diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index db82723..555a4f1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -135,3 +135,4 @@ onClick={(e) => {
 | `showSpinner`        | `boolean`            | Determines whether to accompany the loading bar with a spinner. Turned off by default.                       | `false`      |
 | `ignoreSearchParams` | `boolean`            | Determines whether to ignore search parameters in the URL when triggering the loader. Turned off by default. | `false`      |
 | `dir`                | `ltr` or `rtl`       | Sets the direction of the top-loading bar.                                                                   | `ltr`      |
+| `delay`              | `number`             | Specifies the delay in milliseconds before starting the progress bar.                                         | `0`          |
diff --git a/src/__tests__/HolyLoader.test.ts b/src/__tests__/HolyLoader.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fde3f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/HolyLoader.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { render, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
+import HolyLoader, { startHolyLoader, stopHolyLoader } from '../index';
+
+describe('HolyLoader', () => {
+  it('should start the progress bar after the specified delay', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const { container } = render(<HolyLoader delay={200} />);
+    const anchor = document.createElement('a');
+    anchor.href = '/test';
+    document.body.appendChild(anchor);
+
+    fireEvent.click(anchor);
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).toBeNull();
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(200);
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).not.toBeNull();
+
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it('should not start the progress bar if navigation happens within the delay', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const { container } = render(<HolyLoader delay={200} />);
+    const anchor = document.createElement('a');
+    anchor.href = '/test';
+    document.body.appendChild(anchor);
+
+    fireEvent.click(anchor);
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).toBeNull();
+
+    fireEvent.click(anchor);
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(200);
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).toBeNull();
+
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it('should start the progress bar immediately if delay is 0', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<HolyLoader delay={0} />);
+    const anchor = document.createElement('a');
+    anchor.href = '/test';
+    document.body.appendChild(anchor);
+
+    fireEvent.click(anchor);
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('should manually start and stop the progress bar', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<HolyLoader delay={0} />);
+
+    startHolyLoader();
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).not.toBeNull();
+
+    stopHolyLoader();
+    expect(container.querySelector('#holy-progress')).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/index.tsx b/src/index.tsx
index 8d23653..2d2bd4b 100644
--- a/src/index.tsx
+++ b/src/index.tsx
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ export interface HolyLoaderProps {
    * Default: "ltr"
    */
   dir?: 'ltr' | 'rtl';
+
+  /**
+   * Specifies the delay in milliseconds before starting the progress bar.
+   * Default: 0 milliseconds
+   */
+  delay?: number;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -104,9 +110,11 @@ const HolyLoader = ({
   boxShadow = DEFAULTS.boxShadow,
   showSpinner = DEFAULTS.showSpinner,
   ignoreSearchParams = DEFAULTS.ignoreSearchParams,
-  dir = DEFAULTS.dir, 
+  dir = DEFAULTS.dir,
+  delay = 0,
 }: HolyLoaderProps): null => {
   const holyProgressRef = React.useRef<HolyProgress | null>(null);
+  const delayTimeoutRef = React.useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     const startProgress = (): void => {
@@ -212,7 +220,11 @@ const HolyLoader = ({
           return;
         }
 
-        startProgress();
+        if (delay > 0) {
+          delayTimeoutRef.current = setTimeout(startProgress, delay);
+        } else {
+          startProgress();
+        }
       } catch (error) {
         stopProgress();
       }
@@ -229,7 +241,7 @@ const HolyLoader = ({
           zIndex,
           boxShadow,
           showSpinner,
-          dir
+          dir,
         });
       }
 
@@ -243,8 +255,12 @@ const HolyLoader = ({
       document.removeEventListener('click', handleClick);
       document.removeEventListener(START_HOLY_EVENT, startProgress);
       document.removeEventListener(STOP_HOLY_EVENT, stopProgress);
+
+      if (delayTimeoutRef.current !== null) {
+        clearTimeout(delayTimeoutRef.current);
+      }
     };
-  }, [holyProgressRef]);
+  }, [holyProgressRef, delay]);
 
   return null;
 };