diff --git a/integrations/elasticsearch/src/haystack_integrations/document_stores/elasticsearch/document_store.py b/integrations/elasticsearch/src/haystack_integrations/document_stores/elasticsearch/document_store.py
index b6400af95..2deede6a6 100644
--- a/integrations/elasticsearch/src/haystack_integrations/document_stores/elasticsearch/document_store.py
+++ b/integrations/elasticsearch/src/haystack_integrations/document_stores/elasticsearch/document_store.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+
 Hosts = Union[str, list[Union[str, Mapping[str, Union[str, int]], NodeConfig]]]
 
 # document scores are essentially unbounded and will be scaled to values between 0 and 1 if scale_score is set to
@@ -410,12 +411,22 @@ def _deserialize_document(hit: dict[str, Any]) -> Document:
 
         return Document.from_dict(data)
 
-    def write_documents(self, documents: list[Document], policy: DuplicatePolicy = DuplicatePolicy.NONE) -> int:
+    def write_documents(
+        self,
+        documents: list[Document],
+        policy: DuplicatePolicy = DuplicatePolicy.NONE,
+        refresh: Literal["wait_for", True, False] = "wait_for",
+    ) -> int:
         """
         Writes `Document`s to Elasticsearch.
 
         :param documents: List of Documents to write to the document store.
         :param policy: DuplicatePolicy to apply when a document with the same ID already exists in the document store.
+        :param refresh: Controls when changes are made visible to search operations.
+            - `True`: Force refresh immediately after the operation.
+            - `False`: Do not refresh (better performance for bulk operations).
+            - `"wait_for"`: Wait for the next refresh cycle (default, ensures read-your-writes consistency).
+            For more details, see the [Elasticsearch refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/refresh-parameter).
         :raises ValueError: If `documents` is not a list of `Document`s.
         :raises DuplicateDocumentError: If a document with the same ID already exists in the document store and
             `policy` is set to `DuplicatePolicy.FAIL` or `DuplicatePolicy.NONE`.
@@ -456,7 +467,7 @@ def write_documents(self, documents: list[Document], policy: DuplicatePolicy = D
         documents_written, errors = helpers.bulk(
             client=self.client,
             actions=elasticsearch_actions,
-            refresh="wait_for",
+            refresh=refresh,
             index=self._index,
             raise_on_error=False,
             stats_only=False,
@@ -488,13 +499,21 @@ def write_documents(self, documents: list[Document], policy: DuplicatePolicy = D
         return documents_written
 
     async def write_documents_async(
-        self, documents: list[Document], policy: DuplicatePolicy = DuplicatePolicy.NONE
+        self,
+        documents: list[Document],
+        policy: DuplicatePolicy = DuplicatePolicy.NONE,
+        refresh: Literal["wait_for", True, False] = "wait_for",
     ) -> int:
         """
         Asynchronously writes `Document`s to Elasticsearch.
 
         :param documents: List of Documents to write to the document store.
         :param policy: DuplicatePolicy to apply when a document with the same ID already exists in the document store.
+        :param refresh: Controls when changes are made visible to search operations.
+            - `True`: Force refresh immediately after the operation.
+            - `False`: Do not refresh (better performance for bulk operations).
+            - `"wait_for"`: Wait for the next refresh cycle (default, ensures read-your-writes consistency).
+            For more details, see the [Elasticsearch refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/refresh-parameter).
         :raises ValueError: If `documents` is not a list of `Document`s.
         :raises DuplicateDocumentError: If a document with the same ID already exists in the document store and
             `policy` is set to `DuplicatePolicy.FAIL` or `DuplicatePolicy.NONE`.
@@ -537,7 +556,7 @@ async def write_documents_async(
                 client=self.async_client,
                 actions=actions,
                 index=self._index,
-                refresh=True,
+                refresh=refresh,
                 raise_on_error=False,
                 stats_only=False,
             )
@@ -556,33 +575,45 @@ async def write_documents_async(
             msg = f"Failed to write documents to Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    def delete_documents(self, document_ids: list[str]) -> None:
+    def delete_documents(self, document_ids: list[str], refresh: Literal["wait_for", True, False] = "wait_for") -> None:
         """
         Deletes all documents with a matching document_ids from the document store.
 
