_PERIOD_DEPRECATIONS: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {
+    "ChatFullInfo": ("_message_auto_delete_time", "_slow_mode_delay"),
+    "Animation": ("_duration",),
+    "Audio": ("_duration",),
+    "Video": ("_duration", "_start_timestamp"),
+    "VideoNote": ("_duration",),
+    "Voice": ("_duration",),
+    "PaidMediaPreview": ("_duration",),
+    "VideoChatEnded": ("_duration",),
+    "InputMediaVideo": ("_duration",),
+    "InputMediaAnimation": ("_duration",),
+    "InputMediaAudio": ("_duration",),
+    "InputPaidMediaVideo": ("_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultGif": ("_gif_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif": ("_mpeg4_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultVideo": ("_video_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultAudio": ("_audio_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultVoice": ("_voice_duration",),
+    "InlineQueryResultLocation": ("_live_period",),
+    "Poll": ("_open_period",),
+    "Location": ("_live_period",),
+    "MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged": ("_message_auto_delete_time",),
+    "ChatInviteLink": ("_subscription_period",),
+    "InputLocationMessageContent": ("_live_period",),
+}
diff --git a/src/telegram/_utils/argumentparsing.py b/src/telegram/_utils/argumentparsing.py
index 84ca1bc6a2f..acebbf06440 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_utils/argumentparsing.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_utils/argumentparsing.py
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
     user. Changes to this module are not considered breaking changes and may not be documented in
     the changelog.
 """
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Protocol, TypeVar
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Protocol, TypeVar, Union, overload
 
 from telegram._linkpreviewoptions import LinkPreviewOptions
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
@@ -50,6 +51,34 @@ def parse_sequence_arg(arg: Optional[Sequence[T]]) -> tuple[T, ...]:
     return tuple(arg) if arg else ()
 
 
+@overload
+def to_timedelta(arg: None) -> None: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def to_timedelta(
+    arg: Union[  # noqa: PYI041 (be more explicit about `int` and `float` arguments)
+        int, float, dtm.timedelta
+    ],
+) -> dtm.timedelta: ...
+
+
+def to_timedelta(arg: Optional[Union[int, float, dtm.timedelta]]) -> Optional[dtm.timedelta]:
+    """Parses an optional time period in seconds into a timedelta
+
+    Args:
+        arg (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): The time period to parse.
+
+    Returns:
+        :obj:`timedelta`: The time period converted to a timedelta object or :obj:`None`.
+    """
+    if arg is None:
+        return None
+    if isinstance(arg, (int, float)):
+        return dtm.timedelta(seconds=arg)
+    return arg
+
+
 def parse_lpo_and_dwpp(
     disable_web_page_preview: Optional[bool], link_preview_options: ODVInput[LinkPreviewOptions]
 ) -> ODVInput[LinkPreviewOptions]:
diff --git a/src/telegram/_utils/datetime.py b/src/telegram/_utils/datetime.py
index 8e6ebdda1b4..492da697b24 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_utils/datetime.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_utils/datetime.py
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@
 """
 import contextlib
 import datetime as dtm
+import os
 import time
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
+from telegram._utils.warnings import warn
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
+
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
 
@@ -224,3 +228,47 @@ def _datetime_to_float_timestamp(dt_obj: dtm.datetime) -> float:
     if dt_obj.tzinfo is None:
         dt_obj = dt_obj.replace(tzinfo=dtm.timezone.utc)
     return dt_obj.timestamp()
+
+
+def get_timedelta_value(
+    value: Optional[dtm.timedelta], attribute: str
+) -> Optional[Union[int, dtm.timedelta]]:
+    """
+    Convert a `datetime.timedelta` to seconds or return it as-is, based on environment config.
+
+    This utility is part of the migration process from integer-based time representations
+    to using `datetime.timedelta`. The behavior is controlled by the `PTB_TIMEDELTA`
+    environment variable.
+
+    Note:
+        When `PTB_TIMEDELTA` is not enabled, the function will issue a deprecation warning.
+
+    Args:
+        value (:obj:`datetime.timedelta`): The timedelta value to process.
+        attribute (:obj:`str`): The name of the attribute at the caller scope, used for
+            warning messages.
+
+    Returns:
+        - :obj:`None` if :paramref:`value` is None.
+        - :obj:`datetime.timedelta` if `PTB_TIMEDELTA=true` or ``PTB_TIMEDELTA=1``.
+        - :obj:`int` if the total seconds is a whole number.
+        - float: otherwise.
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+    if os.getenv("PTB_TIMEDELTA", "false").lower().strip() in ["true", "1"]:
+        return value
+    warn(
+        PTBDeprecationWarning(
+            "NEXT.VERSION",
+            f"In a future major version attribute `{attribute}` will be of type"
+            " `datetime.timedelta`. You can opt-in early by setting `PTB_TIMEDELTA=true`"
+            " or ``PTB_TIMEDELTA=1`` as an environment variable.",
+        ),
+        stacklevel=2,
+    )
+    return (
+        int(seconds)
+        if (seconds := value.total_seconds()).is_integer()
+        else seconds  # type: ignore[return-value]
+    )
diff --git a/src/telegram/_videochat.py b/src/telegram/_videochat.py
index 7c1ec00aabb..7d59c67f33e 100644
--- a/src/telegram/_videochat.py
+++ b/src/telegram/_videochat.py
@@ -19,13 +19,17 @@
 """This module contains objects related to Telegram video chats."""
 import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 from telegram._telegramobject import TelegramObject
 from telegram._user import User
-from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg
-from telegram._utils.datetime import extract_tzinfo_from_defaults, from_timestamp
-from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import parse_sequence_arg, to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import (
+    extract_tzinfo_from_defaults,
+    from_timestamp,
+    get_timedelta_value,
+)
+from telegram._utils.types import JSONDict, TimePeriod
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
@@ -62,28 +66,45 @@ class VideoChatEnded(TelegramObject):
     .. versionchanged:: 20.0
         This class was renamed from ``VoiceChatEnded`` in accordance to Bot API 6.0.
 
+    .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+       As part of the migration to representing time periods using ``datetime.timedelta``,
+       equality comparison now considers integer durations and equivalent timedeltas as equal.
+
     Args:
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Voice chat duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Voice chat duration
+            in seconds.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
 
     Attributes:
-        duration (:obj:`int`): Voice chat duration in seconds.
+        duration (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Voice chat duration in seconds.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("duration",)
+    __slots__ = ("_duration",)
 
     def __init__(
         self,
-        duration: int,
+        duration: TimePeriod,
         *,
         api_kwargs: Optional[JSONDict] = None,
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__(api_kwargs=api_kwargs)
-        self.duration: int = duration
-        self._id_attrs = (self.duration,)
+        self._duration: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(duration)
+        self._id_attrs = (self._duration,)
 
         self._freeze()
 
+    @property
+    def duration(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._duration, attribute="duration"
+        )
+
 
 class VideoChatParticipantsInvited(TelegramObject):
     """
diff --git a/src/telegram/error.py b/src/telegram/error.py
index 2de0361762d..c21d5bef477 100644
--- a/src/telegram/error.py
+++ b/src/telegram/error.py
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@
     Replaced ``Unauthorized`` by :class:`Forbidden`.
 """
 
+import datetime as dtm
+from typing import Optional, Union
+
+from telegram._utils.argumentparsing import to_timedelta
+from telegram._utils.datetime import get_timedelta_value
+from telegram._utils.types import TimePeriod
+
 __all__ = (
     "BadRequest",
     "ChatMigrated",
@@ -36,8 +43,6 @@
     "TimedOut",
 )
 
-from typing import Optional, Union
-
 
 class TelegramError(Exception):
     """
@@ -208,21 +213,42 @@ class RetryAfter(TelegramError):
        :attr:`retry_after` is now an integer to comply with the Bot API.
 
     Args:
-        retry_after (:obj:`int`): Time in seconds, after which the bot can retry the request.
+        retry_after (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Time in seconds, after which the
+            bot can retry the request.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-input|
 
     Attributes:
-        retry_after (:obj:`int`): Time in seconds, after which the bot can retry the request.
+        retry_after (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`): Time in seconds, after which the
+            bot can retry the request.
+
+            .. deprecated:: NEXT.VERSION
+                |time-period-int-deprecated|
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("retry_after",)
+    __slots__ = ("_retry_after",)
+
+    def __init__(self, retry_after: TimePeriod):
+        self._retry_after: dtm.timedelta = to_timedelta(retry_after)
+
+        if isinstance(self.retry_after, int):
+            super().__init__(f"Flood control exceeded. Retry in {self.retry_after} seconds")
+        else:
+            super().__init__(f"Flood control exceeded. Retry in {self.retry_after!s}")
 
-    def __init__(self, retry_after: int):
-        super().__init__(f"Flood control exceeded. Retry in {retry_after} seconds")
-        self.retry_after: int = retry_after
+    @property
+    def retry_after(self) -> Union[int, dtm.timedelta]:  # noqa: D102
+        # Diableing D102 because docstring for `retry_after` is present at the class's level
+        return get_timedelta_value(  # type: ignore[return-value]
+            self._retry_after, attribute="retry_after"
+        )
 
     def __reduce__(self) -> tuple[type, tuple[float]]:  # type: ignore[override]
-        return self.__class__, (self.retry_after,)
+        # Until support for `int` time periods is lifted, leave pickle behaviour the same
+        # tag: deprecated: NEXT.VERSION
+        return self.__class__, (int(self._retry_after.total_seconds()),)
 
 
 class Conflict(TelegramError):
diff --git a/src/telegram/ext/_aioratelimiter.py b/src/telegram/ext/_aioratelimiter.py
index f4ecf917f66..d2d537e7e27 100644
--- a/src/telegram/ext/_aioratelimiter.py
+++ b/src/telegram/ext/_aioratelimiter.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ async def process_request(
                     )
                     raise
 
