diff --git a/server/configuration.md b/server/configuration.md
index c175979f5..f892c65e1 100644
--- a/server/configuration.md
+++ b/server/configuration.md
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ Configures the **egress sidecar** image and enforcement mode. The server only at
 | `image` | string \| omitted | `null` | OCI image for the egress sidecar. **Required in config** when clients send **`networkPolicy`** (create request). |
 | `mode` | string | `"dns"` | Passed to the sidecar as `OPENSANDBOX_EGRESS_MODE`. Values: **`dns`** — DNS-proxy-based enforcement (CIDR/static IP rules **not** enforced); **`dns+nft`** — adds nftables where available so **CIDR/IP** rules can be enforced. |
 | `disable_ipv6` | bool | `true` | IPv6 egress is incomplete (especially on Kubernetes). **Default on**; set `false` only when you want IPv6 left up in the netns. Details in [IPv6 and egress](#ipv6-and-egress) below. |
+| `timeout_seconds` | float | `30.0` | **Docker only.** Maximum time to wait for the egress sidecar health endpoint to become ready. Must be greater than `0`. |
 
 ### IPv6 and egress
 
@@ -213,6 +214,7 @@ OpenSandbox egress does **not** treat IPv6 as a first-class, fully covered path
 
 - `egress.image` must be set when using `networkPolicy`.
 - Outbound policy requires **`docker.network_mode = "bridge"`**; `networkPolicy` is rejected for incompatible network modes.
+- Increase `egress.timeout_seconds` when the sidecar needs more than 30 seconds to become ready in the deployment environment.
 
 **Kubernetes notes:**
 
diff --git a/server/docker-compose.example.yaml b/server/docker-compose.example.yaml
index 17b0ea316..dfe9e67c9 100644
--- a/server/docker-compose.example.yaml
+++ b/server/docker-compose.example.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ configs:
       [egress]
       image = "opensandbox/egress:v1.1.6"
       # image = "sandbox-registry.cn-zhangjiakou.cr.aliyuncs.com/opensandbox/egress:v1.1.6"
+      timeout_seconds = 30.0
 
       [docker]
       network_mode = "bridge"
@@ -64,4 +65,4 @@ services:
 
 networks:
   opensandbox-net:
-    driver: bridge
\ No newline at end of file
+    driver: bridge
diff --git a/server/opensandbox_server/config.py b/server/opensandbox_server/config.py
index 717bc3e7e..121063e03 100644
--- a/server/opensandbox_server/config.py
+++ b/server/opensandbox_server/config.py
@@ -751,6 +751,14 @@ class EgressConfig(BaseModel):
             "(e.g. IPv4-only CNI or experimenting with IPv6 egress despite gaps)."
         ),
     )
+    timeout_seconds: float = Field(
+        default=30.0,
+        gt=0,
+        description=(
+            "Maximum time in seconds to wait for the egress sidecar health endpoint "
+            "to become ready in Docker runtime."
+        ),
+    )
 
 
 class RuntimeConfig(BaseModel):
diff --git a/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.toml b/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.toml
index 6a053058d..5ebe854eb 100644
--- a/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.toml
+++ b/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.toml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ mode = "direct"
 [egress]
 image = "opensandbox/egress:v1.1.6"
 mode = "dns"
+timeout_seconds = 30.0
 
 # Renew-on-access. Off by default — see server/README.md.
 [renew_intent]
diff --git a/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.zh.toml b/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.zh.toml
index 080681478..e51fe474a 100644
--- a/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.zh.toml
+++ b/server/opensandbox_server/examples/example.config.zh.toml
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ mode = "direct"
 [egress]
 image = "sandbox-registry.cn-zhangjiakou.cr.aliyuncs.com/opensandbox/egress:v1.1.6"
 mode = "dns"
+timeout_seconds = 30.0
 
