diff --git a/syncapi/routing/context.go b/syncapi/routing/context.go
index fd4e6bfac..dd42c7ac4 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/context.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/context.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func Context(
 		}
 	}
 
-	stateFilter := gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+	stateFilter := synctypes.StateFilter{
 		NotSenders:              filter.NotSenders,
 		NotTypes:                filter.NotTypes,
 		Senders:                 filter.Senders,
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ func applyLazyLoadMembers(
 	}
 
 	// Query missing membership events
-	filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+	filter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 	filter.Senders = &wantUsers
 	filter.Types = &[]string{gomatrixserverlib.MRoomMember}
 	memberships, err := snapshot.GetStateEventsForRoom(ctx, roomID, &filter)
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ func applyLazyLoadMembers(
 	return memberships, nil
 }
 
-func parseRoomEventFilter(req *http.Request) (*gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, error) {
+func parseRoomEventFilter(req *http.Request) (*synctypes.RoomEventFilter, error) {
 	// Default room filter
-	filter := &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 10}
+	filter := &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 10}
 
 	l := req.URL.Query().Get("limit")
 	f := req.URL.Query().Get("filter")
diff --git a/syncapi/routing/context_test.go b/syncapi/routing/context_test.go
index e79a5d5f1..5c6682bd1 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/context_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/context_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 )
 
 func Test_parseContextParams(t *testing.T) {
@@ -19,28 +19,28 @@ func Test_parseContextParams(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name       string
 		req        *http.Request
-		wantFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter
+		wantFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter
 		wantErr    bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:       "no params set",
 			req:        noParamsReq,
-			wantFilter: &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 10},
+			wantFilter: &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 10},
 		},
 		{
 			name:       "limit 2 param set",
 			req:        limit2Req,
-			wantFilter: &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 2},
+			wantFilter: &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 2},
 		},
 		{
 			name:       "limit 10000 param set",
 			req:        limit10000Req,
-			wantFilter: &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 100},
+			wantFilter: &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 100},
 		},
 		{
 			name:       "filter lazy_load_members param set",
 			req:        lazyLoadReq,
-			wantFilter: &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 2, LazyLoadMembers: true},
+			wantFilter: &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 2, LazyLoadMembers: true},
 		},
 		{
 			name:    "invalid limit req",
diff --git a/syncapi/routing/filter.go b/syncapi/routing/filter.go
index f5acdbde3..266ad4adc 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/filter.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/filter.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/jsonerror"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/sync"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/userapi/api"
 )
 
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ func GetFilter(
 		return jsonerror.InternalServerError()
 	}
 
-	filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultFilter()
+	filter := synctypes.DefaultFilter()
 	if err := syncDB.GetFilter(req.Context(), &filter, localpart, filterID); err != nil {
 		//TODO better error handling. This error message is *probably* right,
 		// but if there are obscure db errors, this will also be returned,
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ func PutFilter(
 		return jsonerror.InternalServerError()
 	}
 
-	var filter gomatrixserverlib.Filter
+	var filter synctypes.Filter
 
 	defer req.Body.Close() // nolint:errcheck
 	body, err := io.ReadAll(req.Body)
diff --git a/syncapi/routing/messages.go b/syncapi/routing/messages.go
index c49739391..3c4166272 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/messages.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/messages.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type messagesReq struct {
 	device           *userapi.Device
 	wasToProvided    bool
 	backwardOrdering bool
-	filter           *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter
+	filter           *synctypes.RoomEventFilter
 }
 
 type messagesResp struct {
diff --git a/syncapi/routing/search.go b/syncapi/routing/search.go
index e458cc0d9..15cb2f9b8 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/search.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/search.go
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func Search(req *http.Request, device *api.Device, syncDB storage.Database, fts
 	// Filter on m.room.message, as otherwise we also get events like m.reaction
 	// which "breaks" displaying results in Element Web.
 	types := []string{"m.room.message"}
-	roomFilter := &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+	roomFilter := &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 		Rooms: &rooms,
 		Types: &types,
 	}
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func Search(req *http.Request, device *api.Device, syncDB storage.Database, fts
 		roomGroup.Results = append(roomGroup.Results, event.EventID())
 		groups[event.RoomID()] = roomGroup
 		if _, ok := stateForRooms[event.RoomID()]; searchReq.SearchCategories.RoomEvents.IncludeState && !ok {
-			stateFilter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+			stateFilter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 			state, err := snapshot.CurrentState(ctx, event.RoomID(), &stateFilter, nil)
 			if err != nil {
 				logrus.WithError(err).Error("unable to get current state")
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func contextEvents(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	snapshot storage.DatabaseTransaction,
 	event *gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent,
-	roomFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	roomFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 	searchReq SearchRequest,
 ) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	id, _, err := snapshot.SelectContextEvent(ctx, event.RoomID(), event.EventID())
@@ -301,13 +301,13 @@ type Groupings struct {
 }
 
 type RoomEvents struct {
-	EventContext EventContext                      `json:"event_context"`
-	Filter       gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter `json:"filter"`
-	Groupings    Groupings                         `json:"groupings"`
-	IncludeState bool                              `json:"include_state"`
-	Keys         []string                          `json:"keys"`
-	OrderBy      string                            `json:"order_by"`
-	SearchTerm   string                            `json:"search_term"`
+	EventContext EventContext              `json:"event_context"`
+	Filter       synctypes.RoomEventFilter `json:"filter"`
+	Groupings    Groupings                 `json:"groupings"`
+	IncludeState bool                      `json:"include_state"`
+	Keys         []string                  `json:"keys"`
+	OrderBy      string                    `json:"order_by"`
+	SearchTerm   string                    `json:"search_term"`
 }
 
