Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for reducing user equipment (UE) capability information message size. A method for wireless communications by a UE is provided. The UE sends a first UE capability information message to a base station (BS) including a first set of UE capability information. The UE sends at least a second UE capability information message to the BS subsequent to sending the first UE capability information message including a second set of UE capability information. The second set of UE capability information does not include one or more UE capabilities included in the first set of UE capability information. The BS receives the first and second UE capability information.