diff --git a/python/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.sip b/python/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.sip
index 72143a6e081..90b613b8aac 100644
--- a/python/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.sip
+++ b/python/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.sip
@@ -139,6 +139,20 @@ class QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : QgsProcessingAlgorithm
 .. seealso:: setOutputChildId()
 %End
 
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+%Docstring
+ Saves this source to a QVariant.
+.. seealso:: loadVariant()
+ :rtype: QVariant
+%End
+
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+%Docstring
+ Loads this source from a QVariantMap.
+.. seealso:: toVariant()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
     };
 
     class Component
@@ -192,6 +206,18 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
 %End
 
 
+        void saveCommonProperties( QVariantMap &map ) const;
+%Docstring
+ Saves the component properties to a QVariantMap.
+.. seealso:: restoreCommonProperties()
+%End
+
+        void restoreCommonProperties( const QVariantMap &map );
+%Docstring
+ Restores the component properties from a QVariantMap.
+.. seealso:: saveCommonProperties()
+%End
+
     };
 
     class ModelParameter : QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component
@@ -227,6 +253,20 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
 .. seealso:: parameterName()
 %End
 
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+%Docstring
+ Saves this parameter to a QVariant.
+.. seealso:: loadVariant()
+ :rtype: QVariant
+%End
+
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+%Docstring
+ Loads this parameter from a QVariantMap.
+.. seealso:: toVariant()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
     };
 
 
@@ -273,6 +313,20 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
 .. seealso:: outputName()
 %End
 
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+%Docstring
+ Saves this output to a QVariant.
+.. seealso:: loadVariant()
+ :rtype: QVariant
+%End
+
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+%Docstring
+ Loads this output from a QVariantMap.
+.. seealso:: toVariant()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
     };
 
     class ChildAlgorithm : QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component
@@ -461,6 +515,20 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
 .. seealso:: modelOutputs()
 %End
 
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+%Docstring
+ Saves this child to a QVariant.
+.. seealso:: loadVariant()
+ :rtype: QVariant
+%End
+
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariant &child );
+%Docstring
+ Loads this child from a QVariant.
+.. seealso:: toVariant()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
     };
 
     QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm( const QString &name = QString(), const QString &group = QString() );
@@ -484,6 +552,18 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
      virtual QVariantMap processAlgorithm( const QVariantMap &parameters,
                                   QgsProcessingContext &context, QgsProcessingFeedback *feedback ) const;
 
+    void setName( const QString &name );
+%Docstring
+ Sets the model ``name``.
+.. seealso:: name()
+%End
+
+    void setGroup( const QString &group );
+%Docstring
+ Sets the model ``group``.
+.. seealso:: group()
+%End
+
     QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm> childAlgorithms() const;
 %Docstring
  Returns the map of child algorithms contained in the model. The keys
@@ -651,6 +731,20 @@ Copies are protected to avoid slicing
  :rtype: QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm.ModelParameter
 %End
 
+    bool toFile( const QString &path ) const;
+%Docstring
+ Writes the model to a file, at the specified ``path``.
+.. seealso:: fromFile()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
+    bool fromFile( const QString &path );
+%Docstring
+ Reads the model from a file, at the specified ``path``.
+.. seealso:: toFile()
+ :rtype: bool
+%End
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/AddModelFromFileAction.py b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/AddModelFromFileAction.py
index e69a90cadde..b62cbab7e02 100644
--- a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/AddModelFromFileAction.py
+++ b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/AddModelFromFileAction.py
@@ -56,22 +56,16 @@ class AddModelFromFileAction(ToolboxAction):
                                                                 self.tr('Open model', 'AddModelFromFileAction'), lastDir,
                                                                 self.tr('Processing model files (*.model *.MODEL)', 'AddModelFromFileAction'))
         if filename:
-            try:
-                settings.setValue('Processing/lastModelsDir',
-                                  QFileInfo(filename).absoluteDir().absolutePath())
+            settings.setValue('Processing/lastModelsDir',
+                              QFileInfo(filename).absoluteDir().absolutePath())
 