         :param document_ids: the document ids to delete
+        :param refresh: Controls when changes are made visible to search operations.
+            - `True`: Force refresh immediately after the operation.
+            - `False`: Do not refresh (better performance for bulk operations).
+            - `"wait_for"`: Wait for the next refresh cycle (default, ensures read-your-writes consistency).
+            For more details, see the [Elasticsearch refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/refresh-parameter).
         """
         helpers.bulk(
             client=self.client,
             actions=({"_op_type": "delete", "_id": id_} for id_ in document_ids),
-            refresh="wait_for",
+            refresh=refresh,
             index=self._index,
             raise_on_error=False,
         )
 
-    def _prepare_delete_all_request(self, *, is_async: bool) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def _prepare_delete_all_request(self, *, is_async: bool, refresh: bool) -> dict[str, Any]:
         return {
             "index": self._index,
             "body": {"query": {"match_all": {}}},  # Delete all documents
             "wait_for_completion": False if is_async else True,  # block until done (set False for async)
-            "refresh": True,  # Ensure changes are visible immediately
+            "refresh": refresh,
         }
 
-    async def delete_documents_async(self, document_ids: list[str]) -> None:
+    async def delete_documents_async(
+        self, document_ids: list[str], refresh: Literal["wait_for", True, False] = "wait_for"
+    ) -> None:
         """
         Asynchronously deletes all documents with a matching document_ids from the document store.
 
         :param document_ids: the document ids to delete
+        :param refresh: Controls when changes are made visible to search operations.
+            - `True`: Force refresh immediately after the operation.
+            - `False`: Do not refresh (better performance for bulk operations).
+            - `"wait_for"`: Wait for the next refresh cycle (default, ensures read-your-writes consistency).
+            For more details, see the [Elasticsearch refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/refresh-parameter).
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()
 
@@ -591,13 +622,13 @@ async def delete_documents_async(self, document_ids: list[str]) -> None:
                 client=self.async_client,
                 actions=({"_op_type": "delete", "_id": id_} for id_ in document_ids),
                 index=self._index,
-                refresh=True,
+                refresh=refresh,
             )
         except Exception as e:
             msg = f"Failed to delete documents from Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    def delete_all_documents(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None:
+    def delete_all_documents(self, recreate_index: bool = False, refresh: bool = True) -> None:
         """
         Deletes all documents in the document store.
 
@@ -605,6 +636,9 @@ def delete_all_documents(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None:
 
         :param recreate_index: If True, the index will be deleted and recreated with the original mappings and
             settings. If False, all documents will be deleted using the `delete_by_query` API.
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the delete by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch delete_by_query refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-delete-by-query#operation-delete-by-query-refresh).
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()  # _ensure_initialized ensures _client is not None and an index exists
 
@@ -630,20 +664,23 @@ def delete_all_documents(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None:
             self._client.indices.create(index=self._index, mappings=mappings)  # type: ignore
 
         else:
-            result = self._client.delete_by_query(**self._prepare_delete_all_request(is_async=False))  # type: ignore
+            result = self._client.delete_by_query(**self._prepare_delete_all_request(is_async=False, refresh=refresh))  # type: ignore
             logger.info(
                 "Deleted all the {n_docs} documents from the index '{index}'.",
                 index=self._index,
                 n_docs=result["deleted"],
             )
 
-    async def delete_all_documents_async(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None:
+    async def delete_all_documents_async(self, recreate_index: bool = False, refresh: bool = True) -> None:
         """
         Asynchronously deletes all documents in the document store.
 
