diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/49904-rds_instance-datatype.yml b/changelogs/fragments/49904-rds_instance-datatype.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ca8362dabbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/49904-rds_instance-datatype.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - Add variable type for performance_insights_retention_period (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/49904).
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/rds_instance.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/rds_instance.py
index ad971490137..290970c73d4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/rds_instance.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/rds_instance.py
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ def main():
         new_db_instance_identifier=dict(aliases=['new_instance_id', 'new_id']),
         option_group_name=dict(),
         performance_insights_kms_key_id=dict(),
-        performance_insights_retention_period=dict(),
+        performance_insights_retention_period=dict(type='int'),
         port=dict(type='int'),
         preferred_backup_window=dict(aliases=['backup_window']),
         preferred_maintenance_window=dict(aliases=['maintenance_window']),