-                sleep = exc.retry_after + 0.1
+                sleep = exc._retry_after.total_seconds() + 0.1  # pylint: disable=protected-access
                 _LOGGER.info("Rate limit hit. Retrying after %f seconds", sleep)
                 # Make sure we don't allow other requests to be processed
                 self._retry_after_event.clear()
diff --git a/src/telegram/ext/_application.py b/src/telegram/ext/_application.py
index e856fa85321..ea14fcdcfa4 100644
--- a/src/telegram/ext/_application.py
+++ b/src/telegram/ext/_application.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
+import datetime as dtm
 import inspect
 import itertools
 import platform
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@
 )
 from telegram._utils.logging import get_logger
 from telegram._utils.repr import build_repr_with_selected_attrs
-from telegram._utils.types import SCT, DVType, ODVInput
+from telegram._utils.types import SCT, DVType, ODVInput, TimePeriod
 from telegram._utils.warnings import warn
 from telegram.error import TelegramError
 from telegram.ext._basepersistence import BasePersistence
@@ -739,7 +740,7 @@ def stop_running(self) -> None:
     def run_polling(
         self,
         poll_interval: float = 0.0,
-        timeout: int = 10,
+        timeout: TimePeriod = dtm.timedelta(seconds=10),
         bootstrap_retries: int = 0,
         allowed_updates: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
         drop_pending_updates: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -780,8 +781,12 @@ def run_polling(
         Args:
             poll_interval (:obj:`float`, optional): Time to wait between polling updates from
                 Telegram in seconds. Default is ``0.0``.
-            timeout (:obj:`int`, optional): Passed to
-                :paramref:`telegram.Bot.get_updates.timeout`. Default is ``10`` seconds.
+            timeout (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Passed to
+                :paramref:`telegram.Bot.get_updates.timeout`.
+                Default is :obj:`timedelta(seconds=10)<datetime.timedelta>`.
+
+                .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                    |time-period-input|
             bootstrap_retries (:obj:`int`, optional): Whether the bootstrapping phase
                 (calling :meth:`initialize` and the boostrapping of
                 :meth:`telegram.ext.Updater.start_polling`)
diff --git a/src/telegram/ext/_extbot.py b/src/telegram/ext/_extbot.py
index 7afadaa89fa..5781cf817bc 100644
--- a/src/telegram/ext/_extbot.py
+++ b/src/telegram/ext/_extbot.py
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ async def get_updates(
         self,
         offset: Optional[int] = None,
         limit: Optional[int] = None,
-        timeout: Optional[int] = None,
+        timeout: Optional[TimePeriod] = None,
         allowed_updates: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
         *,
         read_timeout: ODVInput[float] = DEFAULT_NONE,
diff --git a/src/telegram/ext/_updater.py b/src/telegram/ext/_updater.py
index 95f7e225ed1..63634fbc467 100644
--- a/src/telegram/ext/_updater.py
+++ b/src/telegram/ext/_updater.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
+import datetime as dtm
 import ssl
 from collections.abc import Coroutine, Sequence
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@
 from telegram._utils.defaultvalue import DEFAULT_80, DEFAULT_IP, DefaultValue
 from telegram._utils.logging import get_logger
 from telegram._utils.repr import build_repr_with_selected_attrs
-from telegram._utils.types import DVType
+from telegram._utils.types import DVType, TimePeriod
 from telegram.error import TelegramError
 from telegram.ext._utils.networkloop import network_retry_loop
 
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ async def shutdown(self) -> None:
     async def start_polling(
         self,
         poll_interval: float = 0.0,
-        timeout: int = 10,
+        timeout: TimePeriod = dtm.timedelta(seconds=10),
         bootstrap_retries: int = 0,
         allowed_updates: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
         drop_pending_updates: Optional[bool] = None,
@@ -226,8 +227,12 @@ async def start_polling(
         Args:
             poll_interval (:obj:`float`, optional): Time to wait between polling updates from
                 Telegram in seconds. Default is ``0.0``.
-            timeout (:obj:`int`, optional): Passed to
-                :paramref:`telegram.Bot.get_updates.timeout`. Defaults to ``10`` seconds.
+            timeout (:obj:`int` | :class:`datetime.timedelta`, optional): Passed to
+                :paramref:`telegram.Bot.get_updates.timeout`. Defaults to
+                ``timedelta(seconds=10)``.
+
+                .. versionchanged:: NEXT.VERSION
+                    |time-period-input|
             bootstrap_retries (:obj:`int`, optional): Whether the bootstrapping phase of
                 will retry on failures on the Telegram server.
 
@@ -309,7 +314,7 @@ def callback(error: telegram.error.TelegramError)
     async def _start_polling(
         self,
         poll_interval: float,
-        timeout: int,
+        timeout: TimePeriod,
         bootstrap_retries: int,
         drop_pending_updates: Optional[bool],
         allowed_updates: Optional[Sequence[str]],
@@ -394,7 +399,7 @@ async def _get_updates_cleanup() -> None:
                 await self.bot.get_updates(
                     offset=self._last_update_id,
                     # We don't want to do long polling here!
-                    timeout=0,
+                    timeout=dtm.timedelta(seconds=0),
                     allowed_updates=allowed_updates,
                 )
             except TelegramError:
diff --git a/src/telegram/ext/_utils/networkloop.py b/src/telegram/ext/_utils/networkloop.py
index 03c54e8e8a2..2cc93113272 100644
--- a/src/telegram/ext/_utils/networkloop.py
+++ b/src/telegram/ext/_utils/networkloop.py
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ async def do_action() -> bool:
             _LOGGER.info(
                 "%s %s. Adding %s seconds to the specified time.", log_prefix, exc, slack_time
             )
-            cur_interval = slack_time + exc.retry_after
+            # pylint: disable=protected-access
+            cur_interval = slack_time + exc._retry_after.total_seconds()
         except TimedOut as toe:
             _LOGGER.debug("%s Timed out: %s. Retrying immediately.", log_prefix, toe)
             # If failure is due to timeout, we should retry asap.
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_animation.py b/tests/_files/test_animation.py
index 5ae93dd61ef..50437e69877 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_animation.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_animation.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from telegram.error import BadRequest, TelegramError
 from telegram.helpers import escape_markdown
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.bot_method_checks import (
     check_defaults_handling,
     check_shortcut_call,
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class AnimationTestBase:
     animation_file_unique_id = "adc3145fd2e84d95b64d68eaa22aa33e"
     width = 320
     height = 180
-    duration = 1
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)
     # animation_file_url = 'https://python-telegram-bot.org/static/testfiles/game.gif'
     # Shortened link, the above one is cached with the wrong duration.
     animation_file_url = "http://bit.ly/2L18jua"
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot, animation):
             "file_unique_id": self.animation_file_unique_id,
             "width": self.width,
             "height": self.height,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": self.duration.total_seconds(),
             "thumbnail": animation.thumbnail.to_dict(),
             "file_name": self.file_name,
             "mime_type": self.mime_type,
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot, animation):
         assert animation.file_name == self.file_name
         assert animation.mime_type == self.mime_type
         assert animation.file_size == self.file_size
+        assert animation._duration == self.duration
 
     def test_to_dict(self, animation):
         animation_dict = animation.to_dict()
@@ -99,12 +101,31 @@ def test_to_dict(self, animation):
         assert animation_dict["file_unique_id"] == animation.file_unique_id
         assert animation_dict["width"] == animation.width
         assert animation_dict["height"] == animation.height
-        assert animation_dict["duration"] == animation.duration
+        assert animation_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(animation_dict["duration"], int)
         assert animation_dict["thumbnail"] == animation.thumbnail.to_dict()
         assert animation_dict["file_name"] == animation.file_name
         assert animation_dict["mime_type"] == animation.mime_type
         assert animation_dict["file_size"] == animation.file_size
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, animation):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert animation.duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(animation.duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert animation.duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(animation.duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, animation):
+        animation.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = Animation(
             self.animation_file_id,
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_audio.py b/tests/_files/test_audio.py
index 78112058cdd..47d8dff9c2f 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_audio.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_audio.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from telegram.error import BadRequest, TelegramError
 from telegram.helpers import escape_markdown
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.bot_method_checks import (
     check_defaults_handling,
     check_shortcut_call,
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class AudioTestBase:
     performer = "Leandro Toledo"
     title = "Teste"
     file_name = "telegram.mp3"
-    duration = 3
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=3)
     # audio_file_url = 'https://python-telegram-bot.org/static/testfiles/telegram.mp3'
     # Shortened link, the above one is cached with the wrong duration.
     audio_file_url = "https://goo.gl/3En24v"
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ def test_creation(self, audio):
         assert audio.file_unique_id
 
     def test_expected_values(self, audio):
-        assert audio.duration == self.duration
+        assert audio._duration == self.duration
         assert audio.performer is None
         assert audio.title is None
         assert audio.mime_type == self.mime_type
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot, audio):
         json_dict = {
             "file_id": self.audio_file_id,
             "file_unique_id": self.audio_file_unique_id,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
             "performer": self.performer,
             "title": self.title,
             "file_name": self.file_name,
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot, audio):
 
         assert json_audio.file_id == self.audio_file_id
         assert json_audio.file_unique_id == self.audio_file_unique_id
-        assert json_audio.duration == self.duration
+        assert json_audio._duration == self.duration
         assert json_audio.performer == self.performer
         assert json_audio.title == self.title
         assert json_audio.file_name == self.file_name
@@ -111,11 +112,30 @@ def test_to_dict(self, audio):
         assert isinstance(audio_dict, dict)
         assert audio_dict["file_id"] == audio.file_id
         assert audio_dict["file_unique_id"] == audio.file_unique_id
-        assert audio_dict["duration"] == audio.duration
+        assert audio_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(audio_dict["duration"], int)
         assert audio_dict["mime_type"] == audio.mime_type
         assert audio_dict["file_size"] == audio.file_size
         assert audio_dict["file_name"] == audio.file_name
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, audio):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert audio.duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(audio.duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert audio.duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(audio.duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, audio):
+        audio.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self, audio):
         a = Audio(audio.file_id, audio.file_unique_id, audio.duration)
         b = Audio("", audio.file_unique_id, audio.duration)
@@ -237,7 +257,7 @@ async def test_send_all_args(self, bot, chat_id, audio_file, thumb_file, duratio
         assert isinstance(message.audio.file_unique_id, str)
         assert message.audio.file_unique_id is not None
         assert message.audio.file_id is not None
-        assert message.audio.duration == self.duration
+        assert message.audio._duration == self.duration
         assert message.audio.performer == self.performer
         assert message.audio.title == self.title
         assert message.audio.file_name == self.file_name
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_inputmedia.py b/tests/_files/test_inputmedia.py
index a077c309cc5..08bdf3428a3 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_inputmedia.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_inputmedia.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 import asyncio
 import copy
+import datetime as dtm
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
 from telegram.constants import InputMediaType, ParseMode
 from telegram.error import BadRequest
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.files import data_file
 from tests.auxil.networking import expect_bad_request
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ class InputMediaVideoTestBase:
     caption = "My Caption"
     width = 3
     height = 4
-    duration = 5
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=5)
     start_timestamp = 3
     parse_mode = "HTML"
     supports_streaming = True
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, input_media_video):
         assert input_media_video.caption == self.caption
         assert input_media_video.width == self.width
         assert input_media_video.height == self.height
-        assert input_media_video.duration == self.duration
+        assert input_media_video._duration == self.duration
         assert input_media_video.parse_mode == self.parse_mode
         assert input_media_video.caption_entities == tuple(self.caption_entities)
         assert input_media_video.supports_streaming == self.supports_streaming
@@ -190,7 +192,8 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_media_video):
         assert input_media_video_dict["caption"] == input_media_video.caption
         assert input_media_video_dict["width"] == input_media_video.width
         assert input_media_video_dict["height"] == input_media_video.height
-        assert input_media_video_dict["duration"] == input_media_video.duration
+        assert input_media_video_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(input_media_video_dict["duration"], int)
         assert input_media_video_dict["parse_mode"] == input_media_video.parse_mode
         assert input_media_video_dict["caption_entities"] == [
             ce.to_dict() for ce in input_media_video.caption_entities
@@ -204,7 +207,27 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_media_video):
         assert input_media_video_dict["cover"] == input_media_video.cover
         assert input_media_video_dict["start_timestamp"] == input_media_video.start_timestamp
 
