AVGS coaching: free coaching with a Jobcenter voucher

Many people looking for work in Germany or thinking about starting a business have no idea that the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) or the Jobcenter can pay for individual coaching in full – with a personal coach, a clear plan and no cost to you. The tool is called the AVGS. This one document can make the difference between an application that gets lost in the pile and an invitation to interview – or between a vague idea and a business plan you can take to the bank.

Below we go through it step by step: what an AVGS is, how people usually get one, what happens during the coaching and what to watch out for so that the costs really are covered. German terms such as Jobcenter, AZAV or Bewilligungsbescheid are explained along the way.

What an AVGS is and what the abbreviation stands for

AVGS stands for Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein – roughly “activation and placement voucher”. It is not cash but an official document from the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter that pays for a specific service: getting back into work, reorienting your career or taking a step towards self-employment.

The AVGS funds so-called measures for activation and occupational integration (Maßnahmen zur Aktivierung und beruflichen Eingliederung). Usually this means individual coaching with an approved provider, known as a Maßnahmeträger. Some types of voucher also cover training or the services of a private recruitment agency.

Letter generator for the Jobcenter

Which letter do you need?

Choose your goal – the generator builds a well-reasoned request in German step by step, with your signature and all provider details.

Job search

AVGS request for job search coaching

• ≈ 10 minutes
• PDF with signature
• free of charge

What it is for: you are looking for work and want a voucher for the individual job search coaching «Dein Jobweg».

• Reasoning under § 45 (1) sentence 1 no. 1 SGB III
• Your obstacles and strengths – to the point
• PDF with signature and provider offer

Create letter

Starting a business

AVGS request for start-up coaching

• ≈ 10 minutes
• PDF with signature
• free of charge

What it is for: you plan to become self-employed and want a voucher for the start-up coaching «Dein Gründungsweg».

• Reasoning under § 45 (1) sentence 1 no. 4 SGB III
• Idea, resources and gaps – convincingly
• PDF with signature and provider offer

Create letter

Whether an AVGS is issued is decided by the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter. The generator helps you make your case clearly and to the point.

How getting an AVGS works in practice

The process is usually the same – and this is also how the Bundesagentur für Arbeit describes it:

1. Personal meeting. At the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter you and your adviser decide which measure makes sense.
2. Finding a provider. If the office has no suitable programme of its own, you may be given an AVGS. You then look for an approved provider that meets the conditions of the voucher.
3. Provider confirmation. The provider checks the conditions of your voucher and confirms that you can take part.
4. Bewilligungsbescheid. Your adviser reviews the conditions and, if the decision is positive, issues a written approval – only then is payment guaranteed.
5. Start of coaching. Sessions begin only after the written confirmation.

Who can get an AVGS

The voucher is meant for people registered with the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter: those registered as unemployed, at risk of losing their job, wanting to change careers or planning to start their own business. Your nationality is not the deciding factor – many international residents with a valid residence and work permit who receive Arbeitslosengeld (unemployment benefit) or Bürgergeld (basic income support) are eligible in principle. Whether it works in your case depends on several factors: the benefits you receive, the labour market situation and your adviser’s assessment.

Because every situation is different, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The only reliable way to find out is a personal meeting at the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter.

AVGS-MAT and AVGS-MPAV: two types of voucher

In practice, two main types are distinguished:

The details depend on the specific voucher and the practice of the issuing office. The exact conditions are stated on the AVGS you receive.

What happens during AVGS coaching

As a rule, AVGS coaching is a 1:1 format with a certified coach from an AZAV-approved provider. The goal, maximum duration and region of the measure are set out in the voucher – the provider you choose must match them exactly, otherwise payment may be refused.

The content is built around your specific goal: preparing for interviews, writing a business plan for your future company or finding a new professional direction after a change in your life. Depending on the provider, sessions take place in person or online.

The three most common types of AVGS coaching

In practice, AVGS coaching falls into three broad areas. We have a detailed page for each.

What AVGS coaching costs you

With a written approval, you usually do not pay anything for taking part. Travel or childcare costs can sometimes be reimbursed as well under certain conditions – it is best to clarify this with the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter before the measure starts.

Validity, region and choice of provider: what to check

An AVGS is valid for a limited time and usually only in a specific region. The voucher normally states:

• the specific goal of the measure;
• the maximum duration;
• how long the voucher is valid;
• the region in which the measure may take place.

If a provider does not meet these conditions, payment may be refused. So before you choose, check that the offer matches your voucher in terms of type of measure, region and validity.

Common mistakes – and how to avoid them

Most of these mistakes can be avoided by sticking to the order: meeting – choosing a provider – confirmation – Bewilligungsbescheid – start.

AVGS coaching vs. paid consulting: the difference

Education providers such as Vitavia Akademie primarily pass on knowledge about entrepreneurship, starting a business and careers. This kind of training can be a useful addition, but it does not replace an individual review by the Agentur für Arbeit, the Jobcenter or, where needed, a Steuerberater (tax adviser) or Rechtsanwalt (lawyer).

Frequently asked questions about AVGS coaching

Information as of October 2026

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