A communication method and a system for converging a fifth generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a fourth generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of things (IoT) are provided. The communication method and system include intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology. A method by a terminal for performing a random access procedure upon handover in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises identifying at least one of whether timing of a target cell is available or whether a physical random access channel (PRACH) association period is greater than one radio frame, determining whether to initiate a random access procedure on the target cell before receiving and decoding a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) of the target cell based on the identification, and performing the random access procedure based on the determination.