         A fast way to clear all documents from the document store while preserving any index settings and mappings.
         :param recreate_index: If True, the index will be deleted and recreated with the original mappings and
             settings. If False, all documents will be deleted using the `delete_by_query` API.
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the delete by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch delete_by_query refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-delete-by-query#operation-delete-by-query-refresh).
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()  # ensures _async_client is not None
 
@@ -670,7 +707,7 @@ async def delete_all_documents_async(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None
             else:
                 # use delete_by_query for more efficient deletion without index recreation
                 # For async, we need to wait for completion to get the deleted count
-                delete_request = self._prepare_delete_all_request(is_async=True)
+                delete_request = self._prepare_delete_all_request(is_async=True, refresh=refresh)
                 delete_request["wait_for_completion"] = True  # Override to wait for completion in async
                 result = await self._async_client.delete_by_query(**delete_request)  # type: ignore
                 logger.info(
@@ -683,12 +720,15 @@ async def delete_all_documents_async(self, recreate_index: bool = False) -> None
             msg = f"Failed to delete all documents from Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    def delete_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
+    def delete_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any], refresh: bool = False) -> int:
         """
         Deletes all documents that match the provided filters.
 
         :param filters: The filters to apply to select documents for deletion.
             For filter syntax, see [Haystack metadata filtering](https://docs.haystack.deepset.ai/docs/metadata-filtering)
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the delete by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch delete_by_query refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-delete-by-query#operation-delete-by-query-refresh).
         :returns: The number of documents deleted.
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()
@@ -696,7 +736,7 @@ def delete_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
         try:
             normalized_filters = _normalize_filters(filters)
             body = {"query": {"bool": {"filter": normalized_filters}}}
-            result = self.client.delete_by_query(index=self._index, body=body)  # type: ignore
+            result = self.client.delete_by_query(index=self._index, body=body, refresh=refresh)  # type: ignore
             deleted_count = result.get("deleted", 0)
             logger.info(
                 "Deleted {n_docs} documents from index '{index}' using filters.",
@@ -708,12 +748,15 @@ def delete_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
             msg = f"Failed to delete documents by filter from Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    async def delete_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
+    async def delete_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any], refresh: bool = False) -> int:
         """
         Asynchronously deletes all documents that match the provided filters.
 
         :param filters: The filters to apply to select documents for deletion.
             For filter syntax, see [Haystack metadata filtering](https://docs.haystack.deepset.ai/docs/metadata-filtering)
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the delete by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/refresh-parameter).
         :returns: The number of documents deleted.
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()
@@ -721,7 +764,7 @@ async def delete_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
         try:
             normalized_filters = _normalize_filters(filters)
             body = {"query": {"bool": {"filter": normalized_filters}}}
-            result = await self.async_client.delete_by_query(index=self._index, body=body)  # type: ignore
+            result = await self.async_client.delete_by_query(index=self._index, body=body, refresh=refresh)  # type: ignore
             deleted_count = result.get("deleted", 0)
             logger.info(
                 "Deleted {n_docs} documents from index '{index}' using filters.",
@@ -733,13 +776,16 @@ async def delete_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
             msg = f"Failed to delete documents by filter from Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    def update_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
+    def update_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any], refresh: bool = False) -> int:
         """
         Updates the metadata of all documents that match the provided filters.
 
         :param filters: The filters to apply to select documents for updating.
             For filter syntax, see [Haystack metadata filtering](https://docs.haystack.deepset.ai/docs/metadata-filtering)
         :param meta: The metadata fields to update.
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the update by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch update_by_query refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-update-by-query#operation-update-by-query-refresh).
         :returns: The number of documents updated.
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()
@@ -753,7 +799,7 @@ def update_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any]) -> int
                 "script": {"source": UPDATE_SCRIPT, "params": meta, "lang": "painless"},
             }
 
-            result = self.client.update_by_query(index=self._index, body=body)  # type: ignore
+            result = self.client.update_by_query(index=self._index, body=body, refresh=refresh)  # type: ignore
             updated_count = result.get("updated", 0)
             logger.info(
                 "Updated {n_docs} documents in index '{index}' using filters.",
@@ -765,13 +811,16 @@ def update_by_filter(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any]) -> int
             msg = f"Failed to update documents by filter in Elasticsearch: {e!s}"
             raise DocumentStoreError(msg) from e
 
-    async def update_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any]) -> int:
+    async def update_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str, Any], refresh: bool = False) -> int:
         """
         Asynchronously updates the metadata of all documents that match the provided filters.
 
