diff --git a/python/packages/foundry/agent_framework_foundry/_chat_client.py b/python/packages/foundry/agent_framework_foundry/_chat_client.py
index 8ef77c8c461..e41a700c1d2 100644
--- a/python/packages/foundry/agent_framework_foundry/_chat_client.py
+++ b/python/packages/foundry/agent_framework_foundry/_chat_client.py
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ def __init__(
         compaction_strategy: CompactionStrategy | None = None,
         tokenizer: TokenizerProtocol | None = None,
         additional_properties: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+        timeout: float | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initialize a raw Microsoft Foundry chat client.
 
@@ -207,6 +208,8 @@ def __init__(
             compaction_strategy: Optional per-client compaction override.
             tokenizer: Optional tokenizer for compaction strategies.
             additional_properties: Additional properties stored on the client instance.
+            timeout: HTTP timeout in seconds for requests. When not provided, the
+                OpenAI SDK default is used (connect: 5s, total: 600s).
         """
         foundry_settings = load_settings(
             FoundrySettings,
@@ -255,9 +258,13 @@ def __init__(
         if owns_project_client:
             openai_kwargs["http_client"] = create_foundry_feature_usage_http_client()
 
+        openai_client = project_client.get_openai_client(**openai_kwargs)
+        if timeout is not None:
+            openai_client = openai_client.with_options(timeout=timeout)
+
         super().__init__(
             model=resolved_model,
-            async_client=project_client.get_openai_client(**openai_kwargs),
+            async_client=openai_client,
             default_headers=default_headers,
             instruction_role=instruction_role,
             compaction_strategy=compaction_strategy,
@@ -1129,6 +1136,7 @@ def __init__(
         additional_properties: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
         middleware: (Sequence[ChatAndFunctionMiddlewareTypes] | None) = None,
         function_invocation_configuration: FunctionInvocationConfiguration | None = None,
+        timeout: float | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initialize a Foundry chat client.
 
@@ -1149,6 +1157,8 @@ def __init__(
             additional_properties: Additional properties stored on the client instance.
             middleware: Optional sequence of middleware.
             function_invocation_configuration: Optional function invocation configuration.
+            timeout: HTTP timeout in seconds for requests. When not provided, the
+                OpenAI SDK default is used (connect: 5s, total: 600s).
         """
         super().__init__(
             project_endpoint=project_endpoint,
@@ -1165,4 +1175,5 @@ def __init__(
             additional_properties=additional_properties,
             middleware=middleware,
             function_invocation_configuration=function_invocation_configuration,
+            timeout=timeout,
         )
diff --git a/python/packages/foundry/tests/foundry/test_foundry_chat_client.py b/python/packages/foundry/tests/foundry/test_foundry_chat_client.py
index 490fb2cb3ce..a686057ff04 100644
--- a/python/packages/foundry/tests/foundry/test_foundry_chat_client.py
+++ b/python/packages/foundry/tests/foundry/test_foundry_chat_client.py
@@ -290,6 +290,30 @@ def test_foundry_chat_client_init_uses_explicit_parameters() -> None:
     assert all(parameter.kind != inspect.Parameter.VAR_KEYWORD for parameter in signature.parameters.values())
 
 
+def test_init_applies_timeout_to_openai_client() -> None:
+    mock_openai_client = _make_mock_openai_client()
+    timeout_client = _make_mock_openai_client()
+    mock_openai_client.with_options.return_value = timeout_client
+    mock_project_client = MagicMock()
+    mock_project_client.get_openai_client.return_value = mock_openai_client
+
+    client = FoundryChatClient(project_client=mock_project_client, model=_TEST_FOUNDRY_MODEL, timeout=12.5)
+
+    mock_openai_client.with_options.assert_called_once_with(timeout=12.5)
+    assert client.client is timeout_client
+
+
+def test_init_without_timeout_keeps_openai_client() -> None:
+    mock_openai_client = _make_mock_openai_client()
+    mock_project_client = MagicMock()
+    mock_project_client.get_openai_client.return_value = mock_openai_client
+
+    client = FoundryChatClient(project_client=mock_project_client, model=_TEST_FOUNDRY_MODEL)
+
+    mock_openai_client.with_options.assert_not_called()
+    assert client.client is mock_openai_client
+
+
 def test_init_with_default_header() -> None:
     default_headers = {"X-Unit-Test": "test-guid"}
     mock_openai_client = _make_mock_openai_client()