-                ModelerAlgorithm.fromFile(filename)
-            except WrongModelException:
+            alg = ModelerAlgorithm()
+            if not alg.fromFile(filename):
                 QMessageBox.warning(
                     self.toolbox,
                     self.tr('Error reading model', 'AddModelFromFileAction'),
                     self.tr('The selected file does not contain a valid model', 'AddModelFromFileAction'))
                 return
-            except:
-                QMessageBox.warning(self.toolbox,
-                                    self.tr('Error reading model', 'AddModelFromFileAction'),
-                                    self.tr('Cannot read file', 'AddModelFromFileAction'))
-                return
             destFilename = os.path.join(ModelerUtils.modelsFolders()[0], os.path.basename(filename))
             shutil.copyfile(filename, destFilename)
             QgsApplication.processingRegistry().providerById('model').refreshAlgorithms()
diff --git a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithm.py b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithm.py
index 899c5c1731d..02405d00aaf 100644
--- a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithm.py
+++ b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithm.py
@@ -365,15 +365,6 @@ class ModelerAlgorithm(QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm):
             model._name = model.modeler_name
         return model
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def fromFile(filename):
-        with open(filename) as f:
-            s = f.read()
-        alg = ModelerAlgorithm.fromJson(s)
-        if alg:
-            alg.descriptionFile = filename
-        return alg
-
     def toPython(self):
         s = ['##%s=name' % self.name()]
         for param in list(self.parameterComponents().values()):
diff --git a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithmProvider.py b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithmProvider.py
index 2382dd14804..a2a8a7beee0 100644
--- a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithmProvider.py
+++ b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerAlgorithmProvider.py
@@ -27,10 +27,13 @@ __revision__ = '$Format:%H$'
 
 import os
 
+from qgis.PyQt.QtXml import QDomDocument
+
 from qgis.core import (QgsApplication,
                        QgsProcessingProvider,
                        QgsMessageLog,
-                       QgsProcessingUtils)
+                       QgsProcessingUtils,
+                       QgsXmlUtils)
 
 from processing.core.ProcessingConfig import ProcessingConfig, Setting
 from processing.modeler.ModelerUtils import ModelerUtils
@@ -98,13 +101,15 @@ class ModelerAlgorithmProvider(QgsProcessingProvider):
             return
         for path, subdirs, files in os.walk(folder):
             for descriptionFile in files:
-                if descriptionFile.endswith('model'):
+                if descriptionFile.endswith('model3'):
                     try:
                         fullpath = os.path.join(path, descriptionFile)
-                        alg = ModelerAlgorithm.fromFile(fullpath)
-                        if alg.name():
-                            alg.descriptionFile = fullpath
-                            self.algs.append(alg)
+
+                        alg = ModelerAlgorithm()
+                        if alg.fromFile(fullpath):
+                            if alg.name():
+                                alg.descriptionFile = fullpath
+                                self.algs.append(alg)
                         else:
                             QgsMessageLog.logMessage(self.tr('Could not load model {0}', 'ModelerAlgorithmProvider').format(descriptionFile),
                                                      self.tr('Processing'), QgsMessageLog.CRITICAL)
diff --git a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerDialog.py b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerDialog.py
index d4c9c751408..63256fed532 100644
--- a/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerDialog.py
+++ b/python/plugins/processing/modeler/ModelerDialog.py
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ from qgis.core import (QgsApplication,
                        QgsSettings,
                        QgsMessageLog,
                        QgsProcessingUtils,
-                       QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm)
+                       QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm,
+                       QgsXmlUtils)
 from qgis.gui import QgsMessageBar
 from processing.gui.HelpEditionDialog import HelpEditionDialog
 from processing.gui.AlgorithmDialog import AlgorithmDialog
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ from processing.modeler.ModelerParametersDialog import ModelerParametersDialog
 from processing.modeler.ModelerUtils import ModelerUtils
 from processing.modeler.ModelerScene import ModelerScene
 from processing.modeler.WrongModelException import WrongModelException
+from qgis.PyQt.QtXml import QDomDocument
 
