Methods and apparatuses of UE for an efficient neighbor cell search in a wireless communication network. A method of a UE comprises: receiving system information including time instance information for performing measurements on neighboring cells; identifying a time instance included in the time instance information; determining, based on a comparison between a current absolute time and the time instance, whether to perform the measurements on the neighboring cells; and skipping performing the measurements on the neighboring cells based on a determination that the current absolute time is before the time instance.