From 1 October 2026, submission via CORENET X Gateway Processes becomes mandatory for all new projects with a Gross Floor Area of 5,000m² and above. That is a sixfold drop from the current 30,000m² threshold, and it brings a large share of Singapore’s building pipeline into CORENET X at once.
This note sets out what the circular actually says, who is affected, and what the transition provisions mean for projects already in flight.
The timeline, as revised
The change is set out in a joint BCA and URA circular (BCA reference APPBCA-2026-12, URA reference URA/PB/2026/08-DCG), which revises the implementation timeline announced in the circular of 10 September 2025.
- From 1 October 2025 — mandatory for new projects with GFA of 30,000m² and above
- From 1 October 2026 — mandatory for all new projects with GFA of 5,000m² and above
- Below 5,000m² — not required to onboard the Gateway Processes
The reasoning given in the circular is worth noting, because it explains why the threshold stops where it does. Agencies report that the time savings and productivity gains from CORENET X “are most pronounced for projects that are larger in size and of greater complexity”. Smaller projects were not seeing a proportionate return on the onboarding effort.
If your project is 5,000m² or above
New projects at or above the threshold must submit through the CORENET X Gateway Processes from 1 October 2026. In format terms, URA states that for projects with GFA of 5,000m² and above, IFC+SG format is mandatory.
That is the part teams underestimate. Onboarding CORENET X is not only a change of portal. It is a requirement that your models export cleanly to a defined openBIM schema, with the right classification and properties, from whichever authoring tool your consultants use. If you have not produced a valid IFC+SG export before, the gap between “we model in Revit” and “we can submit” is real work.
The transition provision for projects already underway
There is relief for work in progress, and the date attached to it is the one to diarise.
Projects with GFA of 5,000m² and above that have commenced submissions in CORENET 2.0 by 30 September 2026 may continue in CORENET 2.0 for now.
Two things follow. First, “commenced submissions” is the test — not appointed, not modelling, not intending to submit. Second, the phrase used is “for now”, which is not the same as indefinitely. Teams relying on this provision should treat it as a deferral rather than an exemption, and plan a CORENET X onboarding path regardless.
If your project is below 5,000m²
Projects below the threshold are not required to onboard the Gateway Processes and can continue to use CORENET 2.0. On format, URA states that for projects below 5,000m², 2D format or lightweight BIM are allowed.
That is a genuine reprieve for smaller developments, and it is worth saying plainly because a good deal of commentary has implied a universal mandate. It is not universal. If you are below the threshold, you have a choice — and voluntary onboarding is still available if the project team wants the coordination benefits.
What to do in the remaining weeks
For teams with projects crossing the threshold, the useful work in the short run is unglamorous.
- Confirm which side of the line each project sits on. GFA, and whether it is a new project, decide everything else.
- For projects near the 30 September date, establish whether submissions have genuinely commenced in CORENET 2.0. If they have not and will not, plan for CORENET X.
- Test an IFC+SG export now, on a partial model. Validation problems are structural and are far cheaper to fix before a gateway is due than after.
- Set the BIM Execution Plan against gateway milestones, not against internal design stages, so modelling effort lands where the approvals need it.
- Agree project set-up across disciplines — geo-referencing, shared coordinates, naming — before consultants model in earnest.
Frequently asked questions
When does CORENET X become mandatory for 5,000m² projects?
1 October 2026, for all new projects with GFA of 5,000m² and above, per BCA circular APPBCA-2026-12 and URA circular URA/PB/2026/08-DCG.
Do projects under 5,000m² have to use CORENET X?
No. Projects with GFA below 5,000m² are not required to onboard the Gateway Processes and may continue to use CORENET 2.0. URA permits 2D format or lightweight BIM for these projects.
Can a project already in CORENET 2.0 stay there?
Projects of 5,000m² and above that commenced submissions in CORENET 2.0 by 30 September 2026 may continue in CORENET 2.0 for now. The wording indicates a transition allowance rather than a permanent exemption.
Is IFC+SG mandatory at the 5,000m² threshold?
URA states that for projects with GFA of 5,000m² and above, IFC+SG format is mandatory. Below that threshold, 2D or lightweight BIM are allowed.
Related reading
For the process itself, see the CORENET X Code of Practice and the gateway structure. For the difference between the two systems, see CORENET X vs CORENET 2.0. For model format, start with what IFC+SG is and the validation errors teams hit most often. Our CORENET X e-submission overview sets out how Beyond+ supports project teams through it.
Need help with a CORENET X submission?
Beyond+ prepares IFC+SG models and coordinates multi-discipline submissions for Singapore projects. Tell us your project size, stage and gateway, and we will tell you what is actually required.
Talk to Beyond+ Our BIM services →Dates and thresholds in this article are drawn from BCA circular APPBCA-2026-12 and URA circular URA/PB/2026/08-DCG, and from URA’s published submission requirements, as at September 2026. Circulars are revised. Verify current requirements against the official publications before relying on them for a live project.