diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 5c42cc76..c7ae2f65 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ Version 3.0.1
 
 Unreleased
 
+-   Correct type for ``path`` argument to ``send_file``. :issue:`5230`
+
 
 Version 3.0.0
 -------------
diff --git a/src/flask/helpers.py b/src/flask/helpers.py
index 8601c2fd..84608912 100644
--- a/src/flask/helpers.py
+++ b/src/flask/helpers.py
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ def _prepare_send_file_kwargs(**kwargs: t.Any) -> dict[str, t.Any]:
 
 
 def send_file(
-    path_or_file: os.PathLike | str | t.BinaryIO,
+    path_or_file: os.PathLike[t.AnyStr] | str | t.BinaryIO,
     mimetype: str | None = None,
     as_attachment: bool = False,
     download_name: str | None = None,