diff --git a/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel.go b/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel.go
index fc97979..242fbf6 100644
--- a/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel.go
+++ b/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/cmd/umctl/pkg/hint"
 	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/cmd/umctl/pkg/registry"
 	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/cmd/umctl/pkg/response"
+	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/internal/umodel/payload"
 )
 
 var umodelCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -51,11 +53,7 @@ var umodelValidateCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			file = rest[0]
 		}
 		requireFile(file)
-		raw, err := readRawFile(file)
-		if err != nil {
-			hint.HandleInputError(err, file)
-		}
-		raw, err = wrapPayload(raw, "elements")
+		raw, err := readUModelValidatePayload(file)
 		if err != nil {
 			hint.HandleInputError(err, file)
 		}
@@ -135,7 +133,7 @@ func init() {
 	addWorkspaceFlag(umodelImportCmd, umodelValidateCmd, umodelPutCmd, umodelDeleteCmd, umodelExportCmd)
 
 	umodelImportCmd.Flags().String("path", "", "Path to YAML/JSON file or directory")
-	umodelValidateCmd.Flags().StringP("file", "f", "", "JSON file with UModel elements")
+	umodelValidateCmd.Flags().StringP("file", "f", "", "JSON elements payload or single UModel YAML file")
 	umodelPutCmd.Flags().StringP("file", "f", "", "JSON file with UModel elements")
 	umodelDeleteCmd.Flags().String("ids", "", "Comma-separated element IDs")
 	umodelExportCmd.Flags().Int("limit", 1000, "Maximum number of elements to export")
@@ -153,7 +151,7 @@ func init() {
 		Description: "Validate UModel elements",
 		Params: []registry.ParamMeta{
 			{Name: "workspace", Type: "string", Flag: "--workspace", Short: "-w", Description: "Target workspace", Required: true},
-			{Name: "file", Type: "string", Flag: "--file", Short: "-f", Description: "JSON file with elements", Required: true},
+			{Name: "file", Type: "string", Flag: "--file", Short: "-f", Description: "JSON elements payload or single UModel YAML file", Required: true},
 		},
 	})
 	registry.Global.Register(registry.CommandMeta{
@@ -199,6 +197,29 @@ func buildIDsPayload(ids, reason string) []byte {
 	return b
 }
 
+func readUModelValidatePayload(file string) ([]byte, error) {
+	raw, err := readRawFile(file)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !isYAMLPath(file) {
+		return wrapPayload(raw, "elements")
+	}
+	element, err := payload.ParseElementBytes(raw, filepath.Ext(file))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return marshalJSONBytes(map[string]any{"elements": []any{element}})
+}
+
+func isYAMLPath(path string) bool {
+	switch strings.ToLower(filepath.Ext(path)) {
+	case ".yaml", ".yml":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
 func requireWorkspace(ws string) {
 	if ws == "" {
 		response.ExitWithError(response.ExitParam, "Missing --workspace / -w flag", "Specify the target workspace.")
diff --git a/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel_yaml_test.go b/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel_yaml_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3792d06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/umctl/cmd/umodel_yaml_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestUModelValidateAcceptsSchemaStyleYAMLFile(t *testing.T) {
+	yamlPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "service.yaml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(yamlPath, []byte(`
+kind: entity_set
+schema:
+  version: v0.1.0
+metadata:
+  name: devops.service
+  domain: devops
+spec:
+  fields:
+    - name: id
+      type: string
+`), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write yaml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cleanup := setupTestEnv(t, http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		assertMethod(t, r, http.MethodPost)
+		assertPath(t, r, "/api/v1/umodel/demo/validate")
+		body := decodeBody(t, r)
+		elements, ok := body["elements"].([]any)
+		if !ok || len(elements) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected one normalized element, got %+v", body)
+		}
+		element, ok := elements[0].(map[string]any)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("expected object element, got %+v", elements[0])
+		}
+		assertField(t, element, "kind", "entity_set")
+		assertField(t, element, "domain", "devops")
+		assertField(t, element, "name", "devops.service")
+		assertField(t, element, "version", "v0.1.0")
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"valid":true}`))
+	}))
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	out, code := captureStdoutAndExitCode(t, func() {
+		rootCmd.SetArgs([]string{"umodel", "validate", "demo", yamlPath})
+		rootCmd.Execute()
+	})
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, output = %s", code, out)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/docs/en/reference/cli.md b/docs/en/reference/cli.md
index 4aaa8a0..5c21c4b 100644
--- a/docs/en/reference/cli.md
+++ b/docs/en/reference/cli.md
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 workspace delete demo
 ## UModel
 
 ```bash
-go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel validate demo examples/quickstart-multidomain/devops/entity_set/devops.service.yaml
+go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel validate demo examples/quickstart-multidomain/umodel/devops/entity_set/devops.service.yaml
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel put demo '{"kind":"entity_set","domain":"devops","name":"devops.service"}'
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel import demo examples/quickstart-multidomain
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel export demo 100
 ```
 
-`umodel put` and `umodel validate` accept a JSON object, a JSON array, or a JSON payload with an `elements` field.
+`umodel validate` accepts a JSON object, JSON array, JSON payload with an `elements` field, or one UModel YAML source file. `umodel put` accepts JSON only: an object, array, or payload with an `elements` field.
 