         :param filters: The filters to apply to select documents for updating.
             For filter syntax, see [Haystack metadata filtering](https://docs.haystack.deepset.ai/docs/metadata-filtering)
         :param meta: The metadata fields to update.
+        :param refresh: If True, Elasticsearch refreshes all shards involved in the update by query after the request
+            completes. If False, no refresh is performed. For more details, see the
+            [Elasticsearch update_by_query refresh documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-update-by-query#operation-update-by-query-refresh).
         :returns: The number of documents updated.
         """
         self._ensure_initialized()
@@ -785,7 +834,7 @@ async def update_by_filter_async(self, filters: dict[str, Any], meta: dict[str,
                 "script": {"source": UPDATE_SCRIPT, "params": meta, "lang": "painless"},
             }
 
-            result = await self.async_client.update_by_query(index=self._index, body=body)  # type: ignore
+            result = await self.async_client.update_by_query(index=self._index, body=body, refresh=refresh)  # type: ignore
             updated_count = result.get("updated", 0)
             logger.info(
                 "Updated {n_docs} documents in index '{index}' using filters.",
diff --git a/integrations/elasticsearch/tests/test_document_store.py b/integrations/elasticsearch/tests/test_document_store.py
index ed7c763a1..0ded2d619 100644
--- a/integrations/elasticsearch/tests/test_document_store.py
+++ b/integrations/elasticsearch/tests/test_document_store.py
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-import asyncio
 import random
-import time
 from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -525,8 +523,7 @@ def test_delete_all_documents_no_index_recreation(self, document_store: Elastics
         document_store.write_documents(docs)
         assert document_store.count_documents() == 2
 
-        document_store.delete_all_documents(recreate_index=False)
-        time.sleep(2)  # need to wait for the deletion to be reflected in count_documents
+        document_store.delete_all_documents(recreate_index=False, refresh=True)
         assert document_store.count_documents() == 0
 
         new_doc = Document(id="3", content="New document after delete all")
@@ -547,8 +544,9 @@ def test_delete_by_filter(self, document_store: ElasticsearchDocumentStore):
         assert document_store.count_documents() == 3
 
         # Delete documents with category="A"
-        deleted_count = document_store.delete_by_filter(filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"})
-        time.sleep(2)  # wait for deletion to be reflected
+        deleted_count = document_store.delete_by_filter(
+            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"}, refresh=True
+        )
         assert deleted_count == 2
         assert document_store.count_documents() == 1
 
@@ -568,9 +566,10 @@ def test_update_by_filter(self, document_store: ElasticsearchDocumentStore):
 
         # Update status for category="A" documents
         updated_count = document_store.update_by_filter(
-            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"}, meta={"status": "published"}
+            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"},
+            meta={"status": "published"},
+            refresh=True,
         )
-        time.sleep(2)  # wait for update to be reflected
         assert updated_count == 2
 
         # Verify the updates
@@ -803,9 +802,7 @@ async def test_delete_all_documents_async_no_index_recreation(self, document_sto
         await document_store.write_documents_async(docs)
         assert await document_store.count_documents_async() == 2
 
-        await document_store.delete_all_documents_async(recreate_index=False)
-        # Need to wait for the deletion to be reflected in count_documents
-        await asyncio.sleep(2)
+        await document_store.delete_all_documents_async(recreate_index=False, refresh=True)
         assert await document_store.count_documents_async() == 0
 
         new_doc = Document(id="3", content="New document after delete all")
@@ -824,9 +821,8 @@ async def test_delete_by_filter_async(self, document_store):
 
         # Delete documents with category="A"
         deleted_count = await document_store.delete_by_filter_async(
-            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"}
+            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"}, refresh=True
         )
-        await asyncio.sleep(2)  # wait for deletion to be reflected
 
         assert deleted_count == 2
         assert await document_store.count_documents_async() == 1
@@ -848,9 +844,10 @@ async def test_update_by_filter_async(self, document_store):
 
         # Update status for category="A" documents
         updated_count = await document_store.update_by_filter_async(
-            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"}, meta={"status": "published"}
+            filters={"field": "category", "operator": "==", "value": "A"},
+            meta={"status": "published"},
+            refresh=True,
         )
-        await asyncio.sleep(2)  # wait for update to be reflected
         assert updated_count == 2
 
         # Verify the updates