 pluginPath = os.path.split(os.path.dirname(__file__))[0]
 WIDGET, BASE = uic.loadUiType(
@@ -435,25 +437,21 @@ class ModelerDialog(BASE, WIDGET):
                 self, self.tr('Warning'), self.tr('Please enter group and model names before saving')
             )
             return
-        self.model._name = str(self.textName.text())
-        self.model._group = str(self.textGroup.text())
+        self.model.setName(str(self.textName.text()))
+        self.model.setGroup(str(self.textGroup.text()))
         if self.model.descriptionFile is not None and not saveAs:
             filename = self.model.descriptionFile
         else:
             filename, filter = QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(self,
                                                            self.tr('Save Model'),
                                                            ModelerUtils.modelsFolders()[0],
-                                                           self.tr('Processing models (*.model)'))
+                                                           self.tr('Processing models (*.model3)'))
             if filename:
-                if not filename.endswith('.model'):
-                    filename += '.model'
+                if not filename.endswith('.model3'):
+                    filename += '.model3'
                 self.model.descriptionFile = filename
         if filename:
-            text = self.model.toJson()
-            try:
-                with codecs.open(filename, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as fout:
-                    fout.write(text)
-            except:
+            if not self.model.toFile(filename):
                 if saveAs:
                     QMessageBox.warning(self, self.tr('I/O error'),
                                         self.tr('Unable to save edits. Reason:\n {0}').format(str(sys.exc_info()[1])))
@@ -475,28 +473,22 @@ class ModelerDialog(BASE, WIDGET):
                                                                 ModelerUtils.modelsFolders()[0],
                                                                 self.tr('Processing models (*.model *.MODEL)'))
         if filename:
-            try:
-                alg = ModelerAlgorithm.fromFile(filename)
+            alg = ModelerAlgorithm()
+            if alg.fromFile(filename):
                 self.model = alg
-                self.textGroup.setText(alg._group)
-                self.textName.setText(alg._name)
+                self.textGroup.setText(alg.group())
+                self.textName.setText(alg.name())
                 self.repaintModel()
 
                 self.view.centerOn(0, 0)
                 self.hasChanged = False
-            except WrongModelException as e:
-                QgsMessageLog.logMessage(self.tr('Could not load model {0}\n{1}').format(filename, e.msg),
+            else:
+                QgsMessageLog.logMessage(self.tr('Could not load model {0}').format(filename),
                                          self.tr('Processing'),
                                          QgsMessageLog.CRITICAL)
                 QMessageBox.critical(self, self.tr('Could not open model'),
                                      self.tr('The selected model could not be loaded.\n'
                                              'See the log for more information.'))
-            except Exception as e:
-                QgsMessageLog.logMessage(self.tr('Could not load model {0}\n{1}').format(filename, e.args[0]),
-                                         self.tr('Processing'), QgsMessageLog.CRITICAL)
-                QMessageBox.critical(self, self.tr('Could not open model'),
-                                     self.tr('The selected model could not be loaded.\n'
-                                             'See the log for more information.'))
 
     def repaintModel(self, controls=True):
         self.scene = ModelerScene(self, dialog=self)
diff --git a/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.cpp b/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.cpp
index 7ae6a21daac..b4f9c3c1be3 100644
--- a/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 
 #include "qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.h"
 #include "qgsprocessingregistry.h"
+#include "qgsxmlutils.h"
+#include <QFile>
+#include <QTextStream>
 
 QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm( const QString &algorithmId )
   : mAlgorithmId( algorithmId )
@@ -78,6 +81,22 @@ QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component::Component( const QString &description )
   : mDescription( description )
 {}
 
+void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component::saveCommonProperties( QVariantMap &map ) const
+{
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "component_pos_x" ), mPosition.x() );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "component_pos_y" ), mPosition.y() );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "component_description" ), mDescription );
+}
+
+void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component::restoreCommonProperties( const QVariantMap &map )
+{
+  QPointF pos;
+  pos.setX( map.value( QStringLiteral( "component_pos_x" ) ).toDouble() );
+  pos.setY( map.value( QStringLiteral( "component_pos_y" ) ).toDouble() );
+  mPosition = pos;
+  mDescription = map.value( QStringLiteral( "component_description" ) ).toString();
+}
+
 QStringList QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::dependencies() const
 {
   return mDependencies;
@@ -113,6 +132,77 @@ void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::setModelOutputs( const QMap<QS
   mModelOutputs = modelOutputs;
 }
 
