Techniques are described for wireless communication. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) includes configuring a relay selection rule; receiving at least one discovery message from each of a plurality of proximity services (ProSe) relay candidates providing access to a network; evaluating the received discovery messages with respect to the relay selection rule; selecting a first ProSe relay candidate from the plurality of ProSe relay candidates based at least in part on the evaluating; and connecting to the network via the first ProSe relay candidate. A method for wireless communication at a ProSe relay candidate includes receiving, from a network, a ProSe Relay Indication (PRI); broadcasting at least one discovery message that includes the PRI; and receiving a relay connection request from a UE based at least in part on a compliance of the at least one discovery message with a relay selection rule of the UE.