-    def test_with_video(self, video):
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_video):
+        duration = input_media_video.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_video):
+        input_media_video.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
+    def test_with_video(self, video, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
         # fixture found in test_video
         input_media_video = InputMediaVideo(video, caption="test 3")
         assert input_media_video.type == self.type_
@@ -324,7 +347,7 @@ class InputMediaAnimationTestBase:
     caption_entities = [MessageEntity(MessageEntity.BOLD, 0, 2)]
     width = 30
     height = 30
-    duration = 1
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)
     has_spoiler = True
     show_caption_above_media = True
 
@@ -345,6 +368,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, input_media_animation):
         assert isinstance(input_media_animation.thumbnail, InputFile)
         assert input_media_animation.has_spoiler == self.has_spoiler
         assert input_media_animation.show_caption_above_media == self.show_caption_above_media
+        assert input_media_animation._duration == self.duration
 
     def test_caption_entities_always_tuple(self):
         input_media_animation = InputMediaAnimation(self.media)
@@ -361,13 +385,34 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_media_animation):
         ]
         assert input_media_animation_dict["width"] == input_media_animation.width
         assert input_media_animation_dict["height"] == input_media_animation.height
-        assert input_media_animation_dict["duration"] == input_media_animation.duration
+        assert input_media_animation_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(input_media_animation_dict["duration"], int)
         assert input_media_animation_dict["has_spoiler"] == input_media_animation.has_spoiler
         assert (
             input_media_animation_dict["show_caption_above_media"]
             == input_media_animation.show_caption_above_media
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_animation):
+        duration = input_media_animation.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_animation):
+        input_media_animation.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_with_animation(self, animation):
         # fixture found in test_animation
         input_media_animation = InputMediaAnimation(animation, caption="test 2")
@@ -394,7 +439,7 @@ class InputMediaAudioTestBase:
     type_ = "audio"
     media = "NOTAREALFILEID"
     caption = "My Caption"
-    duration = 3
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=3)
     performer = "performer"
     title = "title"
     parse_mode = "HTML"
@@ -412,7 +457,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, input_media_audio):
         assert input_media_audio.type == self.type_
         assert input_media_audio.media == self.media
         assert input_media_audio.caption == self.caption
-        assert input_media_audio.duration == self.duration
+        assert input_media_audio._duration == self.duration
         assert input_media_audio.performer == self.performer
         assert input_media_audio.title == self.title
         assert input_media_audio.parse_mode == self.parse_mode
@@ -428,7 +473,9 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_media_audio):
         assert input_media_audio_dict["type"] == input_media_audio.type
         assert input_media_audio_dict["media"] == input_media_audio.media
         assert input_media_audio_dict["caption"] == input_media_audio.caption
-        assert input_media_audio_dict["duration"] == input_media_audio.duration
+        assert isinstance(input_media_audio_dict["duration"], int)
+        assert input_media_audio_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(input_media_audio_dict["duration"], int)
         assert input_media_audio_dict["performer"] == input_media_audio.performer
         assert input_media_audio_dict["title"] == input_media_audio.title
         assert input_media_audio_dict["parse_mode"] == input_media_audio.parse_mode
@@ -436,6 +483,26 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_media_audio):
             ce.to_dict() for ce in input_media_audio.caption_entities
         ]
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_audio):
+        duration = input_media_audio.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_media_audio):
+        input_media_audio.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_with_audio(self, audio):
         # fixture found in test_audio
         input_media_audio = InputMediaAudio(audio, caption="test 3")
@@ -574,7 +641,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, input_paid_media_video):
         assert input_paid_media_video.media == self.media
         assert input_paid_media_video.width == self.width
         assert input_paid_media_video.height == self.height
-        assert input_paid_media_video.duration == self.duration
+        assert input_paid_media_video._duration == self.duration
         assert input_paid_media_video.supports_streaming == self.supports_streaming
         assert isinstance(input_paid_media_video.thumbnail, InputFile)
         assert isinstance(input_paid_media_video.cover, InputFile)
@@ -586,7 +653,8 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_paid_media_video):
         assert input_paid_media_video_dict["media"] == input_paid_media_video.media
         assert input_paid_media_video_dict["width"] == input_paid_media_video.width
         assert input_paid_media_video_dict["height"] == input_paid_media_video.height
-        assert input_paid_media_video_dict["duration"] == input_paid_media_video.duration
+        assert input_paid_media_video_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(input_paid_media_video_dict["duration"], int)
         assert (
             input_paid_media_video_dict["supports_streaming"]
             == input_paid_media_video.supports_streaming
@@ -598,6 +666,26 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_paid_media_video):
             == input_paid_media_video.start_timestamp
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_paid_media_video):
+        duration = input_paid_media_video.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_paid_media_video):
+        input_paid_media_video.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_with_video(self, video):
         # fixture found in test_video
         input_paid_media_video = InputPaidMediaVideo(video)
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_inputstorycontent.py b/tests/_files/test_inputstorycontent.py
index 9e826409584..37762a24e1a 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_inputstorycontent.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_inputstorycontent.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class InputStoryContentVideoTestBase:
     is_animation = False
 
 
-class TestInputMediaVideoWithoutRequest(InputStoryContentVideoTestBase):
+class TestInputStoryContentVideoWithoutRequest(InputStoryContentVideoTestBase):
     def test_slot_behaviour(self, input_story_content_video):
         inst = input_story_content_video
         for attr in inst.__slots__:
@@ -131,6 +131,25 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_story_content_video):
         assert json_dict["cover_frame_timestamp"] == self.cover_frame_timestamp.total_seconds()
         assert json_dict["is_animation"] is self.is_animation
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("argument", "expected"),
+        [(4, 4), (4.0, 4), (dtm.timedelta(seconds=4), 4), (4.5, 4.5)],
+    )
+    def test_to_dict_float_time_period(self, argument, expected):
+        # We test that whole number conversion works properly. Only tested here but
+        # relevant for some other classes too (e.g InputProfilePhotoAnimated.main_frame_timestamp)
+        inst = InputStoryContentVideo(
+            video=self.video.read_bytes(),
+            duration=argument,
+            cover_frame_timestamp=argument,
+        )
+        json_dict = inst.to_dict()
+
+        assert json_dict["duration"] == expected
+        assert type(json_dict["duration"]) is type(expected)
+        assert json_dict["cover_frame_timestamp"] == expected
+        assert type(json_dict["cover_frame_timestamp"]) is type(expected)
+
     def test_with_video_file(self, video_file):
         inst = InputStoryContentVideo(video=video_file)
         assert inst.type is self.type
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_location.py b/tests/_files/test_location.py
index 5ccddbac527..30cfb20595f 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_location.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_location.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 from telegram.constants import ParseMode
 from telegram.error import BadRequest
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.build_messages import make_message
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ class LocationTestBase:
     latitude = -23.691288
     longitude = -46.788279
     horizontal_accuracy = 999
-    live_period = 60
+    live_period = dtm.timedelta(seconds=60)
     heading = 90
     proximity_alert_radius = 50
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
             "latitude": self.latitude,
             "longitude": self.longitude,
             "horizontal_accuracy": self.horizontal_accuracy,
-            "live_period": self.live_period,
+            "live_period": int(self.live_period.total_seconds()),
             "heading": self.heading,
             "proximity_alert_radius": self.proximity_alert_radius,
         }
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         assert location.latitude == self.latitude
         assert location.longitude == self.longitude
         assert location.horizontal_accuracy == self.horizontal_accuracy
-        assert location.live_period == self.live_period
+        assert location._live_period == self.live_period
         assert location.heading == self.heading
         assert location.proximity_alert_radius == self.proximity_alert_radius
 
@@ -81,10 +82,29 @@ def test_to_dict(self, location):
         assert location_dict["latitude"] == location.latitude
         assert location_dict["longitude"] == location.longitude
         assert location_dict["horizontal_accuracy"] == location.horizontal_accuracy
-        assert location_dict["live_period"] == location.live_period
+        assert location_dict["live_period"] == int(self.live_period.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(location_dict["live_period"], int)
         assert location["heading"] == location.heading
         assert location["proximity_alert_radius"] == location.proximity_alert_radius
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, location):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert location.live_period == self.live_period
+            assert isinstance(location.live_period, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert location.live_period == int(self.live_period.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(location.live_period, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, location):
+        location.live_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`live_period` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = Location(self.longitude, self.latitude)
         b = Location(self.longitude, self.latitude)
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_video.py b/tests/_files/test_video.py
index d4d87122576..b701c11928a 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_video.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_video.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from telegram.error import BadRequest, TelegramError
 from telegram.helpers import escape_markdown
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.bot_method_checks import (
     check_defaults_handling,
     check_shortcut_call,
@@ -38,15 +39,26 @@
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
+# Override `video` fixture to provide start_timestamp
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+async def video(bot, chat_id):
+    with data_file("telegram.mp4").open("rb") as f:
+        return (
+            await bot.send_video(
+                chat_id, video=f, start_timestamp=VideoTestBase.start_timestamp, read_timeout=50
+            )
+        ).video
+
+
 class VideoTestBase:
     width = 360
     height = 640
-    duration = 5
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=5)
     file_size = 326534
     mime_type = "video/mp4"
     supports_streaming = True
     file_name = "telegram.mp4"
-    start_timestamp = 3
+    start_timestamp = dtm.timedelta(seconds=3)
     cover = (PhotoSize("file_id", "unique_id", 640, 360, file_size=0),)
     thumb_width = 180
     thumb_height = 320
@@ -80,9 +92,10 @@ def test_creation(self, video):
     def test_expected_values(self, video):
         assert video.width == self.width
         assert video.height == self.height
-        assert video.duration == self.duration
+        assert video._duration == self.duration
         assert video.file_size == self.file_size
         assert video.mime_type == self.mime_type
+        assert video._start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
 
     def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         json_dict = {
@@ -90,11 +103,11 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
             "file_unique_id": self.video_file_unique_id,
             "width": self.width,
             "height": self.height,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
             "mime_type": self.mime_type,
             "file_size": self.file_size,
             "file_name": self.file_name,
-            "start_timestamp": self.start_timestamp,
+            "start_timestamp": int(self.start_timestamp.total_seconds()),
             "cover": [photo_size.to_dict() for photo_size in self.cover],
         }
         json_video = Video.de_json(json_dict, offline_bot)
@@ -104,11 +117,11 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         assert json_video.file_unique_id == self.video_file_unique_id
         assert json_video.width == self.width
         assert json_video.height == self.height
-        assert json_video.duration == self.duration
+        assert json_video._duration == self.duration
         assert json_video.mime_type == self.mime_type
         assert json_video.file_size == self.file_size
         assert json_video.file_name == self.file_name
-        assert json_video.start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
+        assert json_video._start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
         assert json_video.cover == self.cover
 
     def test_to_dict(self, video):
@@ -119,10 +132,39 @@ def test_to_dict(self, video):
         assert video_dict["file_unique_id"] == video.file_unique_id
         assert video_dict["width"] == video.width
         assert video_dict["height"] == video.height
-        assert video_dict["duration"] == video.duration
+        assert video_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(video_dict["duration"], int)
         assert video_dict["mime_type"] == video.mime_type
         assert video_dict["file_size"] == video.file_size
         assert video_dict["file_name"] == video.file_name
+        assert video_dict["start_timestamp"] == int(self.start_timestamp.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(video_dict["start_timestamp"], int)
+
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, video):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert video.duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(video.duration, dtm.timedelta)
+
+            assert video.start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
+            assert isinstance(video.start_timestamp, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert video.duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(video.duration, int)
+
+            assert video.start_timestamp == int(self.start_timestamp.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(video.start_timestamp, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, video):
+        video.duration
+        video.start_timestamp
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 2
+            for i, attr in enumerate(["duration", "start_timestamp"]):
+                assert f"`{attr}` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[i].message)
+                assert recwarn[i].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
 
     def test_equality(self, video):
         a = Video(video.file_id, video.file_unique_id, self.width, self.height, self.duration)
@@ -266,7 +308,7 @@ async def test_send_all_args(
         assert message.video.thumbnail.width == self.thumb_width
         assert message.video.thumbnail.height == self.thumb_height
 
