diff --git a/nitransforms/manip.py b/nitransforms/manip.py
index 9389197..5ff9d53 100644
--- a/nitransforms/manip.py
+++ b/nitransforms/manip.py
@@ -193,6 +193,9 @@ def asaffine(self, indices=None):
     def from_filename(cls, filename, fmt="X5", reference=None, moving=None):
         """Load a transform file."""
         from .io import itk
+        from .io.x5 import from_filename as load_x5
+        from . import linear as nitl
+        from . import nonlinear as nitn
 
         retval = []
         if str(filename).endswith(".h5"):
@@ -206,6 +209,26 @@ def from_filename(cls, filename, fmt="X5", reference=None, moving=None):
 
             return TransformChain(retval)
 
+        if fmt.upper() == "X5" or str(filename).endswith(".x5"):
+            for i, x5_xfm in enumerate(load_x5(filename)):
+                if x5_xfm.type == "linear":
+                    xfm = nitl.Affine.from_filename(
+                        filename,
+                        fmt="X5",
+                        reference=reference,
+                        moving=moving,
+                        x5_position=i,
+                    )
+                elif x5_xfm.type == "nonlinear":
+                    xfm = nitn.DenseFieldTransform.from_x5(x5_xfm)
+                else:
+                    raise NotImplementedError(
+                        f"Unsupported X5 transform type {x5_xfm.type}"
+                    )
+                retval.append(xfm)
+
+            return TransformChain(retval)
+
         raise NotImplementedError
 
 
diff --git a/nitransforms/nonlinear.py b/nitransforms/nonlinear.py
index 9c29c53..a451cb8 100644
--- a/nitransforms/nonlinear.py
+++ b/nitransforms/nonlinear.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import warnings
 from functools import partial
 import numpy as np
+import nibabel as nb
 
 from nitransforms import io
 from nitransforms.io.base import _ensure_image
@@ -239,6 +240,26 @@ def from_filename(cls, filename, fmt="X5"):
 
         return cls(_factory[fmt].from_filename(filename))
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_x5(cls, x5struct):
+        """Instantiate a dense field transform from an :class:`X5Transform`."""
+        if x5struct.type != "nonlinear":
+            raise TypeError("X5 structure is not a nonlinear transform")
+        if not x5struct.domain or not x5struct.domain.grid:
+            raise NotImplementedError(
+                "Only regularly gridded nonlinear X5 transforms are supported"
+            )
+
+        hdr = nb.Nifti1Header()
+        hdr.set_intent("vector")
+        img = nb.Nifti1Image(x5struct.transform.astype("float32"), x5struct.domain.mapping, hdr)
+
+        is_deltas = True
+        if x5struct.representation and "def" in x5struct.representation.lower():
+            is_deltas = False
+
+        return cls(img, is_deltas=is_deltas)
+
 
 load = DenseFieldTransform.from_filename
 
diff --git a/nitransforms/tests/test_x5.py b/nitransforms/tests/test_x5.py
index 89b49e0..6c0603b 100644
--- a/nitransforms/tests/test_x5.py
+++ b/nitransforms/tests/test_x5.py
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 from h5py import File as H5File
 
 from ..io.x5 import X5Transform, X5Domain, to_filename, from_filename
+from nitransforms import linear as nitl
+from nitransforms import manip as nitm
+from nitransforms import nonlinear as nitn
 
 
 def test_x5_transform_defaults():
@@ -75,3 +78,36 @@ def test_from_filename_invalid(tmp_path):
 
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         from_filename(fname)
+
+
+def test_transformchain_from_x5(tmp_path):
+    aff1 = nitl.Affine.from_matvec(vec=(1, 2, 3))
+    aff2 = nitl.Affine.from_matvec(vec=(-1, -2, -3))
+    fname = tmp_path / "chain.x5"
+    to_filename(fname, [aff1.to_x5(), aff2.to_x5()])
+
+    chain = nitm.TransformChain.from_filename(fname, fmt="X5")
+    assert len(chain.transforms) == 2
+    assert chain.transforms[0] == aff1
+    assert chain.transforms[1] == aff2
+
+
+def test_transformchain_from_x5_nonlinear(tmp_path):
+    field = np.zeros((2, 2, 2, 3), dtype=float)
+    domain = X5Domain(grid=True, size=(2, 2, 2), mapping=np.eye(4))
+    nonlinear_node = X5Transform(
+        type="nonlinear",
+        transform=field,
+        representation="dense_field",
+        dimension_kinds=("space", "space", "space", "vector"),
+        domain=domain,
+    )
+    aff = nitl.Affine.from_matvec(vec=(0, 0, 0))
+    fname = tmp_path / "nonlinear_chain.x5"
+    to_filename(fname, [aff.to_x5(), nonlinear_node])
+
+    chain = nitm.TransformChain.from_filename(fname, fmt="X5")
+    assert len(chain.transforms) == 2
+    assert chain.transforms[0] == aff
+    assert isinstance(chain.transforms[1], nitn.DenseFieldTransform)
+    assert chain.transforms[1].reference.shape == (2, 2, 2)