Methods, systems, and devices for remote user equipment (UE) discovery and link establishment for reduced capability UE are described. In some examples, a relay UE may transmit one or more discovery messages associated with establishing a sidelink relay communication link between the relay UE and a remote UE having a reduced communication bandwidth capability relative to the relay UE. In such examples, the relay UE may perform a communication bandwidth configuration procedure with the remote UE based on the remote UE having the reduced communication bandwidth capability relative to the relay UE. In some examples, the relay UE and the remote UE may establish, in accordance with the communication bandwidth configuration procedure, the sidelink relay communication link between the relay UE and the remote UE using a reduced communication bandwidth that is less than a full communication bandwidth allocated for the relay UE.