-        assert message.video.start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
+        assert message.video._start_timestamp == self.start_timestamp
 
         assert isinstance(message.video.cover, tuple)
         assert isinstance(message.video.cover[0], PhotoSize)
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_videonote.py b/tests/_files/test_videonote.py
index 5edab597806..40f853bca52 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_videonote.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_videonote.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 from telegram.constants import ParseMode
 from telegram.error import BadRequest, TelegramError
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.bot_method_checks import (
     check_defaults_handling,
     check_shortcut_call,
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ async def video_note(bot, chat_id):
 
 class VideoNoteTestBase:
     length = 240
-    duration = 3
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=3)
     file_size = 132084
     thumb_width = 240
     thumb_height = 240
@@ -81,17 +82,12 @@ def test_creation(self, video_note):
         assert video_note.thumbnail.file_id
         assert video_note.thumbnail.file_unique_id
 
-    def test_expected_values(self, video_note):
-        assert video_note.length == self.length
-        assert video_note.duration == self.duration
-        assert video_note.file_size == self.file_size
-
     def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         json_dict = {
             "file_id": self.videonote_file_id,
             "file_unique_id": self.videonote_file_unique_id,
             "length": self.length,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
             "file_size": self.file_size,
         }
         json_video_note = VideoNote.de_json(json_dict, offline_bot)
@@ -100,7 +96,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         assert json_video_note.file_id == self.videonote_file_id
         assert json_video_note.file_unique_id == self.videonote_file_unique_id
         assert json_video_note.length == self.length
-        assert json_video_note.duration == self.duration
+        assert json_video_note._duration == self.duration
         assert json_video_note.file_size == self.file_size
 
     def test_to_dict(self, video_note):
@@ -110,9 +106,28 @@ def test_to_dict(self, video_note):
         assert video_note_dict["file_id"] == video_note.file_id
         assert video_note_dict["file_unique_id"] == video_note.file_unique_id
         assert video_note_dict["length"] == video_note.length
-        assert video_note_dict["duration"] == video_note.duration
+        assert video_note_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(video_note_dict["duration"], int)
         assert video_note_dict["file_size"] == video_note.file_size
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, video_note):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert video_note.duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(video_note.duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert video_note.duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(video_note.duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, video_note):
+        video_note.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self, video_note):
         a = VideoNote(video_note.file_id, video_note.file_unique_id, self.length, self.duration)
         b = VideoNote("", video_note.file_unique_id, self.length, self.duration)
diff --git a/tests/_files/test_voice.py b/tests/_files/test_voice.py
index c06b1218139..62fdb4e79f8 100644
--- a/tests/_files/test_voice.py
+++ b/tests/_files/test_voice.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from telegram.error import BadRequest, TelegramError
 from telegram.helpers import escape_markdown
 from telegram.request import RequestData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.bot_method_checks import (
     check_defaults_handling,
     check_shortcut_call,
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ async def voice(bot, chat_id):
 
 
 class VoiceTestBase:
-    duration = 3
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=3)
     mime_type = "audio/ogg"
     file_size = 9199
     caption = "Test *voice*"
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ async def test_creation(self, voice):
         assert voice.file_unique_id
 
     def test_expected_values(self, voice):
-        assert voice.duration == self.duration
+        assert voice._duration == self.duration
         assert voice.mime_type == self.mime_type
         assert voice.file_size == self.file_size
 
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         json_dict = {
             "file_id": self.voice_file_id,
             "file_unique_id": self.voice_file_unique_id,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
             "mime_type": self.mime_type,
             "file_size": self.file_size,
         }
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
 
         assert json_voice.file_id == self.voice_file_id
         assert json_voice.file_unique_id == self.voice_file_unique_id
-        assert json_voice.duration == self.duration
+        assert json_voice._duration == self.duration
         assert json_voice.mime_type == self.mime_type
         assert json_voice.file_size == self.file_size
 