+QVariant QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::toVariant() const
+{
+  QVariantMap map;
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "id" ), mId );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "alg_id" ), mAlgorithmId );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "active" ), mActive );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "dependencies" ), mDependencies );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "parameters_collapsed" ), mParametersCollapsed );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "outputs_collapsed" ), mOutputsCollapsed );
+
+  saveCommonProperties( map );
+
+  QVariantMap paramMap;
+  QMap< QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource >::const_iterator paramIt = mParams.constBegin();
+  for ( ; paramIt != mParams.constEnd(); ++paramIt )
+  {
+    paramMap.insert( paramIt.key(), paramIt.value().toVariant() );
+  }
+  map.insert( "params", paramMap );
+
+  QVariantMap outputMap;
+  QMap< QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput >::const_iterator outputIt = mModelOutputs.constBegin();
+  for ( ; outputIt != mModelOutputs.constEnd(); ++outputIt )
+  {
+    outputMap.insert( outputIt.key(), outputIt.value().toVariant() );
+  }
+  map.insert( "outputs", outputMap );
+
+  return map;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::loadVariant( const QVariant &child )
+{
+  QVariantMap map = child.toMap();
+
+  mId = map.value( QStringLiteral( "id" ) ).toString();
+  mAlgorithmId = map.value( QStringLiteral( "alg_id" ) ).toString();
+  mActive = map.value( QStringLiteral( "active" ) ).toBool();
+  mDependencies = map.value( QStringLiteral( "dependencies" ) ).toStringList();
+  mParametersCollapsed = map.value( QStringLiteral( "parameters_collapsed" ) ).toBool();
+  mOutputsCollapsed = map.value( QStringLiteral( "outputs_collapsed" ) ).toBool();
+
+  restoreCommonProperties( map );
+
+  mParams.clear();
+  QVariantMap paramMap = map.value( QStringLiteral( "params" ) ).toMap();
+  QVariantMap::const_iterator paramIt = paramMap.constBegin();
+  for ( ; paramIt != paramMap.constEnd(); ++paramIt )
+  {
+    ChildParameterSource param;
+    if ( !param.loadVariant( paramIt.value().toMap() ) )
+      return false;
+
+    mParams.insert( paramIt.key(), param );
+  }
+
+  mModelOutputs.clear();
+  QVariantMap outputMap = map.value( QStringLiteral( "outputs" ) ).toMap();
+  QVariantMap::const_iterator outputIt = outputMap.constBegin();
+  for ( ; outputIt != outputMap.constEnd(); ++outputIt )
+  {
+    ModelOutput output;
+    if ( !output.loadVariant( outputIt.value().toMap() ) )
+      return false;
+
+    mModelOutputs.insert( outputIt.key(), output );
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
 bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::parametersCollapsed() const
 {
   return mParametersCollapsed;
@@ -201,6 +291,16 @@ QVariantMap QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::processAlgorithm( const QVariantMap &pa
   return QVariantMap();
 }
 
+void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::setName( const QString &name )
+{
+  mModelName = name;
+}
+
+void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::setGroup( const QString &group )
+{
+  mModelGroup = group;
+}
+
 QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm> QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::childAlgorithms() const
 {
   return mChildAlgorithms;
@@ -227,6 +327,99 @@ QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter &QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::parame
   return mParameterComponents[ name ];
 }
 
