Embodiments of the present application relate to a communication method, a terminal device and a network device, where the method includes: the terminal device receives first authorization information sent by a core network device, and the first authorization information is used to indicate whether to authorize the terminal device to serve as a relay terminal device and/or a remote terminal device. The communication method, the terminal device, and the network device according to the embodiments of the present application can implement relay authorization for the terminal device in the 5G system.