 type SearchCategories struct {
diff --git a/syncapi/routing/search_test.go b/syncapi/routing/search_test.go
index 05479300e..716f3bb88 100644
--- a/syncapi/routing/search_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/routing/search_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/fulltext"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test/testrig"
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilter,
 						},
 					},
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilterUnknown,
 						},
 					},
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilter,
 						},
 						IncludeState: true,
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilter,
 						},
 					},
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilter,
 						},
 					},
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
 				SearchCategories: SearchCategories{
 					RoomEvents: RoomEvents{
 						SearchTerm: "hello",
-						Filter: gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{
+						Filter: synctypes.RoomEventFilter{
 							Rooms: &roomsFilter,
 						},
 					},
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/interface.go b/syncapi/storage/interface.go
index 04c2020a0..38c04e858 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/interface.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/interface.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/shared"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	userapi "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/userapi/api"
 )
@@ -40,13 +41,13 @@ type DatabaseTransaction interface {
 	MaxStreamPositionForPresence(ctx context.Context) (types.StreamPosition, error)
 	MaxStreamPositionForRelations(ctx context.Context) (types.StreamPosition, error)
 
-	CurrentState(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
-	GetStateDeltasForFullStateSync(ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device, r types.Range, userID string, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter) ([]types.StateDelta, []string, error)
-	GetStateDeltas(ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device, r types.Range, userID string, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter) ([]types.StateDelta, []string, error)
+	CurrentState(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *synctypes.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	GetStateDeltasForFullStateSync(ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device, r types.Range, userID string, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter) ([]types.StateDelta, []string, error)
+	GetStateDeltas(ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device, r types.Range, userID string, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter) ([]types.StateDelta, []string, error)
 	RoomIDsWithMembership(ctx context.Context, userID string, membership string) ([]string, error)
 	MembershipCount(ctx context.Context, roomID, membership string, pos types.StreamPosition) (int, error)
 	GetRoomSummary(ctx context.Context, roomID, userID string) (summary *types.Summary, err error)
-	RecentEvents(ctx context.Context, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error)
+	RecentEvents(ctx context.Context, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error)
 	GetBackwardTopologyPos(ctx context.Context, events []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent) (types.TopologyToken, error)
 	PositionInTopology(ctx context.Context, eventID string) (pos types.StreamPosition, spos types.StreamPosition, err error)
 	InviteEventsInRange(ctx context.Context, targetUserID string, r types.Range) (map[string]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, map[string]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, types.StreamPosition, error)
@@ -71,15 +72,15 @@ type DatabaseTransaction interface {
 	// GetStateEventsForRoom fetches the state events for a given room.
 	// Returns an empty slice if no state events could be found for this room.
 	// Returns an error if there was an issue with the retrieval.
-	GetStateEventsForRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter) (stateEvents []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error)
+	GetStateEventsForRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *synctypes.StateFilter) (stateEvents []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error)
 	// GetAccountDataInRange returns all account data for a given user inserted or
 	// updated between two given positions
 	// Returns a map following the format data[roomID] = []dataTypes
 	// If no data is retrieved, returns an empty map
 	// If there was an issue with the retrieval, returns an error
-	GetAccountDataInRange(ctx context.Context, userID string, r types.Range, accountDataFilterPart *gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (map[string][]string, types.StreamPosition, error)
+	GetAccountDataInRange(ctx context.Context, userID string, r types.Range, accountDataFilterPart *synctypes.EventFilter) (map[string][]string, types.StreamPosition, error)
 	// GetEventsInTopologicalRange retrieves all of the events on a given ordering using the given extremities and limit. If backwardsOrdering is true, the most recent event must be first, else last.
-	GetEventsInTopologicalRange(ctx context.Context, from, to *types.TopologyToken, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, backwardOrdering bool) (events []types.StreamEvent, err error)
+	GetEventsInTopologicalRange(ctx context.Context, from, to *types.TopologyToken, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, backwardOrdering bool) (events []types.StreamEvent, err error)
 	// EventPositionInTopology returns the depth and stream position of the given event.
 	EventPositionInTopology(ctx context.Context, eventID string) (types.TopologyToken, error)
 	// BackwardExtremitiesForRoom returns a map of backwards extremity event ID to a list of its prev_events.
@@ -94,8 +95,8 @@ type DatabaseTransaction interface {
 	// GetRoomReceipts gets all receipts for a given roomID
 	GetRoomReceipts(ctx context.Context, roomIDs []string, streamPos types.StreamPosition) ([]types.OutputReceiptEvent, error)
 	SelectContextEvent(ctx context.Context, roomID, eventID string) (int, gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
-	SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
-	SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
 	StreamToTopologicalPosition(ctx context.Context, roomID string, streamPos types.StreamPosition, backwardOrdering bool) (types.TopologyToken, error)
 	IgnoresForUser(ctx context.Context, userID string) (*types.IgnoredUsers, error)
 	// SelectMembershipForUser returns the membership of the user before and including the given position. If no membership can be found
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ type DatabaseTransaction interface {
 	// getUserUnreadNotificationCountsForRooms returns the unread notifications for the given rooms
 	GetUserUnreadNotificationCountsForRooms(ctx context.Context, userID string, roomIDs map[string]string) (map[string]*eventutil.NotificationData, error)
 	GetPresences(ctx context.Context, userID []string) ([]*types.PresenceInternal, error)
-	PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error)
+	PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter synctypes.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error)
 	RelationsFor(ctx context.Context, roomID, eventID, relType, eventType string, from, to types.StreamPosition, backwards bool, limit int) (events []types.StreamEvent, prevBatch, nextBatch string, err error)
 }
 