@@ -102,10 +103,29 @@ def test_to_dict(self, voice):
         assert isinstance(voice_dict, dict)
         assert voice_dict["file_id"] == voice.file_id
         assert voice_dict["file_unique_id"] == voice.file_unique_id
-        assert voice_dict["duration"] == voice.duration
+        assert voice_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(voice_dict["duration"], int)
         assert voice_dict["mime_type"] == voice.mime_type
         assert voice_dict["file_size"] == voice.file_size
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, voice):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert voice.duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(voice.duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert voice.duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(voice.duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, voice):
+        voice.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self, voice):
         a = Voice(voice.file_id, voice.file_unique_id, self.duration)
         b = Voice("", voice.file_unique_id, self.duration)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultaudio.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultaudio.py
index 4c781655910..17871fa854d 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultaudio.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultaudio.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@
     InputTextMessageContent,
     MessageEntity,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultAudioTestBase:
     audio_url = "audio url"
     title = "title"
     performer = "performer"
-    audio_duration = "audio_duration"
+    audio_duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=10)
     caption = "caption"
     parse_mode = "Markdown"
     caption_entities = [MessageEntity(MessageEntity.ITALIC, 0, 7)]
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_audio):
         assert inline_query_result_audio.audio_url == self.audio_url
         assert inline_query_result_audio.title == self.title
         assert inline_query_result_audio.performer == self.performer
-        assert inline_query_result_audio.audio_duration == self.audio_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_audio._audio_duration == self.audio_duration
         assert inline_query_result_audio.caption == self.caption
         assert inline_query_result_audio.parse_mode == self.parse_mode
         assert inline_query_result_audio.caption_entities == tuple(self.caption_entities)
@@ -92,10 +95,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_audio):
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["audio_url"] == inline_query_result_audio.audio_url
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["title"] == inline_query_result_audio.title
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["performer"] == inline_query_result_audio.performer
-        assert (
-            inline_query_result_audio_dict["audio_duration"]
-            == inline_query_result_audio.audio_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["audio_duration"] == int(
+            self.audio_duration.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_audio_dict["audio_duration"], int)
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["caption"] == inline_query_result_audio.caption
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["parse_mode"] == inline_query_result_audio.parse_mode
         assert inline_query_result_audio_dict["caption_entities"] == [
@@ -114,6 +117,28 @@ def test_caption_entities_always_tuple(self):
         inline_query_result_audio = InlineQueryResultAudio(self.id_, self.audio_url, self.title)
         assert inline_query_result_audio.caption_entities == ()
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_audio):
+        audio_duration = inline_query_result_audio.audio_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert audio_duration == self.audio_duration
+            assert isinstance(audio_duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert audio_duration == int(self.audio_duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(audio_duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_audio):
+        inline_query_result_audio.audio_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`audio_duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultAudio(self.id_, self.audio_url, self.title)
         b = InlineQueryResultAudio(self.id_, self.title, self.title)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultgif.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultgif.py
index 878b9b61d3c..2806e895623 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultgif.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultgif.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
     InputTextMessageContent,
     MessageEntity,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultGifTestBase:
     gif_url = "gif url"
     gif_width = 10
     gif_height = 15
-    gif_duration = 1
+    gif_duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)
     thumbnail_url = "thumb url"
     thumbnail_mime_type = "image/jpeg"
     title = "title"
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_gif):
         assert inline_query_result_gif.gif_url == self.gif_url
         assert inline_query_result_gif.gif_width == self.gif_width
         assert inline_query_result_gif.gif_height == self.gif_height
-        assert inline_query_result_gif.gif_duration == self.gif_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_gif._gif_duration == self.gif_duration
         assert inline_query_result_gif.thumbnail_url == self.thumbnail_url
         assert inline_query_result_gif.thumbnail_mime_type == self.thumbnail_mime_type
         assert inline_query_result_gif.title == self.title
@@ -107,7 +110,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_gif):
         assert inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_url"] == inline_query_result_gif.gif_url
         assert inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_width"] == inline_query_result_gif.gif_width
         assert inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_height"] == inline_query_result_gif.gif_height
-        assert inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_duration"] == inline_query_result_gif.gif_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_duration"] == int(
+            self.gif_duration.total_seconds()
+        )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_gif_dict["gif_duration"], int)
         assert (
             inline_query_result_gif_dict["thumbnail_url"] == inline_query_result_gif.thumbnail_url
         )
@@ -134,6 +140,26 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_gif):
             == inline_query_result_gif.show_caption_above_media
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_gif):
+        gif_duration = inline_query_result_gif.gif_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert gif_duration == self.gif_duration
+            assert isinstance(gif_duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert gif_duration == int(self.gif_duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(gif_duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_gif):
+        inline_query_result_gif.gif_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`gif_duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultGif(self.id_, self.gif_url, self.thumbnail_url)
         b = InlineQueryResultGif(self.id_, self.gif_url, self.thumbnail_url)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultlocation.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultlocation.py
index db9c64cfd10..a9471f0d55d 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultlocation.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultlocation.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@
     InlineQueryResultVoice,
     InputTextMessageContent,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultLocationTestBase:
     longitude = 1.0
     title = "title"
     horizontal_accuracy = 999
-    live_period = 70
+    live_period = dtm.timedelta(seconds=70)
     heading = 90
     proximity_alert_radius = 1000
     thumbnail_url = "thumb url"
@@ -77,7 +80,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_location):
         assert inline_query_result_location.latitude == self.latitude
         assert inline_query_result_location.longitude == self.longitude
         assert inline_query_result_location.title == self.title
-        assert inline_query_result_location.live_period == self.live_period
+        assert inline_query_result_location._live_period == self.live_period
         assert inline_query_result_location.thumbnail_url == self.thumbnail_url
         assert inline_query_result_location.thumbnail_width == self.thumbnail_width
         assert inline_query_result_location.thumbnail_height == self.thumbnail_height
@@ -104,10 +107,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_location):
             == inline_query_result_location.longitude
         )
         assert inline_query_result_location_dict["title"] == inline_query_result_location.title
-        assert (
-            inline_query_result_location_dict["live_period"]
-            == inline_query_result_location.live_period
+        assert inline_query_result_location_dict["live_period"] == int(
+            self.live_period.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_location_dict["live_period"], int)
         assert (
             inline_query_result_location_dict["thumbnail_url"]
             == inline_query_result_location.thumbnail_url
@@ -138,6 +141,28 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_location):
             == inline_query_result_location.proximity_alert_radius
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_location):
+        live_period = inline_query_result_location.live_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert live_period == self.live_period
+            assert isinstance(live_period, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert live_period == int(self.live_period.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(live_period, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(
+        self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_location
+    ):
+        inline_query_result_location.live_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`live_period` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultLocation(self.id_, self.longitude, self.latitude, self.title)
         b = InlineQueryResultLocation(self.id_, self.longitude, self.latitude, self.title)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
index 03b6ca991d1..4c8291c4e5a 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultmpeg4gif.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
     InputTextMessageContent,
     MessageEntity,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultMpeg4GifTestBase:
     mpeg4_url = "mpeg4 url"
     mpeg4_width = 10
     mpeg4_height = 15
-    mpeg4_duration = 1
+    mpeg4_duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)
     thumbnail_url = "thumb url"
     thumbnail_mime_type = "image/jpeg"
     title = "title"
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif):
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_url == self.mpeg4_url
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_width == self.mpeg4_width
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_height == self.mpeg4_height
-        assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_duration == self.mpeg4_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif._mpeg4_duration == self.mpeg4_duration
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.thumbnail_url == self.thumbnail_url
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.thumbnail_mime_type == self.thumbnail_mime_type
         assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.title == self.title
@@ -118,10 +121,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif):
             inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif_dict["mpeg4_height"]
             == inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_height
         )
-        assert (
-            inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif_dict["mpeg4_duration"]
-            == inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif_dict["mpeg4_duration"] == int(
+            self.mpeg4_duration.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif_dict["mpeg4_duration"], int)
         assert (
             inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif_dict["thumbnail_url"]
             == inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.thumbnail_url
@@ -154,6 +157,30 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif):
             == inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.show_caption_above_media
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif):
+        mpeg4_duration = inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert mpeg4_duration == self.mpeg4_duration
+            assert isinstance(mpeg4_duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert mpeg4_duration == int(self.mpeg4_duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(mpeg4_duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(
+        self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif
+    ):
+        inline_query_result_mpeg4_gif.mpeg4_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`mpeg4_duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif(self.id_, self.mpeg4_url, self.thumbnail_url)
         b = InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif(self.id_, self.mpeg4_url, self.thumbnail_url)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvideo.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvideo.py
index d165d9af3f2..dd07b9c9719 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvideo.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvideo.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
     InputTextMessageContent,
     MessageEntity,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultVideoTestBase:
     mime_type = "mime type"
     video_width = 10
     video_height = 15
-    video_duration = 15
+    video_duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=15)
     thumbnail_url = "thumbnail url"
     title = "title"
     caption = "caption"
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_video):
         assert inline_query_result_video.mime_type == self.mime_type
         assert inline_query_result_video.video_width == self.video_width
         assert inline_query_result_video.video_height == self.video_height
-        assert inline_query_result_video.video_duration == self.video_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_video._video_duration == self.video_duration
         assert inline_query_result_video.thumbnail_url == self.thumbnail_url
         assert inline_query_result_video.title == self.title
         assert inline_query_result_video.description == self.description
@@ -118,10 +121,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_video):
             inline_query_result_video_dict["video_height"]
             == inline_query_result_video.video_height
         )
-        assert (
-            inline_query_result_video_dict["video_duration"]
-            == inline_query_result_video.video_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_video_dict["video_duration"] == int(
+            self.video_duration.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_video_dict["video_duration"], int)
         assert (
             inline_query_result_video_dict["thumbnail_url"]
             == inline_query_result_video.thumbnail_url
@@ -148,6 +151,29 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_video):
             == inline_query_result_video.show_caption_above_media
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_video):
+        iqrv = inline_query_result_video
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert iqrv.video_duration == self.video_duration
+            assert isinstance(iqrv.video_duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert iqrv.video_duration == int(self.video_duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(iqrv.video_duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_video):
+        value = inline_query_result_video.video_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+            assert isinstance(value, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`video_duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+            assert isinstance(value, int)
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultVideo(
             self.id_, self.video_url, self.mime_type, self.thumbnail_url, self.title
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvoice.py b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvoice.py
index 01662700c74..f4e58cca371 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvoice.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inlinequeryresultvoice.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import (
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
     InputTextMessageContent,
     MessageEntity,
 )
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ class InlineQueryResultVoiceTestBase:
     type_ = "voice"
     voice_url = "voice url"
     title = "title"
-    voice_duration = "voice_duration"
+    voice_duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=10)
     caption = "caption"
     parse_mode = "HTML"
     caption_entities = [MessageEntity(MessageEntity.ITALIC, 0, 7)]
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ def test_expected_values(self, inline_query_result_voice):
         assert inline_query_result_voice.id == self.id_
         assert inline_query_result_voice.voice_url == self.voice_url
         assert inline_query_result_voice.title == self.title
-        assert inline_query_result_voice.voice_duration == self.voice_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_voice._voice_duration == self.voice_duration
         assert inline_query_result_voice.caption == self.caption
         assert inline_query_result_voice.parse_mode == self.parse_mode
         assert inline_query_result_voice.caption_entities == tuple(self.caption_entities)
@@ -96,10 +99,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_voice):
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["id"] == inline_query_result_voice.id
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["voice_url"] == inline_query_result_voice.voice_url
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["title"] == inline_query_result_voice.title
-        assert (
-            inline_query_result_voice_dict["voice_duration"]
-            == inline_query_result_voice.voice_duration
+        assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["voice_duration"] == int(
+            self.voice_duration.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(inline_query_result_voice_dict["voice_duration"], int)
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["caption"] == inline_query_result_voice.caption
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["parse_mode"] == inline_query_result_voice.parse_mode
         assert inline_query_result_voice_dict["caption_entities"] == [
@@ -114,6 +117,28 @@ def test_to_dict(self, inline_query_result_voice):
             == inline_query_result_voice.reply_markup.to_dict()
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_voice):
+        voice_duration = inline_query_result_voice.voice_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert voice_duration == self.voice_duration
+            assert isinstance(voice_duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert voice_duration == int(self.voice_duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(voice_duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, inline_query_result_voice):
+        inline_query_result_voice.voice_duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`voice_duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InlineQueryResultVoice(self.id_, self.voice_url, self.title)
         b = InlineQueryResultVoice(self.id_, self.voice_url, self.title)
diff --git a/tests/_inline/test_inputlocationmessagecontent.py b/tests/_inline/test_inputlocationmessagecontent.py
index 05e86086852..1fd79ee9ad0 100644
--- a/tests/_inline/test_inputlocationmessagecontent.py
+++ b/tests/_inline/test_inputlocationmessagecontent.py
@@ -16,9 +16,12 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
+
 import pytest
 
 from telegram import InputLocationMessageContent, Location
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -37,7 +40,7 @@ def input_location_message_content():
 class InputLocationMessageContentTestBase:
     latitude = -23.691288
     longitude = -46.788279
-    live_period = 80
+    live_period = dtm.timedelta(seconds=80)
     horizontal_accuracy = 50.5
     heading = 90
     proximity_alert_radius = 999
@@ -53,7 +56,7 @@ def test_slot_behaviour(self, input_location_message_content):
     def test_expected_values(self, input_location_message_content):
         assert input_location_message_content.longitude == self.longitude
         assert input_location_message_content.latitude == self.latitude
-        assert input_location_message_content.live_period == self.live_period
+        assert input_location_message_content._live_period == self.live_period
         assert input_location_message_content.horizontal_accuracy == self.horizontal_accuracy
         assert input_location_message_content.heading == self.heading
         assert input_location_message_content.proximity_alert_radius == self.proximity_alert_radius
@@ -70,10 +73,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_location_message_content):
             input_location_message_content_dict["longitude"]
             == input_location_message_content.longitude
         )
-        assert (
-            input_location_message_content_dict["live_period"]
-            == input_location_message_content.live_period
+        assert input_location_message_content_dict["live_period"] == int(
+            self.live_period.total_seconds()
         )
+        assert isinstance(input_location_message_content_dict["live_period"], int)
         assert (
             input_location_message_content_dict["horizontal_accuracy"]
             == input_location_message_content.horizontal_accuracy
@@ -87,6 +90,28 @@ def test_to_dict(self, input_location_message_content):
             == input_location_message_content.proximity_alert_radius
         )
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_location_message_content):
+        live_period = input_location_message_content.live_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert live_period == self.live_period
+            assert isinstance(live_period, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert live_period == int(self.live_period.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(live_period, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(
+        self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, input_location_message_content
+    ):
+        input_location_message_content.live_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`live_period` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = InputLocationMessageContent(123, 456, 70)
         b = InputLocationMessageContent(123, 456, 90)
diff --git a/tests/_utils/test_datetime.py b/tests/_utils/test_datetime.py
index dfcaca67587..8628f0c109f 100644
--- a/tests/_utils/test_datetime.py
+++ b/tests/_utils/test_datetime.py
@@ -192,3 +192,20 @@ def test_extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(self, tz_bot, bot, raw_bot):
         assert tg_dtm.extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(tz_bot) == tz_bot.defaults.tzinfo
         assert tg_dtm.extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(bot) is None
         assert tg_dtm.extract_tzinfo_from_defaults(raw_bot) is None
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("arg", "timedelta_result", "number_result"),
+        [
+            (None, None, None),
+            (dtm.timedelta(seconds=10), dtm.timedelta(seconds=10), 10),
+            (dtm.timedelta(seconds=10.5), dtm.timedelta(seconds=10.5), 10.5),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_get_timedelta_value(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, arg, timedelta_result, number_result):
+        result = tg_dtm.get_timedelta_value(arg, attribute="")
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert result == timedelta_result
+        else:
+            assert result == number_result
+            assert type(result) is type(number_result)
diff --git a/tests/auxil/envvars.py b/tests/auxil/envvars.py
index 5fb2d20c8a1..890c9e20bbb 100644
--- a/tests/auxil/envvars.py
+++ b/tests/auxil/envvars.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def env_var_2_bool(env_var: object) -> bool:
         return env_var
     if not isinstance(env_var, str):
         return False
-    return env_var.lower().strip() == "true"
+    return env_var.lower().strip() in ["true", "1"]
 
