diff --git a/rest_framework_simplejwt/models.py b/rest_framework_simplejwt/models.py
index a0e2c8345..859dfd3ae 100644
--- a/rest_framework_simplejwt/models.py
+++ b/rest_framework_simplejwt/models.py
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         return f"TokenUser {self.id}"
 
     @cached_property
-    def id(self) -> Union[int, str]:
+    def id(self) -> str:
         return self.token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM]
 
     @cached_property
-    def pk(self) -> Union[int, str]:
+    def pk(self) -> str:
         return self.id
 
     @cached_property
diff --git a/rest_framework_simplejwt/tokens.py b/rest_framework_simplejwt/tokens.py
index 431540760..4d633e843 100644
--- a/rest_framework_simplejwt/tokens.py
+++ b/rest_framework_simplejwt/tokens.py
@@ -225,8 +225,7 @@ def for_user(cls: type[T], user: AuthUser) -> T:
             )
 
         user_id = getattr(user, api_settings.USER_ID_FIELD)
-        if not isinstance(user_id, int):
-            user_id = str(user_id)
+        user_id = str(user_id)
 
         token = cls()
         token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM] = user_id
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index aa08d5295..c9cfba619 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     install_requires=[
         "django>=4.2",
         "djangorestframework>=3.14",
-        "pyjwt>=1.7.1,<2.10.0",
+        "pyjwt>=1.7.1",
     ],
     python_requires=">=3.9",
     extras_require=extras_require,
diff --git a/tests/test_authentication.py b/tests/test_authentication.py
index cb6c3dc3f..b17a12caa 100644
--- a/tests/test_authentication.py
+++ b/tests/test_authentication.py
@@ -225,6 +225,17 @@ def test_get_user_with_check_revoke_token(self):
         # Otherwise, should return correct user
         self.assertEqual(self.backend.get_user(payload).id, u.id)
 
+    def test_get_user_with_str_user_id_claim(self):
+        """
+        Verify that even though the user id is an int, it can be verified
+        and retrieved if the user id claim value is a string
+        """
+
+        user = User.objects.create_user(username="testuser")
+        payload = {api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: str(user.id)}
+        auth_user = self.backend.get_user(payload)
+        self.assertEqual(auth_user.id, user.id)
+
 
 class TestJWTStatelessUserAuthentication(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index c757eea75..719470639 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 class TestTokenUser(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.token = AuthToken()
-        self.token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM] = 42
+        self.token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM] = "42"
         self.token["username"] = "deep-thought"
         self.token["some_other_stuff"] = "arstarst"
 
@@ -40,13 +40,13 @@ def test_str(self):
         self.assertEqual(str(self.user), "TokenUser 42")
 
     def test_id(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.user.id, 42)
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.id, "42")
 
     def test_pk(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.user.pk, 42)
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.pk, "42")
 
     def test_is_staff(self):
-        payload = {api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 42}
+        payload = {api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "42"}
         user = TokenUser(payload)
 
         self.assertFalse(user.is_staff)
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def test_is_staff(self):
         self.assertTrue(user.is_staff)
 
     def test_is_superuser(self):
-        payload = {api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 42}
+        payload = {api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "42"}
         user = TokenUser(payload)
 
         self.assertFalse(user.is_superuser)
@@ -68,15 +68,15 @@ def test_is_superuser(self):
         self.assertTrue(user.is_superuser)
 
     def test_eq(self):
-        user1 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 1})
-        user2 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 2})
-        user3 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 1})
+        user1 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "1"})
+        user2 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "2"})
+        user3 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "1"})
 
         self.assertNotEqual(user1, user2)
         self.assertEqual(user1, user3)
 
     def test_eq_not_implemented(self):
-        user1 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: 1})
+        user1 = TokenUser({api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM: "1"})
         user2 = "user2"
 
         self.assertFalse(user1 == user2)
diff --git a/tests/test_tokens.py b/tests/test_tokens.py
index 5605bae08..25485789c 100644
--- a/tests/test_tokens.py
+++ b/tests/test_tokens.py
@@ -383,8 +383,7 @@ def test_for_user(self):
         token = MyToken.for_user(self.user)
 
         user_id = getattr(self.user, api_settings.USER_ID_FIELD)
-        if not isinstance(user_id, int):
-            user_id = str(user_id)
+        user_id = str(user_id)
 
         self.assertEqual(token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM], user_id)
 
@@ -404,6 +403,10 @@ def test_get_token_backend(self):
 
         self.assertEqual(token.get_token_backend(), token_backend)
 
+    def test_token_user_id_claim_should_always_be_string(self):
+        token = MyToken.for_user(self.user)
+        self.assertIsInstance(token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM], str)
+
 
 class TestSlidingToken(TestCase):
     def test_init(self):
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index bc63d3640..109266c2f 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ deps=
     drf314: djangorestframework>=3.14,<3.15
     drf315: djangorestframework>=3.15,<3.16
     pyjwt171: pyjwt>=1.7.1,<1.8
-    pyjwt2: pyjwt>=2,<2.10.0
+    pyjwt2: pyjwt>=2,<3
 allowlist_externals=make
 
 [testenv:docs]