Professional training, years of work experience – and still six months of applications without a single interview invitation. Many people who have moved to Germany know this situation well, including skilled workers who are starting their professional life here from abroad. Usually the problem is not their qualifications: the CV does not follow German standards, the cover letter sounds generic, and in the interview there is a lack of confidence in professional German. For cases like this there are two support formats in Germany that can be paid for with an AVGS voucher: Sprachcoaching (language coaching) and Bewerbungscoaching (job application coaching).
Below we explain how these formats differ, who can use them and what the route from your first meeting at the Jobcenter to the start of the sessions usually looks like.
We do not offer a separate AVGS language coaching programme. We cover German for work and preparing application documents as part of our two core programmes: “Dein Jobweg” for job search and “Dein Gründungsweg” for starting your own business. Both run online 1:1, and you can start in English or Russian.
What an AVGS is and who issues it
The AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, “activation and placement voucher”) is a labour market support instrument set out in § 45 SGB III. It is issued by the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter and covers participation in activation and occupational integration measures run by an AZAV-certified provider.
An AVGS is not cash but a guarantee of payment for a specific measure with an approved provider. If the voucher has been issued in advance and the provider is certified, participants usually pay nothing themselves.
| Type of AVGS | What it covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| AVGS-MAT | measures with an education provider | job application coaching, language coaching, start-up coaching |
| AVGS-MPAV | services of a private recruitment agency | finding vacancies through a private agency |
| AVGS-MAG | measures with an employer | work placement, trial working day |
For coaching (AVGS-MAT) the voucher is mostly a discretionary measure (Ermessensleistung): there is no automatic entitlement, and your adviser (Vermittlungsfachkraft) decides based on your situation.
Sprachcoaching and Bewerbungscoaching: the difference
The two terms often appear side by side, but they solve different problems.
| Criterion | Sprachcoaching | Bewerbungscoaching |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | professional German for work and interviews | a job search strategy and documents for employers |
| Most often for | professionals with a migration background whose German is holding them back from working in their field | job seekers after redundancy, parental leave, a long break or during a career change |
| Content | industry vocabulary, conversation situations, business correspondence, exam preparation if needed (telc, Goethe-Institut) | strengths analysis, Lebenslauf (CV), Anschreiben (cover letter), interview training |
| Format | usually individual | usually individual |
The formats are not mutually exclusive: often the language is strengthened first, and then the documents are adapted and interviews prepared.
Language coaching: who it is for and what it usually includes
Sprachcoaching is not a German course “from scratch” and not a substitute for an integration course, but individual work on the language you need in your professional life: in the interview, at work and in correspondence.
- job seekers whose level of professional German is holding them back
- people returning to the job market, for example after parental leave
- people changing profession or industry
- professionals working below their qualification level because of the language
- Assessment. Analysis of your career path, language level assessment, individual plan.
- Industry language. Vocabulary and typical work situations in your field.
- Communication. Listening comprehension, phone calls, business correspondence.
- Exam – if needed. Preparation for recognised exams, for example telc or Goethe-Institut.
The duration and scope are set out in the specific voucher and depend on your situation – there is no single standard.
Job application coaching: who it is for and what it usually includes
Here the focus is not on language but on the entire job search process – from your professional goal to your documents and the interview.
- people who have been looking for work for a long time or have recently lost their job
- people returning after a break
- people changing their field of work
- people whose applications consistently go unanswered
- Professional assessment. Strengths and realistic directions.
- Search strategy. Channels and ways of applying with your target position in mind.
- Documents. Lebenslauf, Anschreiben and profile to German standards.
- Interview. Typical questions, practice, review of real situations.
For details of how this works with us, see the programme page “Dein Jobweg”.
Who can get an AVGS
There is no clear-cut yes or no – it all depends on your situation. As a rule, it applies to people registered with the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter as job seekers or unemployed.
