Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) launched — major consolidation

AEWV replaced the previous fragmented employer-sponsored visa categories (Essential Skills, Talent (Accredited Employer), and others) from July 2022. Three-step accreditation / job-check / applicant model. Median-wage threshold drives most qualification tests. Major operational turbulence through 2022–2024 as employers and INZ transitioned.