 
 GITHUB_ACTIONS: bool = env_var_2_bool(os.getenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS", "false"))
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 935daada498..f9725136ccc 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 import asyncio
 import logging
+import os
 import sys
 import zoneinfo
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -40,7 +41,12 @@
 from tests.auxil.build_messages import DATE, make_message
 from tests.auxil.ci_bots import BOT_INFO_PROVIDER, JOB_INDEX
 from tests.auxil.constants import PRIVATE_KEY, TEST_TOPIC_ICON_COLOR, TEST_TOPIC_NAME
-from tests.auxil.envvars import GITHUB_ACTIONS, RUN_TEST_OFFICIAL, TEST_WITH_OPT_DEPS
+from tests.auxil.envvars import (
+    GITHUB_ACTIONS,
+    RUN_TEST_OFFICIAL,
+    TEST_WITH_OPT_DEPS,
+    env_var_2_bool,
+)
 from tests.auxil.files import data_file
 from tests.auxil.networking import NonchalantHttpxRequest
 from tests.auxil.pytest_classes import PytestBot, make_bot
@@ -129,6 +135,18 @@ def _disallow_requests_in_without_request_tests(request):
             )
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", params=["true", "1", "false", "gibberish", None])
+def PTB_TIMEDELTA(request):
+    # Here we manually use monkeypatch to give this fixture module scope
+    monkeypatch = pytest.MonkeyPatch()
+    if request.param is not None:
+        monkeypatch.setenv("PTB_TIMEDELTA", request.param)
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.delenv("PTB_TIMEDELTA", raising=False)
+    yield env_var_2_bool(os.getenv("PTB_TIMEDELTA"))
+    monkeypatch.undo()
+
+
 # Redefine the event_loop fixture to have a session scope. Otherwise `bot` fixture can't be
 # session. See https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-asyncio/issues/68 for more details.
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
diff --git a/tests/ext/test_applicationbuilder.py b/tests/ext/test_applicationbuilder.py
index 15e85b6416e..bfbce15dd93 100644
--- a/tests/ext/test_applicationbuilder.py
+++ b/tests/ext/test_applicationbuilder.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 import asyncio
+import datetime as dtm
 import inspect
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from http import HTTPStatus
@@ -576,9 +577,12 @@ def test_no_job_queue(self, bot, builder):
             (None, None, 0),
             (1, None, 1),
             (None, 1, 1),
+            (None, dtm.timedelta(seconds=1), 1),
             (DEFAULT_NONE, None, 10),
             (DEFAULT_NONE, 1, 11),
+            (DEFAULT_NONE, dtm.timedelta(seconds=1), 11),
             (1, 2, 3),
+            (1, dtm.timedelta(seconds=2), 3),
         ],
     )
     async def test_get_updates_read_timeout_value_passing(
diff --git a/tests/ext/test_updater.py b/tests/ext/test_updater.py
index 147fc6128df..92a2d65ce7d 100644
--- a/tests/ext/test_updater.py
+++ b/tests/ext/test_updater.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 import asyncio
+import datetime as dtm
 import logging
 import platform
 from collections import defaultdict
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ async def test_polling_mark_updates_as_read(self, monkeypatch, updater, caplog):
         tracking_flag = False
         received_kwargs = {}
         expected_kwargs = {
-            "timeout": 0,
+            "timeout": dtm.timedelta(seconds=0),
             "allowed_updates": "allowed_updates",
         }
 
@@ -416,7 +417,7 @@ async def test_start_polling_get_updates_parameters(self, updater, monkeypatch):
         on_stop_flag = False
 
         expected = {
-            "timeout": 10,
+            "timeout": dtm.timedelta(seconds=10),
             "allowed_updates": None,
             "api_kwargs": None,
         }
@@ -456,14 +457,14 @@ async def get_updates(*args, **kwargs):
             on_stop_flag = False
 
             expected = {
-                "timeout": 42,
+                "timeout": dtm.timedelta(seconds=42),
                 "allowed_updates": ["message"],
                 "api_kwargs": None,
             }
 
             await update_queue.put(Update(update_id=2))
             await updater.start_polling(
-                timeout=42,
+                timeout=dtm.timedelta(seconds=42),
                 allowed_updates=["message"],
             )
             await update_queue.join()
diff --git a/tests/request/test_request.py b/tests/request/test_request.py
index 1672b8fb64e..45d18ef0c59 100644
--- a/tests/request/test_request.py
+++ b/tests/request/test_request.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 """Here we run tests directly with HTTPXRequest because that's easier than providing dummy
 implementations for BaseRequest and we want to test HTTPXRequest anyway."""
 import asyncio
+import datetime as dtm
 import json
 import logging
 from collections import defaultdict
@@ -244,7 +245,7 @@ async def test_chat_migrated(self, monkeypatch, httpx_request: HTTPXRequest):
 
         assert exc_info.value.new_chat_id == 123
 
-    async def test_retry_after(self, monkeypatch, httpx_request: HTTPXRequest):
+    async def test_retry_after(self, monkeypatch, httpx_request: HTTPXRequest, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
         server_response = b'{"ok": "False", "parameters": {"retry_after": 42}}'
 
         monkeypatch.setattr(
@@ -253,10 +254,12 @@ async def test_retry_after(self, monkeypatch, httpx_request: HTTPXRequest):
             mocker_factory(response=server_response, return_code=HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST),
         )
 
-        with pytest.raises(RetryAfter, match="Retry in 42") as exc_info:
+        with pytest.raises(
+            RetryAfter, match="Retry in " + "0:00:42" if PTB_TIMEDELTA else "42"
+        ) as exc_info:
             await httpx_request.post(None, None, None)
 
-        assert exc_info.value.retry_after == 42
+        assert exc_info.value.retry_after == (dtm.timdelta(seconds=42) if PTB_TIMEDELTA else 42)
 
     async def test_unknown_request_params(self, monkeypatch, httpx_request: HTTPXRequest):
         server_response = b'{"ok": "False", "parameters": {"unknown": "42"}}'
diff --git a/tests/test_bot.py b/tests/test_bot.py
index 16c878dd29c..4e78cd0a449 100644
--- a/tests/test_bot.py
+++ b/tests/test_bot.py
@@ -3266,9 +3266,10 @@ async def test_edit_reply_markup_inline(self):
         pass
 
     # TODO: Actually send updates to the test bot so this can be tested properly
-    async def test_get_updates(self, bot):
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("timeout", [1, dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)])
+    async def test_get_updates(self, bot, timeout):
         await bot.delete_webhook()  # make sure there is no webhook set if webhook tests failed
-        updates = await bot.get_updates(timeout=1)
+        updates = await bot.get_updates(timeout=timeout)
 
         assert isinstance(updates, tuple)
         if updates:
@@ -3280,9 +3281,12 @@ async def test_get_updates(self, bot):
             (None, None, 0),
             (1, None, 1),
             (None, 1, 1),
+            (None, dtm.timedelta(seconds=1), 1),
             (DEFAULT_NONE, None, 10),
             (DEFAULT_NONE, 1, 11),
+            (DEFAULT_NONE, dtm.timedelta(seconds=1), 11),
             (1, 2, 3),
+            (1, dtm.timedelta(seconds=2), 3),
         ],
     )
     async def test_get_updates_read_timeout_value_passing(
diff --git a/tests/test_business_methods.py b/tests/test_business_methods.py
index 13017eca8e6..721df6353b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_business_methods.py
+++ b/tests/test_business_methods.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
     StoryAreaTypeUniqueGift,
     User,
 )
+from telegram._files._inputstorycontent import InputStoryContentVideo
 from telegram._files.sticker import Sticker
 from telegram._gifts import AcceptedGiftTypes, Gift
 from telegram._ownedgift import OwnedGiftRegular, OwnedGifts
@@ -492,6 +493,39 @@ async def make_assertion(url, request_data, *args, **kwargs):
 
         await default_bot.post_story(**kwargs)
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("argument", "expected"),
+        [(4, 4), (4.0, 4), (dtm.timedelta(seconds=4), 4), (4.5, 4.5)],
+    )
+    async def test_post_story_float_time_period(
+        self, offline_bot, monkeypatch, argument, expected
+    ):
+        # We test that whole number conversion works properly. Only tested here but
+        # relevant for some other methods too (e.g bot.set_business_account_profile_photo)
+        async def make_assertion(url, request_data, *args, **kwargs):
+            data = request_data.parameters
+            content = data["content"]
+
+            assert content["duration"] == expected
+            assert type(content["duration"]) is type(expected)
+            assert content["cover_frame_timestamp"] == expected
+            assert type(content["cover_frame_timestamp"]) is type(expected)
+
+            return Story(chat=Chat(123, "private"), id=123).to_dict()
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(offline_bot.request, "post", make_assertion)
+        kwargs = {
+            "business_connection_id": self.bci,
+            "content": InputStoryContentVideo(
+                video=data_file("telegram.mp4"),
+                duration=argument,
+                cover_frame_timestamp=argument,
+            ),
+            "active_period": dtm.timedelta(seconds=20),
+        }
+
+        assert await offline_bot.post_story(**kwargs)
+
     async def test_edit_story_all_args(self, offline_bot, monkeypatch):
         story_id = 1234
         content = InputStoryContentPhoto(photo=data_file("telegram.jpg").read_bytes())
diff --git a/tests/test_chatfullinfo.py b/tests/test_chatfullinfo.py
index dff26aa7398..52444fcbd34 100644
--- a/tests/test_chatfullinfo.py
+++ b/tests/test_chatfullinfo.py
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ def chat_full_info(bot):
         can_set_sticker_set=ChatFullInfoTestBase.can_set_sticker_set,
         permissions=ChatFullInfoTestBase.permissions,
         slow_mode_delay=ChatFullInfoTestBase.slow_mode_delay,
+        message_auto_delete_time=ChatFullInfoTestBase.message_auto_delete_time,
         bio=ChatFullInfoTestBase.bio,
         linked_chat_id=ChatFullInfoTestBase.linked_chat_id,
         location=ChatFullInfoTestBase.location,
@@ -106,7 +107,8 @@ class ChatFullInfoTestBase:
         can_change_info=False,
         can_invite_users=True,
     )
-    slow_mode_delay = 30
+    slow_mode_delay = dtm.timedelta(seconds=30)
+    message_auto_delete_time = dtm.timedelta(60)
     bio = "I'm a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World"
     linked_chat_id = 11880
     location = ChatLocation(Location(123, 456), "Barbie World")
@@ -168,7 +170,8 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
             "sticker_set_name": self.sticker_set_name,
             "can_set_sticker_set": self.can_set_sticker_set,
             "permissions": self.permissions.to_dict(),
-            "slow_mode_delay": self.slow_mode_delay,
+            "slow_mode_delay": self.slow_mode_delay.total_seconds(),
+            "message_auto_delete_time": self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds(),
             "bio": self.bio,
             "business_intro": self.business_intro.to_dict(),
             "business_location": self.business_location.to_dict(),
@@ -201,6 +204,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
             "last_name": self.last_name,
             "can_send_paid_media": self.can_send_paid_media,
         }
+
         cfi = ChatFullInfo.de_json(json_dict, offline_bot)
         assert cfi.api_kwargs == {}
         assert cfi.id == self.id_
@@ -211,7 +215,8 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         assert cfi.sticker_set_name == self.sticker_set_name
         assert cfi.can_set_sticker_set == self.can_set_sticker_set
         assert cfi.permissions == self.permissions
-        assert cfi.slow_mode_delay == self.slow_mode_delay
+        assert cfi._slow_mode_delay == self.slow_mode_delay
+        assert cfi._message_auto_delete_time == self.message_auto_delete_time
         assert cfi.bio == self.bio
         assert cfi.business_intro == self.business_intro
         assert cfi.business_location == self.business_location
@@ -281,7 +286,10 @@ def test_to_dict(self, chat_full_info):
         assert cfi_dict["type"] == cfi.type
         assert cfi_dict["username"] == cfi.username
         assert cfi_dict["permissions"] == cfi.permissions.to_dict()
-        assert cfi_dict["slow_mode_delay"] == cfi.slow_mode_delay
+        assert cfi_dict["slow_mode_delay"] == int(self.slow_mode_delay.total_seconds())
+        assert cfi_dict["message_auto_delete_time"] == int(
+            self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds()
+        )
         assert cfi_dict["bio"] == cfi.bio
         assert cfi_dict["business_intro"] == cfi.business_intro.to_dict()
         assert cfi_dict["business_location"] == cfi.business_location.to_dict()
@@ -355,6 +363,35 @@ def test_can_send_gift_deprecation_warning(self):
         ):
             chat_full_info.can_send_gift
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, chat_full_info):
+        cfi = chat_full_info
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert cfi.slow_mode_delay == self.slow_mode_delay
+            assert isinstance(cfi.slow_mode_delay, dtm.timedelta)
+
+            assert cfi.message_auto_delete_time == self.message_auto_delete_time
+            assert isinstance(cfi.message_auto_delete_time, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert cfi.slow_mode_delay == int(self.slow_mode_delay.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(cfi.slow_mode_delay, int)
+
+            assert cfi.message_auto_delete_time == int(
+                self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds()
+            )
+            assert isinstance(cfi.message_auto_delete_time, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, chat_full_info):
+        chat_full_info.slow_mode_delay
+        chat_full_info.message_auto_delete_time
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 2
+            for i, attr in enumerate(["slow_mode_delay", "message_auto_delete_time"]):
+                assert f"`{attr}` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[i].message)
+                assert recwarn[i].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_always_tuples_attributes(self):
         cfi = ChatFullInfo(
             id=123,
diff --git a/tests/test_chatinvitelink.py b/tests/test_chatinvitelink.py
index 55cfc5763a9..f111d7bf2b6 100644
--- a/tests/test_chatinvitelink.py
+++ b/tests/test_chatinvitelink.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 from telegram import ChatInviteLink, User
 from telegram._utils.datetime import UTC, to_timestamp
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class ChatInviteLinkTestBase:
     member_limit = 42
     name = "LinkName"
     pending_join_request_count = 42
-    subscription_period = 43
+    subscription_period = dtm.timedelta(seconds=43)
     subscription_price = 44
 