@@ -165,11 +166,11 @@ type Database interface {
 	// GetFilter looks up the filter associated with a given local user and filter ID
 	// and populates the target filter. Otherwise returns an error if no such filter exists
 	// or if there was an error talking to the database.
-	GetFilter(ctx context.Context, target *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string, filterID string) error
+	GetFilter(ctx context.Context, target *synctypes.Filter, localpart string, filterID string) error
 	// PutFilter puts the passed filter into the database.
 	// Returns the filterID as a string. Otherwise returns an error if something
 	// goes wrong.
-	PutFilter(ctx context.Context, localpart string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.Filter) (string, error)
+	PutFilter(ctx context.Context, localpart string, filter *synctypes.Filter) (string, error)
 	// RedactEvent wipes an event in the database and sets the unsigned.redacted_because key to the redaction event
 	RedactEvent(ctx context.Context, redactedEventID string, redactedBecause *gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent) error
 	// StoreReceipt stores new receipt events
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/account_data_table.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/account_data_table.go
index 8147b4868..44d735bb4 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/account_data_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/account_data_table.go
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
-	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
 
 const accountDataSchema = `
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func (s *accountDataStatements) SelectAccountDataInRange(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
 	userID string,
 	r types.Range,
-	accountDataEventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter,
+	accountDataEventFilter *synctypes.EventFilter,
 ) (data map[string][]string, pos types.StreamPosition, err error) {
 	data = make(map[string][]string)
 
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/current_room_state_table.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/current_room_state_table.go
index 0d607b7c0..b05477585 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/current_room_state_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/current_room_state_table.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/postgres/deltas"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
@@ -270,7 +271,7 @@ func (s *currentRoomStateStatements) SelectRoomIDsWithAnyMembership(
 // SelectCurrentState returns all the current state events for the given room.
 func (s *currentRoomStateStatements) SelectCurrentState(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 	excludeEventIDs []string,
 ) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	stmt := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, s.selectCurrentStateStmt)
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/filter_table.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/filter_table.go
index 44c3de72e..089382b89 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/filter_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/filter_table.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
 
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func NewPostgresFilterTable(db *sql.DB) (tables.Filter, error) {
 }
 
 func (s *filterStatements) SelectFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *synctypes.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
 ) error {
 	// Retrieve filter from database (stored as canonical JSON)
 	var filterData []byte
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ func (s *filterStatements) SelectFilter(
 }
 
 func (s *filterStatements) InsertFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *synctypes.Filter, localpart string,
 ) (filterID string, err error) {
 	var existingFilterID string
 
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/filtering.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/filtering.go
index a2ca42156..39ef11086 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/filtering.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/filtering.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ package postgres
 import (
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 )
 
 // filterConvertWildcardToSQL converts wildcards as defined in
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func filterConvertTypeWildcardToSQL(values *[]string) []string {
 }
 
 // TODO: Replace when Dendrite uses Go 1.18
-func getSendersRoomEventFilter(filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) (senders []string, notSenders []string) {
+func getSendersRoomEventFilter(filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) (senders []string, notSenders []string) {
 	if filter.Senders != nil {
 		senders = *filter.Senders
 	}
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func getSendersRoomEventFilter(filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) (sende
 	return senders, notSenders
 }
 
-func getSendersStateFilterFilter(filter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter) (senders []string, notSenders []string) {
+func getSendersStateFilterFilter(filter *synctypes.StateFilter) (senders []string, notSenders []string) {
 	if filter.Senders != nil {
 		senders = *filter.Senders
 	}
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/output_room_events_table.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/output_room_events_table.go
index 59fb99aa3..3900ac3ae 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/output_room_events_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/output_room_events_table.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/postgres/deltas"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) UpdateEventJSON(ctx context.Context, txn *s
 // two positions, only the most recent state is returned.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectStateInRange(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, r types.Range,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, roomIDs []string,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter, roomIDs []string,
 ) (map[string]map[string]bool, map[string]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	var rows *sql.Rows
 	var err error
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) InsertEvent(
 // from sync.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectRecentEvents(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
-	roomIDs []string, ra types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	roomIDs []string, ra types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 	chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool,
 ) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error) {
 	var stmt *sql.Stmt
@@ -533,7 +534,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectRecentEvents(
 // from a given position, up to a maximum of 'limit'.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEarlyEvents(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
-	roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) ([]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	senders, notSenders := getSendersRoomEventFilter(eventFilter)
 	stmt := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, s.selectEarlyEventsStmt)
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEarlyEvents(
 // selectEvents returns the events for the given event IDs. If an event is
 // missing from the database, it will be omitted.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEvents(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool,
 ) ([]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	var (
 		stmt *sql.Stmt
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextEvent(ctx context.Context, txn
 }
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextBeforeEvent(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) (evts []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error) {
 	senders, notSenders := getSendersRoomEventFilter(filter)
 	rows, err := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, s.selectContextBeforeEventStmt).QueryContext(
@@ -672,7 +673,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextBeforeEvent(
 }
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextAfterEvent(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) (lastID int, evts []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error) {
 	senders, notSenders := getSendersRoomEventFilter(filter)
 	rows, err := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, s.selectContextAfterEventStmt).QueryContext(
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/postgres/presence_table.go b/syncapi/storage/postgres/presence_table.go
index a3f7c5213..3dba7756c 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/postgres/presence_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/postgres/presence_table.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 )
 
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func (p *presenceStatements) GetMaxPresenceID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx)
 func (p *presenceStatements) GetPresenceAfter(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
 	after types.StreamPosition,
-	filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter,
+	filter synctypes.EventFilter,
 ) (presences map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, err error) {
 	presences = make(map[string]*types.PresenceInternal)
 	stmt := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, p.selectPresenceAfterStmt)
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_consumer.go b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_consumer.go
index 18802d0c4..1894a0946 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_consumer.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_consumer.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 )
 
@@ -323,13 +324,13 @@ func (d *Database) updateRoomState(
 }
 
 func (d *Database) GetFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, target *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
+	ctx context.Context, target *synctypes.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
 ) error {
 	return d.Filter.SelectFilter(ctx, nil, target, localpart, filterID)
 }
 
 func (d *Database) PutFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, localpart string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.Filter,
+	ctx context.Context, localpart string, filter *synctypes.Filter,
 ) (string, error) {
 	var filterID string
 	var err error
@@ -523,10 +524,10 @@ func (d *Database) SelectContextEvent(ctx context.Context, roomID, eventID strin
 	return d.OutputEvents.SelectContextEvent(ctx, nil, roomID, eventID)
 }
 
