diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/staging-verify.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/staging-verify.yml
index 9bb42df98..5a908b472 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/staging-verify.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/staging-verify.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,25 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
+      - name: Verify VPN connectivity
+        run: |
+          echo "Checking VPN/SOCKS5 proxy connectivity..."
+
+          # Check if SOCKS5 proxy is running
+          if ! nc -z 127.0.0.1 1080 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::error::SOCKS5 proxy not available on port 1080"
+            echo "Ensure WireGuard VPN and SOCKS5 tunnel are running"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✓ SOCKS5 proxy available on port 1080"
+
+          # Test connectivity to staging via proxy
+          if curl -s --socks5-hostname 127.0.0.1:1080 -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://next.www.atlilith.com/health | grep -q "200\|503"; then
+            echo "✓ Can reach staging via SOCKS5 proxy"
+          else
+            echo "::warning::Could not verify staging connectivity (service may be down)"
+          fi
+
       - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
 
       - name: Setup Node.js
@@ -78,6 +97,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: features/webmap/e2e
         env:
           STAGING_URL: http://next.www.atlilith.com
+          SOCKS_PROXY: socks5://127.0.0.1:1080
 
       - name: Verify trustedmeet.com staging
         if: steps.sites.outputs.verify_trustedmeet == 'true'
@@ -85,6 +105,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: features/webmap/e2e
         env:
           TRUSTEDMEET_STAGING_URL: http://next.www.trustedmeet.com
+          SOCKS_PROXY: socks5://127.0.0.1:1080
 
       - name: Upload test results
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/features/webmap/e2e/playwright.config.ts b/features/webmap/e2e/playwright.config.ts
index a8254efa4..71207a8d3 100644
--- a/features/webmap/e2e/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/features/webmap/e2e/playwright.config.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ export default defineConfig({
   use: {
     trace: 'on-first-retry',
     screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
+    // Use SOCKS5 proxy for VPN access to staging environments
+    // Proxy runs on localhost:1080 via WireGuard tunnel
+    proxy: process.env.SOCKS_PROXY
+      ? { server: process.env.SOCKS_PROXY }
+      : { server: 'socks5://127.0.0.1:1080' },
   },
 
   projects: [