An apparatus and method for supporting an optimized network reentry procedure in a multihop relay Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication system are provided. The communication method for an RS in a multihop relay cellular communication system, includes receiving a HO-notify message, which contains information of an MS handed over to the RS, from a Base Station (BS); and performing an optimized network reentry procedure with the MS using the MS information of the HO-notify message. By defining the RS-BS signaling to provide the RS with information as to the MS handed over to the RS, the optimized network reentry procedure can be carried out between the RS being the target node and the MS.