 ## EntityStore
 
diff --git a/docs/zh/reference/cli.md b/docs/zh/reference/cli.md
index a60a805..1d3e4fa 100644
--- a/docs/zh/reference/cli.md
+++ b/docs/zh/reference/cli.md
@@ -111,13 +111,13 @@ go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 workspace delete demo
 ## UModel
 
 ```bash
-go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel validate demo examples/quickstart-multidomain/devops/entity_set/devops.service.yaml
+go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel validate demo examples/quickstart-multidomain/umodel/devops/entity_set/devops.service.yaml
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel put demo '{"kind":"entity_set","domain":"devops","name":"devops.service"}'
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel import demo examples/quickstart-multidomain
 go run ./cmd/umctl --addr http://localhost:8080 umodel export demo 100
 ```
 
-`umodel put` 和 `umodel validate` 接受 JSON object、JSON array，或包含 `elements` 字段的 payload。
+`umodel validate` 接受 JSON object、JSON array、包含 `elements` 字段的 JSON payload，或单个 UModel YAML 源文件。`umodel put` 只接受 JSON：object、array，或包含 `elements` 字段的 payload。
 
 ## EntityStore
 
diff --git a/internal/umodel/import.go b/internal/umodel/import.go
index 6aebbfc..8e647bf 100644
--- a/internal/umodel/import.go
+++ b/internal/umodel/import.go
@@ -2,16 +2,14 @@ package umodel
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/internal/umodel/payload"
 	apperrors "github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/pkg/model"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 // Import loads UModel elements from an operator-provided path. The path is
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ func (s *Service) importInternal(ctx context.Context, workspace string, req mode
 			}
 			path = resolved
 		}
-		element, err := parseUModelElementFile(path)
+		element, err := payload.ParseElementFile(path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return result, apperrors.WithDetails(apperrors.CodeValidationFailed, "umodel import failed", map[string]string{
 				"path":   path,
@@ -249,112 +247,3 @@ func isImportFile(path string) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 }
-
-func parseUModelElementFile(path string) (model.UModelElement, error) {
-	body, err := os.ReadFile(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return model.UModelElement{}, err
-	}
-	var payload map[string]any
-	switch strings.ToLower(filepath.Ext(path)) {
-	case ".json":
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &payload); err != nil {
-			return model.UModelElement{}, err
-		}
-	case ".yaml", ".yml":
-		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(body, &payload); err != nil {
-			return model.UModelElement{}, err
-		}
-	default:
-		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported file extension")
-	}
-	return elementFromPayload(normalizeMap(payload))
-}
-
-func elementFromPayload(payload map[string]any) (model.UModelElement, error) {
-	metadata := nestedMap(payload, "metadata")
-	schema := nestedMap(payload, "schema")
-
-	kind := firstString(payload["kind"])
-	name := firstString(metadata["name"], payload["name"])
-	domain := firstString(metadata["domain"], payload["domain"])
-	version := firstString(schema["version"], payload["version"])
-	if domain == "" {
-		domain = inferDomain(name)
-	}
-	if kind == "" {
-		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("kind is required")
-	}
-	if domain == "" {
-		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("domain or metadata.domain is required")
-	}
-	if name == "" {
-		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("name or metadata.name is required")
-	}
-
-	spec := nestedMap(payload, "spec")
-	return model.UModelElement{
-		Kind:    kind,
-		Domain:  domain,
-		Name:    name,
-		Version: version,
-		Spec:    spec,
-	}, nil
-}
-
-func normalizeMap(source map[string]any) map[string]any {
-	if source == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := make(map[string]any, len(source))
-	for key, value := range source {
-		out[key] = normalizeValue(value)
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-func normalizeValue(value any) any {
-	switch typed := value.(type) {
-	case map[string]any:
-		return normalizeMap(typed)
-	case map[any]any:
-		out := make(map[string]any, len(typed))
-		for key, value := range typed {
-			out[fmt.Sprint(key)] = normalizeValue(value)
-		}
-		return out
-	case []any:
-		out := make([]any, len(typed))
-		for i, item := range typed {
-			out[i] = normalizeValue(item)
-		}
-		return out
-	default:
-		return typed
-	}
-}
-
-func nestedMap(source map[string]any, key string) map[string]any {
-	value, ok := source[key].(map[string]any)
-	if !ok {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return value
-}
-
-func firstString(values ...any) string {
-	for _, value := range values {
-		text, ok := value.(string)
-		if ok && text != "" {
-			return text
-		}
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
-func inferDomain(name string) string {
-	if before, _, ok := strings.Cut(name, "."); ok {
-		return before
-	}
-	return ""
-}
diff --git a/internal/umodel/payload/payload.go b/internal/umodel/payload/payload.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..429dc15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/umodel/payload/payload.go
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+package payload
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/alibaba/UnifiedModel/pkg/model"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+// ParseElementFile reads one UModel source file and normalizes its