-func (d *Database) SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
+func (d *Database) SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	return d.OutputEvents.SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx, nil, id, roomID, filter)
 }
-func (d *Database) SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
+func (d *Database) SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	return d.OutputEvents.SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx, nil, id, roomID, filter)
 }
 
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync.go b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync.go
index 931bc9e23..a614544b5 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tidwall/gjson"
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/eventutil"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	userapi "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/userapi/api"
 )
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) MaxStreamPositionForNotificationData(ctx context.C
 	return types.StreamPosition(id), nil
 }
 
-func (d *DatabaseTransaction) CurrentState(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
+func (d *DatabaseTransaction) CurrentState(ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilterPart *synctypes.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	return d.CurrentRoomState.SelectCurrentState(ctx, d.txn, roomID, stateFilterPart, excludeEventIDs)
 }
 
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetRoomSummary(ctx context.Context, roomID, userID
 	summary.JoinedMemberCount = &joinCount
 
 	// Get the room name and canonical alias, if any
-	filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+	filter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 	filterTypes := []string{gomatrixserverlib.MRoomName, gomatrixserverlib.MRoomCanonicalAlias}
 	filterRooms := []string{roomID}
 
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetRoomSummary(ctx context.Context, roomID, userID
 	return summary, nil
 }
 
-func (d *DatabaseTransaction) RecentEvents(ctx context.Context, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error) {
+func (d *DatabaseTransaction) RecentEvents(ctx context.Context, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error) {
 	return d.OutputEvents.SelectRecentEvents(ctx, d.txn, roomIDs, r, eventFilter, chronologicalOrder, onlySyncEvents)
 }
 
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateEvent(
 }
 
 func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateEventsForRoom(
-	ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	ctx context.Context, roomID string, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 ) (stateEvents []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error) {
 	stateEvents, err = d.CurrentRoomState.SelectCurrentState(ctx, d.txn, roomID, stateFilter, nil)
 	return
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateEventsForRoom(
 // If there was an issue with the retrieval, returns an error
 func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetAccountDataInRange(
 	ctx context.Context, userID string, r types.Range,
-	accountDataFilterPart *gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter,
+	accountDataFilterPart *synctypes.EventFilter,
 ) (map[string][]string, types.StreamPosition, error) {
 	return d.AccountData.SelectAccountDataInRange(ctx, d.txn, userID, r, accountDataFilterPart)
 }
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetEventsInTopologicalRange(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	from, to *types.TopologyToken,
 	roomID string,
-	filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 	backwardOrdering bool,
 ) (events []types.StreamEvent, err error) {
 	var minDepth, maxDepth, maxStreamPosForMaxDepth types.StreamPosition
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetBackwardTopologyPos(
 func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateDeltas(
 	ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device,
 	r types.Range, userID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 ) (deltas []types.StateDelta, joinedRoomsIDs []string, err error) {
 	// Implement membership change algorithm: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v0.19.3/synapse/handlers/sync.py#L821
 	// - Get membership list changes for this user in this sync response
@@ -488,7 +489,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateDeltas(
 func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateDeltasForFullStateSync(
 	ctx context.Context, device *userapi.Device,
 	r types.Range, userID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 ) ([]types.StateDelta, []string, error) {
 	// Look up all memberships for the user. We only care about rooms that a
 	// user has ever interacted with — joined to, kicked/banned from, left.
@@ -597,7 +598,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetStateDeltasForFullStateSync(
 
 func (d *DatabaseTransaction) currentStateStreamEventsForRoom(
 	ctx context.Context, roomID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 ) ([]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	allState, err := d.CurrentRoomState.SelectCurrentState(ctx, d.txn, roomID, stateFilter, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -647,7 +648,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) GetPresences(ctx context.Context, userIDs []string
 	return d.Presence.GetPresenceForUsers(ctx, d.txn, userIDs)
 }
 
-func (d *DatabaseTransaction) PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error) {
+func (d *DatabaseTransaction) PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter synctypes.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error) {
 	return d.Presence.GetPresenceAfter(ctx, d.txn, after, filter)
 }
 
@@ -707,7 +708,7 @@ func (d *DatabaseTransaction) MaxStreamPositionForRelations(ctx context.Context)
 	return types.StreamPosition(id), err
 }
 
-func isStatefilterEmpty(filter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter) bool {
+func isStatefilterEmpty(filter *synctypes.StateFilter) bool {
 	if filter == nil {
 		return true
 	}
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync_test.go b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync_test.go
index c56720db7..4468a7728 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/shared/storage_sync_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package shared
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 )
 
 func Test_isStatefilterEmpty(t *testing.T) {
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ func Test_isStatefilterEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name   string
-		filter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter
+		filter *synctypes.StateFilter
 		want   bool
 	}{
 		{
@@ -22,42 +22,42 @@ func Test_isStatefilterEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "Empty filter is empty",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{},
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{},
 			want:   true,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "NotTypes is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				NotTypes: &filterSet,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "Types is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				Types: &filterSet,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "Senders is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				Senders: &filterSet,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "NotSenders is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				NotSenders: &filterSet,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "NotRooms is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				NotRooms: &filterSet,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "ContainsURL is set",
-			filter: &gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter{
+			filter: &synctypes.StateFilter{
 				ContainsURL: &boolValue,
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/account_data_table.go b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/account_data_table.go
index eaf522340..b49c2f701 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/account_data_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/account_data_table.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
-	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
 