+QVariant QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::toVariant() const
+{
+  QVariantMap map;
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "model_name" ), mModelName );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "model_group" ), mModelGroup );
+
+  QVariantMap childMap;
+  QMap< QString, ChildAlgorithm >::const_iterator childIt = mChildAlgorithms.constBegin();
+  for ( ; childIt != mChildAlgorithms.constEnd(); ++childIt )
+  {
+    childMap.insert( childIt.key(), childIt.value().toVariant() );
+  }
+  map.insert( "children", childMap );
+
+  QVariantMap paramMap;
+  QMap< QString, ModelParameter >::const_iterator paramIt = mParameterComponents.constBegin();
+  for ( ; paramIt != mParameterComponents.constEnd(); ++paramIt )
+  {
+    paramMap.insert( paramIt.key(), paramIt.value().toVariant() );
+  }
+  map.insert( "parameters", paramMap );
+
+  return map;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::loadVariant( const QVariant &model )
+{
+  QVariantMap map = model.toMap();
+
+  mModelName = map.value( QStringLiteral( "model_name" ) ).toString();
+  mModelGroup = map.value( QStringLiteral( "model_group" ) ).toString();
+
+  mChildAlgorithms.clear();
+  QVariantMap childMap = map.value( QStringLiteral( "children" ) ).toMap();
+  QVariantMap::const_iterator childIt = childMap.constBegin();
+  for ( ; childIt != childMap.constEnd(); ++childIt )
+  {
+    ChildAlgorithm child;
+    if ( !child.loadVariant( childIt.value() ) )
+      return false;
+
+    mChildAlgorithms.insert( child.childId(), child );
+  }
+
+  mParameterComponents.clear();
+  QVariantMap paramMap = map.value( QStringLiteral( "parameters" ) ).toMap();
+  QVariantMap::const_iterator paramIt = paramMap.constBegin();
+  for ( ; paramIt != paramMap.constEnd(); ++paramIt )
+  {
+    ModelParameter param;
+    if ( !param.loadVariant( paramIt.value().toMap() ) )
+      return false;
+
+    mParameterComponents.insert( param.parameterName(), param );
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::toFile( const QString &path ) const
+{
+  QDomDocument doc = QDomDocument( "model" );
+  QDomElement elem = QgsXmlUtils::writeVariant( toVariant(), doc );
+  doc.appendChild( elem );
+
+  QFile file( path );
+  if ( file.open( QFile::WriteOnly | QFile::Truncate ) )
+  {
+    QTextStream stream( &file );
+    doc.save( stream, 2 );
+    file.close();
+    return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::fromFile( const QString &path )
+{
+  QDomDocument doc;
+
+  QFile file( path );
+  if ( file.open( QFile::ReadOnly ) )
+  {
+    if ( !doc.setContent( &file ) )
+      return false;
+
+    file.close();
+  }
+
+  QVariant props = QgsXmlUtils::readVariant( doc.firstChildElement() );
+  return loadVariant( props );
+}
+
 void QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::setChildAlgorithms( const QMap<QString, ChildAlgorithm> &childAlgorithms )
 {
   mChildAlgorithms = childAlgorithms;
@@ -484,13 +677,91 @@ QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::Source QgsProcessingModelAlgo
   return mSource;
 }
 
+QVariant QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::toVariant() const
+{
+  QVariantMap map;
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "source" ), mSource );
+  switch ( mSource )
+  {
+    case ModelParameter:
+      map.insert( QStringLiteral( "parameter_name" ), mParameterName );
+      break;
+
+    case ChildOutput:
+      map.insert( QStringLiteral( "child_id" ), mChildId );
+      map.insert( QStringLiteral( "output_name" ), mOutputName );
+      break;
+
+    case StaticValue:
+      map.insert( QStringLiteral( "static_value" ), mStaticValue );
+      break;
+  }
+  return map;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map )
+{
+  mSource = static_cast< Source >( map.value( QStringLiteral( "source" ) ).toInt() );
+  switch ( mSource )
+  {
+    case ModelParameter:
+      mParameterName = map.value( QStringLiteral( "parameter_name" ) ).toString();
+      break;
+
+    case ChildOutput:
+      mChildId = map.value( QStringLiteral( "child_id" ) ).toString();
+      mOutputName = map.value( QStringLiteral( "output_name" ) ).toString();
+      break;
+
+    case StaticValue:
+      mStaticValue = map.value( QStringLiteral( "static_value" ) );
+      break;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
 QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput::ModelOutput( const QString &description )
   : QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component( description )
 {}
 