 # 按访问续期。默认关闭 — 见 server/README_zh.md。
 [renew_intent]
diff --git a/server/opensandbox_server/services/docker/networking.py b/server/opensandbox_server/services/docker/networking.py
index 7509c788a..d0391a1ed 100644
--- a/server/opensandbox_server/services/docker/networking.py
+++ b/server/opensandbox_server/services/docker/networking.py
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ def build_sidecar_host_config(*, include_ipv6_sysctls: bool) -> Any:
                     sandbox_id,
                     egress_api_host_port,
                     egress_token,
+                    timeout_seconds=self.app_config.egress.timeout_seconds,
                 )
             return sidecar_container
         except Exception as exc:
@@ -549,7 +550,7 @@ def _wait_for_egress_sidecar_ready(
         sandbox_id: str,
         host_port: int,
         egress_token: str,
-        timeout_seconds: float = 30.0,
+        timeout_seconds: float,
     ) -> None:
         deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout_seconds
         url = f"http://{self._resolve_proxy_host()}:{host_port}/healthz"
diff --git a/server/tests/test_config.py b/server/tests/test_config.py
index a450c0a1c..65c614003 100644
--- a/server/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/server/tests/test_config.py
@@ -891,10 +891,41 @@ def test_egress_config_mode_literal():
     base = EgressConfig(image="opensandbox/egress:v1")
     assert base.mode == EGRESS_MODE_DNS
     assert base.disable_ipv6 is True
+    assert base.timeout_seconds == 30.0
     cfg = EgressConfig(image="opensandbox/egress:v1", mode=EGRESS_MODE_DNS_NFT)
     assert cfg.mode == EGRESS_MODE_DNS_NFT
 
 
+def test_egress_config_timeout_must_be_positive():
+    cfg = EgressConfig(timeout_seconds=75.5)
+    assert cfg.timeout_seconds == 75.5
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        EgressConfig(timeout_seconds=0)
+
+
+def test_load_config_with_egress_timeout(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    _reset_config(monkeypatch)
+    toml = textwrap.dedent(
+        """
+        [runtime]
+        type = "docker"
+        execd_image = "opensandbox/execd:test"
+
+        [egress]
+        image = "opensandbox/egress:test"
+        timeout_seconds = 75.5
+        """
+    )
+    config_path = tmp_path / "config.toml"
+    config_path.write_text(toml)
+
+    loaded = config_module.load_config(config_path)
+
+    assert loaded.egress is not None
+    assert loaded.egress.timeout_seconds == 75.5
+
+
 def test_log_config_defaults():
     """LogConfig should have sensible defaults."""
     cfg = LogConfig()
@@ -1555,4 +1586,3 @@ def test_env_secure_access_active_key_must_exist(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) ->
 
         with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="not found in secure_access.keys"):
             config_module.load_config(config_path)
-
diff --git a/server/tests/test_docker_service.py b/server/tests/test_docker_service.py
index fd8699213..125b214be 100644
--- a/server/tests/test_docker_service.py
+++ b/server/tests/test_docker_service.py
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ def host_cfg_side_effect(**kwargs):
 
     cfg = _app_config()
     cfg.docker.network_mode = "bridge"
-    cfg.egress = EgressConfig(image="egress:latest")
+    cfg.egress = EgressConfig(image="egress:latest", timeout_seconds=75.5)
     service = DockerSandboxService(config=cfg)
 
     req = CreateSandboxRequest(
@@ -829,14 +829,19 @@ def host_cfg_side_effect(**kwargs):
             return_value={
                 "44772": ("0.0.0.0", 44772),
                 "8080": ("0.0.0.0", 8080),
+                "18080": ("0.0.0.0", 18080),
             },
         ),
         patch.object(service, "_ensure_image_available"),
         patch.object(service, "_prepare_sandbox_runtime"),
-        patch.object(service, "_wait_for_egress_sidecar_ready"),
+        patch.object(service, "_wait_for_egress_sidecar_ready") as wait_for_egress_ready,
     ):
         await service.create_sandbox(req)
 
+    wait_for_egress_ready.assert_called_once()
+    assert wait_for_egress_ready.call_args.args[1:] == (18080, "egress-token")
+    assert wait_for_egress_ready.call_args.kwargs == {"timeout_seconds": 75.5}
+
     assert len(mock_client.api.create_container.call_args_list) == 2
     sidecar_call = mock_client.api.create_container.call_args_list[0]
     main_call = mock_client.api.create_container.call_args_list[1]