The statutory entitlement to a voucher (§ 45 Abs. 7 SGB III) applies primarily to the AVGS for private recruitment services (AVGS-MPAV): it can arise for recipients of Arbeitslosengeld I who have been unemployed for at least six weeks within three months. A coaching voucher (AVGS-MAT) is mostly issued at the adviser’s discretion. The rules may change – check the latest information with the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter.
People receiving Bürgergeld (basic income support) contact their Jobcenter; people receiving Arbeitslosengeld I (unemployment benefit) contact the Agentur für Arbeit.
How the process usually works
- Choose a provider. An AZAV-approved provider checks whether its programme fits and issues a confirmation with the details of the measure.
- Talk to your adviser. At the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter you discuss whether the measure will help you find work.
- Receive the voucher. Only once the AVGS has been issued is participation free of charge for you.
- Start the sessions. With the voucher you can start with your chosen provider – in person or online.
Starting the sessions before the voucher has been issued. Costs are generally not reimbursed retrospectively – it is better to wait for the decision.
What it really costs
| Question | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| Cost of the coaching | within the approved scope and with a certified provider, participants pay nothing |
| Additional costs | can be reimbursed in some cases, for example travel or childcare – check with the office in advance |
| Voucher validity | limited; the exact period is stated on the voucher |
| Without an AVGS | many providers offer coaching for a fee |
How to choose a provider
Only measures run by a provider approved under AZAV (Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsverordnung Arbeitsförderung) can be paid for with an AVGS.
- an AZAV certificate, and the provider is willing to give you the measure number
- an individual format tailored to your goal, not just a group course
- clear timing, content and format from the very first conversation
- online, in person or blended – whatever suits you
- transparent data protection in line with the GDPR (DSGVO)
Vitavia Akademie is approved under AZAV: certificate no. W-26-26826, issued by GUTcert GmbH, valid until 13 August 2031.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| Starting before the voucher is issued | retrospective reimbursement is generally not possible |
| A vague goal | it is harder to justify the measure and plan the content |
| Language without a link to your profession | a general course achieves less than working on the language of your industry |
| A provider without AZAV | payment via AVGS is not possible |
| An expired voucher | validity is limited – plan the start in good time |
Example: what the route can look like
An engineer with many years of experience abroad, German at B1 level and four months of unsuccessful job hunting first works on industry and interview language, then adapts her CV and Anschreiben to the German market. The example is illustrative: it is not a recommendation and does not describe a guaranteed result – the actual order depends on the situation and the office’s decision.
Questions and answers
Is coaching with an AVGS really free?
Can language coaching and job application coaching be combined?
How long does it take to process an AVGS request?
What should I do if my voucher request is refused?
Can I choose the provider myself?
Where should people receiving Bürgergeld go?
Information as of October 2026
Want to find out which route suits you – language first, straight into job search, or your own business? In a free introductory call we will look at your situation and tell you what is worth discussing with the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter in advance.
Prepare your AVGS requestLegal notice: This article is for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial or official advice. It does not replace guidance from the Agentur für Arbeit, the Jobcenter or a qualified professional. Laws and administrative practice may change and differ from case to case. Whether an AVGS is issued, and to what extent, is decided solely by the responsible office. Before applying the approaches described, check the current requirements with the relevant official sources or consult a qualified professional. See also: Impressum and Datenschutz.
Sources
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit – Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein (AVGS): arbeitsagentur.de
- Sozialgesetzbuch III, § 45 – Maßnahmen zur Aktivierung und beruflichen Eingliederung: gesetze-im-internet.de
- Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsverordnung Arbeitsförderung (AZAV): gesetze-im-internet.de
AZAV-certified provider: Vitavia Akademie UG (haftungsbeschränkt), certificate no. W-26-26826, issued by GUTcert GmbH, valid until 13 August 2031.
AZAV-zugelassener Träger
Die Vitavia Akademie UG (haftungsbeschränkt) ist ein nach AZAV zugelassener Träger. Zertifikatsnummer W-26-26826, ausgestellt durch die GUTcert GmbH, gültig bis 13.08.2031.
Zertifikat als PDF ansehen (W-26-26826) Angaben im Impressum