+QVariant QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput::toVariant() const
+{
+  QVariantMap map;
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "child_id" ), mChildId );
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "output_name" ), mOutputName );
+  saveCommonProperties( map );
+  return map;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput::loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map )
+{
+  mChildId = map.value( QStringLiteral( "child_id" ) ).toString();
+  mOutputName = map.value( QStringLiteral( "output_name" ) ).toString();
+  restoreCommonProperties( map );
+  return true;
+}
+
 QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter::ModelParameter( const QString &parameterName )
   : QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component()
   , mParameterName( parameterName )
 {
 
 }
+
+QVariant QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter::toVariant() const
+{
+  QVariantMap map;
+  map.insert( QStringLiteral( "name" ), mParameterName );
+
+  //TODO - parameter definition
+
+  saveCommonProperties( map );
+  return map;
+}
+
+bool QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter::loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map )
+{
+  mParameterName = map.value( QStringLiteral( "name" ) ).toString();
+  restoreCommonProperties( map );
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.h b/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.h
index 4ab843f8720..a9a27a142eb 100644
--- a/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.h
+++ b/src/core/processing/qgsprocessingmodelalgorithm.h
@@ -140,6 +140,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
          */
         void setOutputName( const QString &name ) { mOutputName = name; mSource = ChildOutput; }
 
+        /**
+         * Saves this source to a QVariant.
+         * \see loadVariant()
+         */
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+
+        /**
+         * Loads this source from a QVariantMap.
+         * \see toVariant()
+         */
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+
       private:
 
         Source mSource = StaticValue;
@@ -194,6 +206,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
         //! Copies are protected to avoid slicing
         Component &operator=( const QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::Component &other ) = default;
 
+        /**
+         * Saves the component properties to a QVariantMap.
+         * \see restoreCommonProperties()
+         */
+        void saveCommonProperties( QVariantMap &map ) const;
+
+        /**
+         * Restores the component properties from a QVariantMap.
+         * \see saveCommonProperties()
+         */
+        void restoreCommonProperties( const QVariantMap &map );
+
       private:
 
         //! Position of component within model
@@ -232,6 +256,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
          */
         void setParameterName( const QString &name ) { mParameterName = name; }
 
+        /**
+         * Saves this parameter to a QVariant.
+         * \see loadVariant()
+         */
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+
+        /**
+         * Loads this parameter from a QVariantMap.
+         * \see toVariant()
+         */
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+
       private:
 
         QString mParameterName;
@@ -277,6 +313,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
          */
         void setOutputName( const QString &name ) { mOutputName = name; }
 
+        /**
+         * Saves this output to a QVariant.
+         * \see loadVariant()
+         */
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+
+        /**
+         * Loads this output from a QVariantMap.
+         * \see toVariant()
+         */
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariantMap &map );
+
       private:
 
         QString mChildId;
@@ -456,6 +504,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
          */
         void setModelOutputs( const QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput> &outputs );
 
+        /**
+         * Saves this child to a QVariant.
+         * \see loadVariant()
+         */
+        QVariant toVariant() const;
+
+        /**
+         * Loads this child from a QVariant.
+         * \see toVariant()
+         */
+        bool loadVariant( const QVariant &child );
+
       private:
 
         QString mId;
@@ -494,6 +554,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
     QVariantMap processAlgorithm( const QVariantMap &parameters,
                                   QgsProcessingContext &context, QgsProcessingFeedback *feedback ) const override;
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the model \a name.
+     * \see name()
+     */
+    void setName( const QString &name );
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the model \a group.
+     * \see group()
+     */
+    void setGroup( const QString &group );
+
     /**
      * Returns the map of child algorithms contained in the model. The keys
      * are the child algorithm ids (see QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm::childId()).
@@ -650,6 +722,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
      */
     QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter &parameterComponent( const QString &name );
 
+    /**
+     * Writes the model to a file, at the specified \a path.
+     * \see fromFile()
+     */
+    bool toFile( const QString &path ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Reads the model from a file, at the specified \a path.
+     * \see toFile()
+     */
+    bool fromFile( const QString &path );
+
   private:
 