 
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def test_de_json_all_args(self, offline_bot, creator):
             "member_limit": self.member_limit,
             "name": self.name,
             "pending_join_request_count": str(self.pending_join_request_count),
-            "subscription_period": self.subscription_period,
+            "subscription_period": int(self.subscription_period.total_seconds()),
             "subscription_price": self.subscription_price,
         }
 
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ def test_de_json_all_args(self, offline_bot, creator):
         assert invite_link.member_limit == self.member_limit
         assert invite_link.name == self.name
         assert invite_link.pending_join_request_count == self.pending_join_request_count
-        assert invite_link.subscription_period == self.subscription_period
+        assert invite_link._subscription_period == self.subscription_period
         assert invite_link.subscription_price == self.subscription_price
 
     def test_de_json_localization(self, tz_bot, offline_bot, raw_bot, creator):
@@ -154,9 +155,32 @@ def test_to_dict(self, invite_link):
         assert invite_link_dict["member_limit"] == self.member_limit
         assert invite_link_dict["name"] == self.name
         assert invite_link_dict["pending_join_request_count"] == self.pending_join_request_count
-        assert invite_link_dict["subscription_period"] == self.subscription_period
+        assert invite_link_dict["subscription_period"] == int(
+            self.subscription_period.total_seconds()
+        )
+        assert isinstance(invite_link_dict["subscription_period"], int)
         assert invite_link_dict["subscription_price"] == self.subscription_price
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, invite_link):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert invite_link.subscription_period == self.subscription_period
+            assert isinstance(invite_link.subscription_period, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert invite_link.subscription_period == int(self.subscription_period.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(invite_link.subscription_period, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, invite_link):
+        invite_link.subscription_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`subscription_period` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = ChatInviteLink("link", User(1, "", False), True, True, True)
         b = ChatInviteLink("link", User(1, "", False), True, True, True)
diff --git a/tests/test_error.py b/tests/test_error.py
index 9fd0ba707fc..863ec0c4c5e 100644
--- a/tests/test_error.py
+++ b/tests/test_error.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
+import datetime as dtm
 import pickle
 from collections import defaultdict
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@
     TimedOut,
 )
 from telegram.ext import InvalidCallbackData
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -92,9 +94,28 @@ def test_chat_migrated(self):
             raise ChatMigrated(1234)
         assert e.value.new_chat_id == 1234
 
-    def test_retry_after(self):
-        with pytest.raises(RetryAfter, match="Flood control exceeded. Retry in 12 seconds"):
-            raise RetryAfter(12)
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("retry_after", [12, dtm.timedelta(seconds=12)])
+    def test_retry_after(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, retry_after):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            with pytest.raises(RetryAfter, match="Flood control exceeded. Retry in 0:00:12"):
+                raise (exception := RetryAfter(retry_after))
+            assert type(exception.retry_after) is dtm.timedelta
+        else:
+            with pytest.raises(RetryAfter, match="Flood control exceeded. Retry in 12 seconds"):
+                raise (exception := RetryAfter(retry_after))
+            assert type(exception.retry_after) is int
+
+    def test_retry_after_int_deprecated(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, recwarn):
+        retry_after = RetryAfter(12).retry_after
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+            assert type(retry_after) is dtm.timedelta
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`retry_after` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+            assert type(retry_after) is int
 
     def test_conflict(self):
         with pytest.raises(Conflict, match="Something something."):
@@ -111,6 +132,7 @@ def test_conflict(self):
             (TimedOut(), ["message"]),
             (ChatMigrated(1234), ["message", "new_chat_id"]),
             (RetryAfter(12), ["message", "retry_after"]),
+            (RetryAfter(dtm.timedelta(seconds=12)), ["message", "retry_after"]),
             (Conflict("test message"), ["message"]),
             (PassportDecryptionError("test message"), ["message"]),
             (InvalidCallbackData("test data"), ["callback_data"]),
@@ -136,7 +158,7 @@ def test_errors_pickling(self, exception, attributes):
             (BadRequest("test message")),
             (TimedOut()),
             (ChatMigrated(1234)),
-            (RetryAfter(12)),
+            (RetryAfter(dtm.timedelta(seconds=12))),
             (Conflict("test message")),
             (PassportDecryptionError("test message")),
             (InvalidCallbackData("test data")),
@@ -181,15 +203,19 @@ def make_assertion(cls):
 
         make_assertion(TelegramError)
 
-    def test_string_representations(self):
+    def test_string_representations(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
         """We just randomly test a few of the subclasses - should suffice"""
         e = TelegramError("This is a message")
         assert repr(e) == "TelegramError('This is a message')"
         assert str(e) == "This is a message"
 
-        e = RetryAfter(42)
-        assert repr(e) == "RetryAfter('Flood control exceeded. Retry in 42 seconds')"
-        assert str(e) == "Flood control exceeded. Retry in 42 seconds"
+        e = RetryAfter(dtm.timedelta(seconds=42))
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert repr(e) == "RetryAfter('Flood control exceeded. Retry in 0:00:42')"
+            assert str(e) == "Flood control exceeded. Retry in 0:00:42"
+        else:
+            assert repr(e) == "RetryAfter('Flood control exceeded. Retry in 42 seconds')"
+            assert str(e) == "Flood control exceeded. Retry in 42 seconds"
 
         e = BadRequest("This is a message")
         assert repr(e) == "BadRequest('This is a message')"
diff --git a/tests/test_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py b/tests/test_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
index 19133e9aaa9..9e0ab16476f 100644
--- a/tests/test_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
+++ b/tests/test_messageautodeletetimerchanged.py
@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 
+import datetime as dtm
+
 from telegram import MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged, VideoChatEnded
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
 class TestMessageAutoDeleteTimerChangedWithoutRequest:
-    message_auto_delete_time = 100
+    message_auto_delete_time = dtm.timedelta(seconds=100)
 
     def test_slot_behaviour(self):
         action = MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(self.message_auto_delete_time)
@@ -30,18 +33,47 @@ def test_slot_behaviour(self):
         assert len(mro_slots(action)) == len(set(mro_slots(action))), "duplicate slot"
 
     def test_de_json(self):
-        json_dict = {"message_auto_delete_time": self.message_auto_delete_time}
+        json_dict = {
+            "message_auto_delete_time": int(self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds())
+        }
         madtc = MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged.de_json(json_dict, None)
         assert madtc.api_kwargs == {}
 
-        assert madtc.message_auto_delete_time == self.message_auto_delete_time
+        assert madtc._message_auto_delete_time == self.message_auto_delete_time
 
     def test_to_dict(self):
         madtc = MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(self.message_auto_delete_time)
         madtc_dict = madtc.to_dict()
 
         assert isinstance(madtc_dict, dict)
-        assert madtc_dict["message_auto_delete_time"] == self.message_auto_delete_time
+        assert madtc_dict["message_auto_delete_time"] == int(
+            self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds()
+        )
+        assert isinstance(madtc_dict["message_auto_delete_time"], int)
+
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
+        message_auto_delete_time = MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(
+            self.message_auto_delete_time
+        ).message_auto_delete_time
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert message_auto_delete_time == self.message_auto_delete_time
+            assert isinstance(message_auto_delete_time, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert message_auto_delete_time == int(self.message_auto_delete_time.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(message_auto_delete_time, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
+        MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(self.message_auto_delete_time).message_auto_delete_time
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`message_auto_delete_time` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(
+                recwarn[0].message
+            )
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
 
     def test_equality(self):
         a = MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged(100)
diff --git a/tests/test_official/arg_type_checker.py b/tests/test_official/arg_type_checker.py
index 4b0e3630691..19ec1825014 100644
--- a/tests/test_official/arg_type_checker.py
+++ b/tests/test_official/arg_type_checker.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     """,
     re.VERBOSE,
 )
-TIMEDELTA_REGEX = re.compile(r"\w+_period$")  # Parameter names ending with "_period"
+TIMEDELTA_REGEX = re.compile(r"((in|number of) seconds)|(\w+_period$)")
 
 log = logging.debug
 
@@ -194,15 +194,11 @@ def check_param_type(
         mapped_type = dtm.datetime if is_class else mapped_type | dtm.datetime
 
     # 4) HANDLING TIMEDELTA:
-    elif re.search(TIMEDELTA_REGEX, ptb_param.name) and obj.__name__ in (
-        "TransactionPartnerUser",
-        "create_invoice_link",
+    elif re.search(TIMEDELTA_REGEX, tg_parameter.param_description) or re.search(
+        TIMEDELTA_REGEX, ptb_param.name
     ):
-        # Currently we only support timedelta for `subscription_period` in `TransactionPartnerUser`
-        # and `create_invoice_link`.
-        # See https://github.com/python-telegram-bot/python-telegram-bot/issues/4575
         log("Checking that `%s` is a timedelta!\n", ptb_param.name)
-        mapped_type = dtm.timedelta if is_class else mapped_type | dtm.timedelta
+        mapped_type = mapped_type | dtm.timedelta
 