 const accountDataSchema = `
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (s *accountDataStatements) SelectAccountDataInRange(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
 	userID string,
 	r types.Range,
-	filter *gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter,
+	filter *synctypes.EventFilter,
 ) (data map[string][]string, pos types.StreamPosition, err error) {
 	data = make(map[string][]string)
 	stmt, params, err := prepareWithFilters(
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/current_room_state_table.go b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/current_room_state_table.go
index 35b746c5c..c681933d5 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/current_room_state_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/current_room_state_table.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/deltas"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ func (s *currentRoomStateStatements) SelectRoomIDsWithAnyMembership(
 // CurrentState returns all the current state events for the given room.
 func (s *currentRoomStateStatements) SelectCurrentState(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 	excludeEventIDs []string,
 ) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
 	// We're going to query members later, so remove them from this request
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/filter_table.go b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/filter_table.go
index 0132a7664..8da4f299c 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/filter_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/filter_table.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func NewSqliteFilterTable(db *sql.DB) (tables.Filter, error) {
 }
 
 func (s *filterStatements) SelectFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *synctypes.Filter, localpart string, filterID string,
 ) error {
 	// Retrieve filter from database (stored as canonical JSON)
 	var filterData []byte
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ func (s *filterStatements) SelectFilter(
 }
 
 func (s *filterStatements) InsertFilter(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *synctypes.Filter, localpart string,
 ) (filterID string, err error) {
 	var existingFilterID string
 
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/output_room_events_table.go b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/output_room_events_table.go
index 23bc68a41..33ca687df 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/output_room_events_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/output_room_events_table.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/deltas"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) UpdateEventJSON(ctx context.Context, txn *s
 // two positions, only the most recent state is returned.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectStateInRange(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, r types.Range,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, roomIDs []string,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter, roomIDs []string,
 ) (map[string]map[string]bool, map[string]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	stmtSQL := strings.Replace(selectStateInRangeSQL, "($3)", sqlutil.QueryVariadicOffset(len(roomIDs), 2), 1)
 	inputParams := []interface{}{
@@ -368,7 +369,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) InsertEvent(
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectRecentEvents(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
-	roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 	chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool,
 ) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error) {
 	var query string
@@ -431,7 +432,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectRecentEvents(
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEarlyEvents(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
-	roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) ([]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	stmt, params, err := prepareWithFilters(
 		s.db, txn, selectEarlyEventsSQL,
@@ -468,7 +469,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEarlyEvents(
 // selectEvents returns the events for the given event IDs. If an event is
 // missing from the database, it will be omitted.
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEvents(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool,
 ) ([]types.StreamEvent, error) {
 	iEventIDs := make([]interface{}, len(eventIDs))
 	for i := range eventIDs {
@@ -477,7 +478,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectEvents(
 	selectSQL := strings.Replace(selectEventsSQL, "($1)", sqlutil.QueryVariadic(len(eventIDs)), 1)
 
 	if filter == nil {
-		filter = &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 20}
+		filter = &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 20}
 	}
 	stmt, params, err := prepareWithFilters(
 		s.db, txn, selectSQL, iEventIDs,
@@ -581,7 +582,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextEvent(
 }
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextBeforeEvent(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) (evts []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error) {
 	stmt, params, err := prepareWithFilters(
 		s.db, txn, selectContextBeforeEventSQL,
@@ -623,7 +624,7 @@ func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextBeforeEvent(
 }
 
 func (s *outputRoomEventsStatements) SelectContextAfterEvent(
-	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
+	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
 ) (lastID int, evts []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, err error) {
 	stmt, params, err := prepareWithFilters(
 		s.db, txn, selectContextAfterEventSQL,
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/presence_table.go b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/presence_table.go
index 7641de92f..5f76b3700 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/presence_table.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/sqlite3/presence_table.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 )
 
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ func (p *presenceStatements) GetMaxPresenceID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx)
 // GetPresenceAfter returns the changes presences after a given stream id
 func (p *presenceStatements) GetPresenceAfter(
 	ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
-	after types.StreamPosition, filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter,
+	after types.StreamPosition, filter synctypes.EventFilter,
 ) (presences map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, err error) {
 	presences = make(map[string]*types.PresenceInternal)
 	stmt := sqlutil.TxStmt(txn, p.selectPresenceAfterStmt)
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/storage_test.go b/syncapi/storage/storage_test.go
index e81a341f1..fa3f54c0e 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/storage_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/storage_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/sqlutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/setup/config"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ func TestRecentEventsPDU(t *testing.T) {
 		for i := range testCases {
 			tc := testCases[i]
 			t.Run(tc.Name, func(st *testing.T) {
-				var filter gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter
+				var filter synctypes.RoomEventFilter
 				var gotEvents map[string]types.RecentEvents
 				var limited bool
 				filter.Limit = tc.Limit
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ func TestGetEventsInRangeWithTopologyToken(t *testing.T) {
 			to := types.TopologyToken{}
 
 			// backpaginate 5 messages starting at the latest position.
-			filter := &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 5}
+			filter := &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 5}
 			paginatedEvents, err := snapshot.GetEventsInTopologicalRange(ctx, &from, &to, r.ID, filter, true)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("GetEventsInTopologicalRange returned an error: %s", err)
@@ -932,7 +933,7 @@ func TestRecentEvents(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	test.WithAllDatabases(t, func(t *testing.T, dbType test.DBType) {
-		filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultRoomEventFilter()
+		filter := synctypes.DefaultRoomEventFilter()
 		db, close := MustCreateDatabase(t, dbType)
 		t.Cleanup(close)
 