+// schema/metadata envelope into the public UModelElement shape.
+func ParseElementFile(path string) (model.UModelElement, error) {
+	body, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return model.UModelElement{}, err
+	}
+	return ParseElementBytes(body, filepath.Ext(path))
+}
+
+// ParseElementBytes normalizes one JSON or YAML UModel source document.
+func ParseElementBytes(body []byte, ext string) (model.UModelElement, error) {
+	var payload map[string]any
+	switch strings.ToLower(ext) {
+	case ".json":
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &payload); err != nil {
+			return model.UModelElement{}, err
+		}
+	case ".yaml", ".yml":
+		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(body, &payload); err != nil {
+			return model.UModelElement{}, err
+		}
+	default:
+		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported file extension")
+	}
+	return elementFromMap(normalizeMap(payload))
+}
+
+func elementFromMap(payload map[string]any) (model.UModelElement, error) {
+	metadata := nestedMap(payload, "metadata")
+	schema := nestedMap(payload, "schema")
+
+	kind := firstString(payload["kind"])
+	name := firstString(metadata["name"], payload["name"])
+	domain := firstString(metadata["domain"], payload["domain"])
+	version := firstString(schema["version"], payload["version"])
+	if domain == "" {
+		domain = inferDomain(name)
+	}
+	if kind == "" {
+		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("kind is required")
+	}
+	if domain == "" {
+		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("domain or metadata.domain is required")
+	}
+	if name == "" {
+		return model.UModelElement{}, fmt.Errorf("name or metadata.name is required")
+	}
+
+	spec := nestedMap(payload, "spec")
+	return model.UModelElement{
+		Kind:    kind,
+		Domain:  domain,
+		Name:    name,
+		Version: version,
+		Spec:    spec,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func normalizeMap(source map[string]any) map[string]any {
+	if source == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make(map[string]any, len(source))
+	for key, value := range source {
+		out[key] = normalizeValue(value)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func normalizeValue(value any) any {
+	switch typed := value.(type) {
+	case map[string]any:
+		return normalizeMap(typed)
+	case map[any]any:
+		out := make(map[string]any, len(typed))
+		for key, value := range typed {
+			out[fmt.Sprint(key)] = normalizeValue(value)
+		}
+		return out
+	case []any:
+		out := make([]any, len(typed))
+		for i, item := range typed {
+			out[i] = normalizeValue(item)
+		}
+		return out
+	default:
+		return typed
+	}
+}
+
+func nestedMap(source map[string]any, key string) map[string]any {
+	value, ok := source[key].(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return value
+}
+
+func firstString(values ...any) string {
+	for _, value := range values {
+		text, ok := value.(string)
+		if ok && text != "" {
+			return text
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func inferDomain(name string) string {
+	if before, _, ok := strings.Cut(name, "."); ok {
+		return before
+	}
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/internal/umodel/payload/payload_test.go b/internal/umodel/payload/payload_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..139f0f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/umodel/payload/payload_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package payload
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestParseElementBytesNormalizesSchemaStyleYAML(t *testing.T) {
+	element, err := ParseElementBytes([]byte(`
+kind: entity_set
+schema:
+  version: v0.1.0
+metadata:
+  name: devops.service
+  domain: devops
+spec:
+  fields:
+    - name: id
+      type: string
+`), ".yaml")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse yaml: %v", err)
+	}
+	if element.Kind != "entity_set" || element.Domain != "devops" || element.Name != "devops.service" || element.Version != "v0.1.0" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected element envelope: %+v", element)
+	}
+	fields, ok := element.Spec["fields"].([]any)
+	if !ok || len(fields) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected spec.fields to survive normalization, got %+v", element.Spec)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseElementBytesInfersDomainFromName(t *testing.T) {
+	element, err := ParseElementBytes([]byte(`
+kind: entity_set
+metadata:
+  name: devops.service
+`), ".yaml")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse yaml: %v", err)
+	}
+	if element.Domain != "devops" {
+		t.Fatalf("domain = %q, want devops", element.Domain)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/umodel/schemaspec/validator.go b/internal/umodel/schemaspec/validator.go
index cd96eeb..1fe4dcc 100644
--- a/internal/umodel/schemaspec/validator.go
+++ b/internal/umodel/schemaspec/validator.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func NewNoopValidator() *Validator {
 // unknown to the registry; field-level problems are reported in Result.
 //
 // TODO(v2): also validate the kind/schema/metadata envelope (currently
-// elementFromPayload validates the minimum imperatively before the element
+// the UModel payload normalizer validates the minimum imperatively before the element
 // reaches this layer).
 func (v *Validator) Validate(element model.UModelElement) (Result, error) {
 	if v == nil || v.registry == nil {