Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for enhanced user equipment (UE) capability exchange for transitioning a connection from a first radio access technology system to a second radio access technology system. An exemplary method performed by a UE includes communicating with a first base station (BS) via a connection of a first radio access technology (RAT), determining, based on the first RAT, to omit a set of capabilities of the UE from capabilities information of the UE regarding a second RAT, transmitting the capabilities information of the UE regarding the second RAT to the first BS via the first RAT, communicating with a second BS via the second RAT according to the capabilities information, and sending an update of the capabilities information of the UE regarding the second RAT via the second RAT.