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/tables/current_room_state_test.go b/syncapi/storage/tables/current_room_state_test.go
index c7af4f977..5fe06c3ce 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/tables/current_room_state_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/tables/current_room_state_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/postgres"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/sqlite3"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ func TestCurrentRoomStateTable(t *testing.T) {
 func testCurrentState(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, tab tables.CurrentRoomState, room *test.Room) {
 	t.Run("test currentState", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// returns the complete state of the room with a default filter
-		filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+		filter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 		evs, err := tab.SelectCurrentState(ctx, txn, room.ID, &filter, nil)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/tables/interface.go b/syncapi/storage/tables/interface.go
index 727d6bf2c..b710e60a4 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/tables/interface.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/tables/interface.go
@@ -22,13 +22,14 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/internal/eventutil"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 )
 
 type AccountData interface {
 	InsertAccountData(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userID, roomID, dataType string) (pos types.StreamPosition, err error)
 	// SelectAccountDataInRange returns a map of room ID to a list of `dataType`.
-	SelectAccountDataInRange(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userID string, r types.Range, accountDataEventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (data map[string][]string, pos types.StreamPosition, err error)
+	SelectAccountDataInRange(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userID string, r types.Range, accountDataEventFilter *synctypes.EventFilter) (data map[string][]string, pos types.StreamPosition, err error)
 	SelectMaxAccountDataID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx) (id int64, err error)
 }
 
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ type Peeks interface {
 }
 
 type Events interface {
-	SelectStateInRange(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, r types.Range, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, roomIDs []string) (map[string]map[string]bool, map[string]types.StreamEvent, error)
+	SelectStateInRange(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, r types.Range, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter, roomIDs []string) (map[string]map[string]bool, map[string]types.StreamEvent, error)
 	SelectMaxEventID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx) (id int64, err error)
 	InsertEvent(
 		ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx,
@@ -66,17 +67,17 @@ type Events interface {
 	// SelectRecentEvents returns events between the two stream positions: exclusive of low and inclusive of high.
 	// If onlySyncEvents has a value of true, only returns the events that aren't marked as to exclude from sync.
 	// Returns up to `limit` events. Returns `limited=true` if there are more events in this range but we hit the `limit`.
-	SelectRecentEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error)
+	SelectRecentEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomIDs []string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, chronologicalOrder bool, onlySyncEvents bool) (map[string]types.RecentEvents, error)
 	// SelectEarlyEvents returns the earliest events in the given room.
-	SelectEarlyEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) ([]types.StreamEvent, error)
-	SelectEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool) ([]types.StreamEvent, error)
+	SelectEarlyEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string, r types.Range, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) ([]types.StreamEvent, error)
+	SelectEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventIDs []string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter, preserveOrder bool) ([]types.StreamEvent, error)
 	UpdateEventJSON(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, event *gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent) error
 	// DeleteEventsForRoom removes all event information for a room. This should only be done when removing the room entirely.
 	DeleteEventsForRoom(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string) (err error)
 
 	SelectContextEvent(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID, eventID string) (int, gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
-	SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
-	SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	SelectContextBeforeEvent(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	SelectContextAfterEvent(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, id int, roomID string, filter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) (int, []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
 
 	PurgeEvents(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string) error
 	ReIndex(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, limit, offset int64, types []string) (map[int64]gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ type CurrentRoomState interface {
 	DeleteRoomStateByEventID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, eventID string) error
 	DeleteRoomStateForRoom(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string) error
 	// SelectCurrentState returns all the current state events for the given room.
-	SelectCurrentState(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
+	SelectCurrentState(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, roomID string, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter, excludeEventIDs []string) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error)
 	// SelectRoomIDsWithMembership returns the list of room IDs which have the given user in the given membership state.
 	SelectRoomIDsWithMembership(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userID string, membership string) ([]string, error)
 	// SelectRoomIDsWithAnyMembership returns a map of all memberships for the given user.
@@ -179,8 +180,8 @@ type SendToDevice interface {
 }
 
 type Filter interface {
-	SelectFilter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string, filterID string) error
-	InsertFilter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *gomatrixserverlib.Filter, localpart string) (filterID string, err error)
+	SelectFilter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, target *synctypes.Filter, localpart string, filterID string) error
+	InsertFilter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, filter *synctypes.Filter, localpart string) (filterID string, err error)
 }
 
 type Receipts interface {
@@ -218,7 +219,7 @@ type Presence interface {
 	UpsertPresence(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userID string, statusMsg *string, presence types.Presence, lastActiveTS gomatrixserverlib.Timestamp, fromSync bool) (pos types.StreamPosition, err error)
 	GetPresenceForUsers(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, userIDs []string) (presence []*types.PresenceInternal, err error)
 	GetMaxPresenceID(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx) (pos types.StreamPosition, err error)
-	GetPresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, after types.StreamPosition, filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (presences map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, err error)
+	GetPresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, txn *sql.Tx, after types.StreamPosition, filter synctypes.EventFilter) (presences map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, err error)
 }
 
 type Relations interface {
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/tables/output_room_events_test.go b/syncapi/storage/tables/output_room_events_test.go
index bdb17ae20..c0d451111 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/tables/output_room_events_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/tables/output_room_events_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/postgres"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/sqlite3"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ func TestOutputRoomEventsTable(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			wantEventID := []string{urlEv.EventID()}
 			t := true
-			gotEvents, err = tab.SelectEvents(ctx, txn, wantEventID, &gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 1, ContainsURL: &t}, true)
+			gotEvents, err = tab.SelectEvents(ctx, txn, wantEventID, &synctypes.RoomEventFilter{Limit: 1, ContainsURL: &t}, true)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to SelectEvents: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/syncapi/storage/tables/presence_table_test.go b/syncapi/storage/tables/presence_table_test.go
index dce0c695a..cb7a4dee9 100644
--- a/syncapi/storage/tables/presence_table_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/storage/tables/presence_table_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/postgres"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/sqlite3"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage/tables"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/test"
 )
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ func TestPresence(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// This should return only Bobs status
-		presences, err := tab.GetPresenceAfter(ctx, txn, maxPos, gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter{Limit: 10})
+		presences, err := tab.GetPresenceAfter(ctx, txn, maxPos, synctypes.EventFilter{Limit: 10})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Error(err)
 		}
diff --git a/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go b/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
index cc261bc8e..e29e29f7a 100644
--- a/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
+++ b/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) addRoomDeltaToResponse(
 	device *userapi.Device,
 	r types.Range,
 	delta types.StateDelta,
-	eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 	req *types.SyncRequest,
 ) (types.StreamPosition, error) {
 	var err error
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ func applyHistoryVisibilityFilter(
 