     QString mModelName;
@@ -662,6 +746,24 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
 
     void dependsOnChildAlgorithmsRecursive( const QString &childId, QSet<QString> &depends ) const;
     void dependentChildAlgorithmsRecursive( const QString &childId, QSet<QString> &depends ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Saves this model to a QVariantMap, wrapped in a QVariant.
+     * You can use QgsXmlUtils::writeVariant to save it to an XML document.
+     *
+     * \see loadVariant()
+     */
+    QVariant toVariant() const;
+
+    /**
+     * Loads this model from a QVariantMap, wrapped in a QVariant.
+     * You can use QgsXmlUtils::readVariant to load it from an XML document.
+     *
+     * \see toVariant()
+     */
+    bool loadVariant( const QVariant &model );
+
+    friend class TestQgsProcessing;
 };
 
 #endif // QGSPROCESSINGMODELALGORITHM_H
diff --git a/src/core/qgsxmlutils.cpp b/src/core/qgsxmlutils.cpp
index 67e4a5b108a..102ec818578 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsxmlutils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsxmlutils.cpp
@@ -132,6 +132,19 @@ QDomElement QgsXmlUtils::writeVariant( const QVariant &value, QDomDocument &doc
       break;
     }
 
+    case QVariant::StringList:
+    {
+      QStringList list = value.toStringList();
+
+      Q_FOREACH ( const QString &value, list )
+      {
+        QDomElement valueElement = writeVariant( value, doc );
+        element.appendChild( valueElement );
+        element.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "type" ), QStringLiteral( "StringList" ) );
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+
     case QVariant::Int:
     case QVariant::Bool:
     case QVariant::Double:
@@ -193,6 +206,17 @@ QVariant QgsXmlUtils::readVariant( const QDomElement &element )
     }
     return list;
   }
+  else if ( type == QLatin1String( "StringList" ) )
+  {
+    QStringList list;
+    QDomNodeList values = element.childNodes();
+    for ( int i = 0; i < values.count(); ++i )
+    {
+      QDomElement elem = values.at( i ).toElement();
+      list.append( readVariant( elem ).toString() );
+    }
+    return list;
+  }
   else
   {
     return QVariant();
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsprocessing.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsprocessing.cpp
index 26c7bb35112..df2413f6208 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsprocessing.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsprocessing.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "qgsgeometry.h"
 #include "qgsvectorfilewriter.h"
 #include "qgsexpressioncontext.h"
+#include "qgsxmlutils.h"
 
 class DummyAlgorithm : public QgsProcessingAlgorithm
 {
@@ -3065,6 +3066,11 @@ void TestQgsProcessing::modelerAlgorithm()
   QCOMPARE( alg.name(), QStringLiteral( "test" ) );
   QCOMPARE( alg.displayName(), QStringLiteral( "test" ) );
   QCOMPARE( alg.group(), QStringLiteral( "testGroup" ) );
+  alg.setName( QStringLiteral( "test2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg.name(), QStringLiteral( "test2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg.displayName(), QStringLiteral( "test2" ) );
+  alg.setGroup( QStringLiteral( "group2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg.group(), QStringLiteral( "group2" ) );
 