     # 5) COMPLEX TYPES:
     # Some types are too complicated, so we replace our annotation with a simpler type:
diff --git a/tests/test_official/exceptions.py b/tests/test_official/exceptions.py
index 40144f803d3..cd87cb62a22 100644
--- a/tests/test_official/exceptions.py
+++ b/tests/test_official/exceptions.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains exceptions to our API compared to the official API."""
-import datetime as dtm
 
 from telegram import Animation, Audio, Document, Gift, PhotoSize, Sticker, Video, VideoNote, Voice
 from tests.test_official.helpers import _get_params_base
@@ -55,12 +54,6 @@ class ParamTypeCheckingExceptions:
         "replace_sticker_in_set": {
             "old_sticker$": Sticker,
         },
-        # The underscore will match any method
-        r"\w+_[\w_]+": {
-            "duration": dtm.timedelta,
-            r"\w+_period": dtm.timedelta,
-            "cache_time": dtm.timedelta,
-        },
     }
 
     # TODO: Look into merging this with COMPLEX_TYPES
@@ -102,7 +95,6 @@ class ParamTypeCheckingExceptions:
         },
         "InputProfilePhotoAnimated": {
             "animation": str,  # actual: Union[str, FileInput]
-            "main_frame_timestamp": float,  # actual: Union[float, dtm.timedelta]
         },
         "InputSticker": {
             "sticker": str,  # actual: Union[str, FileInput]
@@ -110,8 +102,6 @@ class ParamTypeCheckingExceptions:
         "InputStoryContent.*": {
             "photo": str,  # actual: Union[str, FileInput]
             "video": str,  # actual: Union[str, FileInput]
-            "duration": float,  # actual: dtm.timedelta
-            "cover_frame_timestamp": float,  # actual: dtm.timedelta
         },
         "EncryptedPassportElement": {
             "data": str,  # actual: Union[IdDocumentData, PersonalDetails, ResidentialAddress]
diff --git a/tests/test_paidmedia.py b/tests/test_paidmedia.py
index a696c416b58..8055e161e84 100644
--- a/tests/test_paidmedia.py
+++ b/tests/test_paidmedia.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 
+import datetime as dtm
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 import pytest
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@
     Video,
 )
 from telegram.constants import PaidMediaType
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -46,13 +48,13 @@ class PaidMediaTestBase:
     type = PaidMediaType.PHOTO
     width = 640
     height = 480
-    duration = 60
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(60)
     video = Video(
         file_id="video_file_id",
         width=640,
         height=480,
         file_unique_id="file_unique_id",
-        duration=60,
+        duration=dtm.timedelta(seconds=60),
     )
     photo = (
         PhotoSize(
@@ -96,14 +98,17 @@ def test_de_json_subclass(self, offline_bot, pm_type, subclass):
             "photo": [p.to_dict() for p in self.photo],
             "width": self.width,
             "height": self.height,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
         }
         pm = PaidMedia.de_json(json_dict, offline_bot)
 
+        # TODO: Should be removed when the timedelta migartion is complete
+        extra_slots = {"duration"} if subclass is PaidMediaPreview else set()
+
         assert type(pm) is subclass
-        assert set(pm.api_kwargs.keys()) == set(json_dict.keys()) - set(subclass.__slots__) - {
-            "type"
-        }
+        assert set(pm.api_kwargs.keys()) == set(json_dict.keys()) - (
+            set(subclass.__slots__) | extra_slots
+        ) - {"type"}
         assert pm.type == pm_type
 
     def test_to_dict(self, paid_media):
@@ -243,21 +248,23 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         json_dict = {
             "width": self.width,
             "height": self.height,
-            "duration": self.duration,
+            "duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
         }
         pmp = PaidMediaPreview.de_json(json_dict, offline_bot)
         assert pmp.width == self.width
         assert pmp.height == self.height
-        assert pmp.duration == self.duration
+        assert pmp._duration == self.duration
         assert pmp.api_kwargs == {}
 
     def test_to_dict(self, paid_media_preview):
-        assert paid_media_preview.to_dict() == {
-            "type": paid_media_preview.type,
-            "width": self.width,
-            "height": self.height,
-            "duration": self.duration,
-        }
+        paid_media_preview_dict = paid_media_preview.to_dict()
+
+        assert isinstance(paid_media_preview_dict, dict)
+        assert paid_media_preview_dict["type"] == paid_media_preview.type
+        assert paid_media_preview_dict["width"] == paid_media_preview.width
+        assert paid_media_preview_dict["height"] == paid_media_preview.height
+        assert paid_media_preview_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+        assert isinstance(paid_media_preview_dict["duration"], int)
 
     def test_equality(self, paid_media_preview):
         a = paid_media_preview
@@ -266,6 +273,11 @@ def test_equality(self, paid_media_preview):
             height=self.height,
             duration=self.duration,
         )
+        x = PaidMediaPreview(
+            width=self.width,
+            height=self.height,
+            duration=int(self.duration.total_seconds()),
+        )
         c = PaidMediaPreview(
             width=100,
             height=100,
@@ -274,7 +286,9 @@ def test_equality(self, paid_media_preview):
         d = Dice(5, "test")
 
         assert a == b
+        assert b == x
         assert hash(a) == hash(b)
+        assert hash(b) == hash(x)
 
         assert a != c
         assert hash(a) != hash(c)
@@ -282,6 +296,26 @@ def test_equality(self, paid_media_preview):
         assert a != d
         assert hash(a) != hash(d)
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, paid_media_preview):
+        duration = paid_media_preview.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, paid_media_preview):
+        paid_media_preview.duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
 
 # ===========================================================================================
 # ===========================================================================================
diff --git a/tests/test_poll.py b/tests/test_poll.py
index c7e3da447f5..484e18710a2 100644
--- a/tests/test_poll.py
+++ b/tests/test_poll.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 from telegram import Chat, InputPollOption, MessageEntity, Poll, PollAnswer, PollOption, User
 from telegram._utils.datetime import UTC, to_timestamp
 from telegram.constants import PollType
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ class PollTestBase:
         b"\\u200d\\U0001f467\\U0001f431http://google.com"
     ).decode("unicode-escape")
     explanation_entities = [MessageEntity(13, 17, MessageEntity.URL)]
-    open_period = 42
+    open_period = dtm.timedelta(seconds=42)
     close_date = dtm.datetime.now(dtm.timezone.utc)
     question_entities = [
         MessageEntity(MessageEntity.BOLD, 0, 4),
@@ -316,7 +317,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
             "allows_multiple_answers": self.allows_multiple_answers,
             "explanation": self.explanation,
             "explanation_entities": [self.explanation_entities[0].to_dict()],
-            "open_period": self.open_period,
+            "open_period": int(self.open_period.total_seconds()),
             "close_date": to_timestamp(self.close_date),
             "question_entities": [e.to_dict() for e in self.question_entities],
         }
@@ -337,7 +338,7 @@ def test_de_json(self, offline_bot):
         assert poll.allows_multiple_answers == self.allows_multiple_answers
         assert poll.explanation == self.explanation
         assert poll.explanation_entities == tuple(self.explanation_entities)
-        assert poll.open_period == self.open_period
+        assert poll._open_period == self.open_period
         assert abs(poll.close_date - self.close_date) < dtm.timedelta(seconds=1)
         assert to_timestamp(poll.close_date) == to_timestamp(self.close_date)
         assert poll.question_entities == tuple(self.question_entities)
@@ -354,7 +355,7 @@ def test_de_json_localization(self, tz_bot, offline_bot, raw_bot):
             "allows_multiple_answers": self.allows_multiple_answers,
             "explanation": self.explanation,
             "explanation_entities": [self.explanation_entities[0].to_dict()],
-            "open_period": self.open_period,
+            "open_period": int(self.open_period.total_seconds()),
             "close_date": to_timestamp(self.close_date),
             "question_entities": [e.to_dict() for e in self.question_entities],
         }
@@ -387,10 +388,28 @@ def test_to_dict(self, poll):
         assert poll_dict["allows_multiple_answers"] == poll.allows_multiple_answers
         assert poll_dict["explanation"] == poll.explanation
         assert poll_dict["explanation_entities"] == [poll.explanation_entities[0].to_dict()]
-        assert poll_dict["open_period"] == poll.open_period
+        assert poll_dict["open_period"] == int(self.open_period.total_seconds())
         assert poll_dict["close_date"] == to_timestamp(poll.close_date)
         assert poll_dict["question_entities"] == [e.to_dict() for e in poll.question_entities]
 
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA, poll):
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert poll.open_period == self.open_period
+            assert isinstance(poll.open_period, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert poll.open_period == int(self.open_period.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(poll.open_period, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA, poll):
+        poll.open_period
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`open_period` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
+
     def test_equality(self):
         a = Poll(123, "question", ["O1", "O2"], 1, False, True, Poll.REGULAR, True)
         b = Poll(123, "question", ["o1", "o2"], 1, True, False, Poll.REGULAR, True)
diff --git a/tests/test_videochat.py b/tests/test_videochat.py
index 57d91003c29..df8151940cf 100644
--- a/tests/test_videochat.py
+++ b/tests/test_videochat.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     VideoChatStarted,
 )
 from telegram._utils.datetime import UTC, to_timestamp
+from telegram.warnings import PTBDeprecationWarning
 from tests.auxil.slots import mro_slots
 
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ def test_to_dict(self):
 
 
 class TestVideoChatEndedWithoutRequest:
-    duration = 100
+    duration = dtm.timedelta(seconds=100)
 
     def test_slot_behaviour(self):
         action = VideoChatEnded(8)
@@ -69,27 +70,50 @@ def test_slot_behaviour(self):
         assert len(mro_slots(action)) == len(set(mro_slots(action))), "duplicate slot"
 
     def test_de_json(self):
-        json_dict = {"duration": self.duration}
+        json_dict = {"duration": int(self.duration.total_seconds())}
         video_chat_ended = VideoChatEnded.de_json(json_dict, None)
         assert video_chat_ended.api_kwargs == {}
 
-        assert video_chat_ended.duration == self.duration
+        assert video_chat_ended._duration == self.duration
 
     def test_to_dict(self):
         video_chat_ended = VideoChatEnded(self.duration)
         video_chat_dict = video_chat_ended.to_dict()
 
         assert isinstance(video_chat_dict, dict)
-        assert video_chat_dict["duration"] == self.duration
+        assert video_chat_dict["duration"] == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+
+    def test_time_period_properties(self, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
+        duration = VideoChatEnded(duration=self.duration).duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert duration == self.duration
+            assert isinstance(duration, dtm.timedelta)
+        else:
+            assert duration == int(self.duration.total_seconds())
+            assert isinstance(duration, int)
+
+    def test_time_period_int_deprecated(self, recwarn, PTB_TIMEDELTA):
+        VideoChatEnded(self.duration).duration
+
+        if PTB_TIMEDELTA:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 0
+        else:
+            assert len(recwarn) == 1
+            assert "`duration` will be of type `datetime.timedelta`" in str(recwarn[0].message)
+            assert recwarn[0].category is PTBDeprecationWarning
 
     def test_equality(self):
         a = VideoChatEnded(100)
         b = VideoChatEnded(100)
+        x = VideoChatEnded(dtm.timedelta(seconds=100))
         c = VideoChatEnded(50)
         d = VideoChatStarted()
 
         assert a == b
         assert hash(a) == hash(b)
+        assert b == x
+        assert hash(b) == hash(x)
 
         assert a != c
         assert hash(a) != hash(c)