 	// Only get the state again if there are state events in the timeline
 	if len(stateTypes) > 0 {
-		filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+		filter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 		filter.Types = &stateTypes
 		filter.Senders = &senders
 		stateEvents, err := snapshot.CurrentState(ctx, roomID, &filter, nil)
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) getJoinResponseForCompleteSync(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	snapshot storage.DatabaseTransaction,
 	roomID string,
-	stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 	wantFullState bool,
 	device *userapi.Device,
 	isPeek bool,
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) getJoinResponseForCompleteSync(
 
 func (p *PDUStreamProvider) lazyLoadMembers(
 	ctx context.Context, snapshot storage.DatabaseTransaction, roomID string,
-	incremental, limited bool, stateFilter *gomatrixserverlib.StateFilter,
+	incremental, limited bool, stateFilter *synctypes.StateFilter,
 	device *userapi.Device,
 	timelineEvents, stateEvents []*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent,
 ) ([]*gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, error) {
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) lazyLoadMembers(
 		wantUsers = append(wantUsers, userID)
 	}
 	// Query missing membership events
-	filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultStateFilter()
+	filter := synctypes.DefaultStateFilter()
 	filter.Senders = &wantUsers
 	filter.Types = &[]string{gomatrixserverlib.MRoomMember}
 	memberships, err := snapshot.GetStateEventsForRoom(ctx, roomID, &filter)
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) lazyLoadMembers(
 
 // addIgnoredUsersToFilter adds ignored users to the eventfilter and
 // the syncreq itself for further use in streams.
-func (p *PDUStreamProvider) addIgnoredUsersToFilter(ctx context.Context, snapshot storage.DatabaseTransaction, req *types.SyncRequest, eventFilter *gomatrixserverlib.RoomEventFilter) error {
+func (p *PDUStreamProvider) addIgnoredUsersToFilter(ctx context.Context, snapshot storage.DatabaseTransaction, req *types.SyncRequest, eventFilter *synctypes.RoomEventFilter) error {
 	ignores, err := snapshot.IgnoresForUser(ctx, req.Device.UserID)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
diff --git a/syncapi/streams/stream_presence.go b/syncapi/streams/stream_presence.go
index 4c49083db..81f33207c 100644
--- a/syncapi/streams/stream_presence.go
+++ b/syncapi/streams/stream_presence.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func (p *PresenceStreamProvider) IncrementalSync(
 	from, to types.StreamPosition,
 ) types.StreamPosition {
 	// We pull out a larger number than the filter asks for, since we're filtering out events later
-	presences, err := snapshot.PresenceAfter(ctx, from, gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter{Limit: 1000})
+	presences, err := snapshot.PresenceAfter(ctx, from, synctypes.EventFilter{Limit: 1000})
 	if err != nil {
 		req.Log.WithError(err).Error("p.DB.PresenceAfter failed")
 		return from
diff --git a/syncapi/sync/request.go b/syncapi/sync/request.go
index e5e5fdb5b..617342331 100644
--- a/syncapi/sync/request.go
+++ b/syncapi/sync/request.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	userapi "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/userapi/api"
 )
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ func newSyncRequest(req *http.Request, device userapi.Device, syncDB storage.Dat
 	}
 
 	// Create a default filter and apply a stored filter on top of it (if specified)
-	filter := gomatrixserverlib.DefaultFilter()
+	filter := synctypes.DefaultFilter()
 	filterQuery := req.URL.Query().Get("filter")
 	if filterQuery != "" {
 		if filterQuery[0] == '{' {
diff --git a/syncapi/sync/requestpool_test.go b/syncapi/sync/requestpool_test.go
index faa0b49c6..7bce0a0c7 100644
--- a/syncapi/sync/requestpool_test.go
+++ b/syncapi/sync/requestpool_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/setup/config"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 )
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ func (d dummyDB) GetPresences(ctx context.Context, userID []string) ([]*types.Pr
 	return []*types.PresenceInternal{}, nil
 }
 