   // child algorithms
   QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm> algs;
@@ -3299,6 +3305,90 @@ void TestQgsProcessing::modelerAlgorithm()
   c10.addParameterSource( "y", QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::fromModelParameter( "p1" ) );
   alg4.setChildAlgorithm( c10 );
   QVERIFY( alg4.childAlgorithmsDependOnParameter( "p1" ) );
+
+
+
+  // to/from XML
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm alg5( "test", "testGroup" );
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm alg5c1;
+  alg5c1.setChildId( "cx1" );
+  alg5c1.setAlgorithmId( "buffer" );
+  alg5c1.addParameterSource( "x", QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::fromModelParameter( "p1" ) );
+  alg5c1.addParameterSource( "y", QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::fromChildOutput( "cx2", "out3" ) );
+  alg5c1.addParameterSource( "z", QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::fromStaticValue( 5 ) );
+  alg5c1.setActive( true );
+  alg5c1.setOutputsCollapsed( true );
+  alg5c1.setParametersCollapsed( true );
+  alg5c1.setDescription( "child 1" );
+  alg5c1.setPosition( QPointF( 1, 2 ) );
+  QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput> alg5c1outputs;
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelOutput alg5c1out1;
+  alg5c1out1.setDescription( QStringLiteral( "my output" ) );
+  alg5c1out1.setPosition( QPointF( 3, 4 ) );
+  alg5c1outputs.insert( QStringLiteral( "a" ), alg5c1out1 );
+  alg5c1.setModelOutputs( alg5c1outputs );
+  alg5.addChildAlgorithm( alg5c1 );
+
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm alg5c2;
+  alg5c2.setChildId( "cx2" );
+  alg5c2.setActive( false );
+  alg5c2.setOutputsCollapsed( false );
+  alg5c2.setParametersCollapsed( false );
+  alg5c2.setDependencies( QStringList() << "a" << "b" );
+  alg5.addChildAlgorithm( alg5c2 );
+
+  QMap<QString, QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter> alg5pComponents;
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ModelParameter alg5pc1;
+  alg5pc1.setParameterName( QStringLiteral( "my_param" ) );
+  alg5pc1.setPosition( QPointF( 11, 12 ) );
+  alg5pComponents.insert( QStringLiteral( "my_param" ), alg5pc1 );
+  alg5.setParameterComponents( alg5pComponents );
+
+  QDomDocument doc = QDomDocument( "model" );
+  QDomElement elem = QgsXmlUtils::writeVariant( alg5.toVariant(), doc );
+  doc.appendChild( elem );
+
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm alg6;
+  QVERIFY( alg6.loadVariant( QgsXmlUtils::readVariant( doc.firstChildElement() ) ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.name(), QStringLiteral( "test" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.group(), QStringLiteral( "testGroup" ) );
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm alg6c1 = alg6.childAlgorithm( "cx1" );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.childId(), QStringLiteral( "cx1" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.algorithmId(), QStringLiteral( "buffer" ) );
+  QVERIFY( alg6c1.isActive() );
+  QVERIFY( alg6c1.outputsCollapsed() );
+  QVERIFY( alg6c1.parametersCollapsed() );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.description(), QStringLiteral( "child 1" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.position().x(), 1.0 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.position().y(), 2.0 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().count(), 3 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "x" ).source(), QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::ModelParameter );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "x" ).parameterName(), QStringLiteral( "p1" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "y" ).source(), QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::ChildOutput );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "y" ).outputChildId(), QStringLiteral( "cx2" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "y" ).outputName(), QStringLiteral( "out3" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "z" ).source(), QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildParameterSource::StaticValue );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.parameterSources().value( "z" ).staticValue().toInt(), 5 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.modelOutputs().count(), 1 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.modelOutputs().value( QStringLiteral( "a" ) ).description(), QStringLiteral( "my output" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.modelOutput( "a" ).description(), QStringLiteral( "my output" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.modelOutput( "a" ).position().x(), 3.0 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c1.modelOutput( "a" ).position().y(), 4.0 );
+
+
+  QgsProcessingModelAlgorithm::ChildAlgorithm alg6c2 = alg6.childAlgorithm( "cx2" );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c2.childId(), QStringLiteral( "cx2" ) );
+  QVERIFY( !alg6c2.isActive() );
+  QVERIFY( !alg6c2.outputsCollapsed() );
+  QVERIFY( !alg6c2.parametersCollapsed() );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6c2.dependencies(), QStringList() << "a" << "b" );
+
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.parameterComponents().count(), 1 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.parameterComponents().value( QStringLiteral( "my_param" ) ).parameterName(), QStringLiteral( "my_param" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.parameterComponent( "my_param" ).parameterName(), QStringLiteral( "my_param" ) );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.parameterComponent( "my_param" ).position().x(), 11.0 );
+  QCOMPARE( alg6.parameterComponent( "my_param" ).position().y(), 12.0 );
+
 }
 
 QGSTEST_MAIN( TestQgsProcessing )