-func (d dummyDB) PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter gomatrixserverlib.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error) {
+func (d dummyDB) PresenceAfter(ctx context.Context, after types.StreamPosition, filter synctypes.EventFilter) (map[string]*types.PresenceInternal, error) {
 	return map[string]*types.PresenceInternal{}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/syncapi/synctypes/filter.go b/syncapi/synctypes/filter.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cacc93f41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syncapi/synctypes/filter.go
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+// Copyright 2017 Jan Christian Grünhage
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package synctypes
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+)
+
+// Filter is used by clients to specify how the server should filter responses to e.g. sync requests
+// Specified by: https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/r0.5.0.html#filtering
+type Filter struct {
+	EventFields []string    `json:"event_fields,omitempty"`
+	EventFormat string      `json:"event_format,omitempty"`
+	Presence    EventFilter `json:"presence,omitempty"`
+	AccountData EventFilter `json:"account_data,omitempty"`
+	Room        RoomFilter  `json:"room,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// EventFilter is used to define filtering rules for events
+type EventFilter struct {
+	Limit      int       `json:"limit,omitempty"`
+	NotSenders *[]string `json:"not_senders,omitempty"`
+	NotTypes   *[]string `json:"not_types,omitempty"`
+	Senders    *[]string `json:"senders,omitempty"`
+	Types      *[]string `json:"types,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// RoomFilter is used to define filtering rules for room-related events
+type RoomFilter struct {
+	NotRooms     *[]string       `json:"not_rooms,omitempty"`
+	Rooms        *[]string       `json:"rooms,omitempty"`
+	Ephemeral    RoomEventFilter `json:"ephemeral,omitempty"`
+	IncludeLeave bool            `json:"include_leave,omitempty"`
+	State        StateFilter     `json:"state,omitempty"`
+	Timeline     RoomEventFilter `json:"timeline,omitempty"`
+	AccountData  RoomEventFilter `json:"account_data,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// StateFilter is used to define filtering rules for state events
+type StateFilter struct {
+	NotSenders              *[]string `json:"not_senders,omitempty"`
+	NotTypes                *[]string `json:"not_types,omitempty"`
+	Senders                 *[]string `json:"senders,omitempty"`
+	Types                   *[]string `json:"types,omitempty"`
+	LazyLoadMembers         bool      `json:"lazy_load_members,omitempty"`
+	IncludeRedundantMembers bool      `json:"include_redundant_members,omitempty"`
+	NotRooms                *[]string `json:"not_rooms,omitempty"`
+	Rooms                   *[]string `json:"rooms,omitempty"`
+	ContainsURL             *bool     `json:"contains_url,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// RoomEventFilter is used to define filtering rules for events in rooms
+type RoomEventFilter struct {
+	Limit                   int       `json:"limit,omitempty"`
+	NotSenders              *[]string `json:"not_senders,omitempty"`
+	NotTypes                *[]string `json:"not_types,omitempty"`
+	Senders                 *[]string `json:"senders,omitempty"`
+	Types                   *[]string `json:"types,omitempty"`
+	LazyLoadMembers         bool      `json:"lazy_load_members,omitempty"`
+	IncludeRedundantMembers bool      `json:"include_redundant_members,omitempty"`
+	NotRooms                *[]string `json:"not_rooms,omitempty"`
+	Rooms                   *[]string `json:"rooms,omitempty"`
+	ContainsURL             *bool     `json:"contains_url,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Validate checks if the filter contains valid property values
+func (filter *Filter) Validate() error {
+	if filter.EventFormat != "" && filter.EventFormat != "client" && filter.EventFormat != "federation" {
+		return errors.New("Bad event_format value. Must be one of [\"client\", \"federation\"]")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DefaultFilter returns the default filter used by the Matrix server if no filter is provided in
+// the request
+func DefaultFilter() Filter {
+	return Filter{
+		AccountData: DefaultEventFilter(),
+		EventFields: nil,
+		EventFormat: "client",
+		Presence:    DefaultEventFilter(),
+		Room: RoomFilter{
+			AccountData:  DefaultRoomEventFilter(),
+			Ephemeral:    DefaultRoomEventFilter(),
+			IncludeLeave: false,
+			NotRooms:     nil,
+			Rooms:        nil,
+			State:        DefaultStateFilter(),
+			Timeline:     DefaultRoomEventFilter(),
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// DefaultEventFilter returns the default event filter used by the Matrix server if no filter is
+// provided in the request
+func DefaultEventFilter() EventFilter {
+	return EventFilter{
+		Limit:      20,
+		NotSenders: nil,
+		NotTypes:   nil,
+		Senders:    nil,
+		Types:      nil,
+	}
+}
+
+// DefaultStateFilter returns the default state event filter used by the Matrix server if no filter
+// is provided in the request
+func DefaultStateFilter() StateFilter {
+	return StateFilter{
+		NotSenders:              nil,
+		NotTypes:                nil,
+		Senders:                 nil,
+		Types:                   nil,
+		LazyLoadMembers:         false,
+		IncludeRedundantMembers: false,
+		NotRooms:                nil,
+		Rooms:                   nil,
+		ContainsURL:             nil,
+	}
+}
+
+// DefaultRoomEventFilter returns the default room event filter used by the Matrix server if no
+// filter is provided in the request
+func DefaultRoomEventFilter() RoomEventFilter {
+	return RoomEventFilter{
+		Limit:       20,
+		NotSenders:  nil,
+		NotTypes:    nil,
+		Senders:     nil,
+		Types:       nil,
+		NotRooms:    nil,
+		Rooms:       nil,
+		ContainsURL: nil,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/syncapi/synctypes/filter_test.go b/syncapi/synctypes/filter_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d00ee69d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syncapi/synctypes/filter_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package synctypes
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func Test_Filter(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		input []byte
+		want  RoomEventFilter
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "empty types filter",
+			input: []byte(`{ "types": [] }`),
+			want: RoomEventFilter{
+				Limit:                   0,
+				NotSenders:              nil,
+				NotTypes:                nil,
+				Senders:                 nil,
+				Types:                   &[]string{},
+				LazyLoadMembers:         false,
+				IncludeRedundantMembers: false,
+				NotRooms:                nil,
+				Rooms:                   nil,
+				ContainsURL:             nil,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "absent types filter",
+			input: []byte(`{}`),
+			want: RoomEventFilter{
+				Limit:                   0,
+				NotSenders:              nil,
+				NotTypes:                nil,
+				Senders:                 nil,
+				Types:                   nil,
+				LazyLoadMembers:         false,
+				IncludeRedundantMembers: false,
+				NotRooms:                nil,
+				Rooms:                   nil,
+				ContainsURL:             nil,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var f RoomEventFilter
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(tt.input, &f); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unable to parse filter: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(f, tt.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("Expected %+v\ngot %+v", tt.want, f)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/syncapi/types/provider.go b/syncapi/types/provider.go
index 9a533002b..f77f83422 100644
--- a/syncapi/types/provider.go
+++ b/syncapi/types/provider.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/synctypes"
 	userapi "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/userapi/api"
 )
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ type SyncRequest struct {
 	Log           *logrus.Entry
 	Device        *userapi.Device
 	Response      *Response
-	Filter        gomatrixserverlib.Filter
+	Filter        synctypes.Filter
 	Since         StreamingToken
 	Timeout       time.Duration
 	WantFullState bool