'AVGS for Ukrainians with §24: how to get free coaching for work or

If you live in Germany under §24 and plan to stay here for the long term, it is important not to wait until the final month of temporary protection. To move toward more stable employment or self-employment, you often need a German CV, a clear job-search strategy, a business plan, or preparation for conversations with authorities. One tool that can help is the Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein (AVGS) from the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit.

AVGS is not an “automatic right to a coach,” but funding for a specific measure if the advisor considers it useful for your integration into the labor market. Depending on your situation, the voucher may cover job coaching, support for finding employment, help with starting self-employment, or private job placement. The conditions, validity period, and region are usually stated directly in the document.

What AVGS is in simple terms

AVGS stands for Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein. It is issued by the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter so that a person can take part in a suitable measure with an accredited provider (Maßnahmeträger) or use private job placement.

For the participant, such a measure is usually free of charge, but there is one important condition: the authority must approve participation in writing in advance. If you start coaching before receiving the Bewilligungsbescheid or outside the conditions of the voucher, the costs may not be covered.

The voucher usually specifies:

• the goal of the measure: for example, Bewerbungstraining, job coaching, or preparation for self-employment;
• the permitted duration;
• the validity period;
• the region or participation format;
• the requirements for the provider and its accreditation.

How AVGS can help people with §24

§24 provides temporary protection, but by itself it does not replace a long-term strategy: work, Ausbildung, study, recognition of qualifications, self-employment, or another suitable status all depend on your situation. So the main practical task is not simply to “get a voucher,” but to understand which measure will actually bring you closer to employment or income.

AVGS can be especially useful if you:

• are looking for your first qualified job in Germany;
• do not understand how to adapt your CV and Anschreiben to the German market;
• have been sending applications for a long time but almost never receive invitations;
• want to move from occasional side jobs into employment in your field;
• plan to open an Einzelunternehmen, pursue a freiberufliche Tätigkeit, or work in another legal self-employed format;
• need a business plan and a financial model for discussions with authorities, a bank, or advisors.

Two common coaching formats

Job coaching for finding work

Job coaching is suitable if the goal is to enter the German labor market or improve the quality of your job search. A good program usually covers:

• your experience, diplomas, skills, and realistic target positions;
• your Lebenslauf, Anschreiben, and LinkedIn/Xing profile;
• your job-search and application strategy;
• interview preparation in German or English;
• how to explain gaps, a career change, and Ukrainian or international experience;
• an action plan after each application and interview.

It is important not to expect the provider to “find a job for you.” AVGS helps structure the search, but the hiring decision is made by the employer.

Existenzgründungscoaching for business

This format is for people who want to work for themselves. Depending on the measure, the coaching may include:

• checking a business idea for the German market;
• calculating income, expenses, tax burden, and start-up costs;
• preparing a business plan;
• choosing between a Gewerbe and a freiberufliche Tätigkeit;
• a basic understanding of communication with the Finanzamt, IHK/HWK, and other institutions;
• a sales, marketing, and first-client plan.

If your idea involves licensed activity, medicine, finance, transport, skilled trades, or another regulated profession, check the requirements separately. AVGS coaching does not cancel permits, registration, or professional authorizations.

Who can request AVGS

AVGS is discussed with your advisor at the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter. According to information from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, for coaching/qualification it is an Ermessensleistung: the authority assesses whether the measure will actually help you make professional progress. There are separate rules for AVGS private job placement: clients of the Agentur für Arbeit who have an Anspruch auf Arbeitslosengeld may have a right to such a Gutschein after more than six weeks of unemployment, while Jobcenter clients usually do not have a legal entitlement.

In practice, a request has a better chance if you can show:

• a specific professional goal;
• what you have already done yourself;
• which obstacles are preventing employment or the launch of your business;
• why exactly this measure solves the problem;
• that the provider fits the AVGS conditions and has the necessary Zulassung.

How to prepare for a conversation with the Jobcenter or Arbeitsagentur

Before an appointment or a written request, prepare a short justification. It should be businesslike rather than emotional.

It helps to write down in advance:

1. What your goal is: work in your profession, Ausbildung, a career change, or self-employment.
2. Which steps you have already taken: applications, interviews, diploma recognition, language courses, consultations.
3. What is not working: weak responses from employers, an unclear market, difficulties with documents, no German business plan.
4. Which measure you need: job coaching, Bewerbungstraining, Existenzgründungscoaching, or private job placement.
5. How this will help you become less dependent on benefits more quickly or stabilize your income.

Example of a neutral phrase at a meeting:

Ich möchte gerne besprechen, ob ein Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein für ein Jobcoaching oder eine Maßnahme zur beruflichen Eingliederung in meiner Situation sinnvoll ist.

Example of a short letter:

Sehr geehrte/r Frau/Herr [Name],

ich möchte meine berufliche Integration in Deutschland gezielt verbessern. Trotz eigener Bewerbungen benötige ich professionelle Unterstützung bei [Lebenslauf/Anschreiben/Bewerbungsstrategie/Existenzgründung].

Deshalb möchte ich mit Ihnen besprechen, ob ein Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein für eine passende Maßnahme möglich ist.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen [Name]

What happens after approval

If you receive an AVGS, do not start coaching automatically. First, check the document and agree on the next steps.

Check:

• the correct type of measure;
• the validity period;
• regional restrictions;
• the participation format: online or in person;
• the maximum duration;
• the requirements for the provider;
• whether a separate Bewilligungsbescheid is required before the start.

Under Bundesagentur für Arbeit rules for coaching/qualification, the provider first checks the voucher conditions and issues a confirmation, then the Vermittlungsfachkraft checks the usefulness of the measure and whether the conditions are met. Only after written approval can you start participating without bearing your own costs.

If the advisor refused

A refusal does not always mean the end of the process. First ask for the reason: the measure is not suitable, documents are missing, the authority offers an internal alternative, the provider does not meet the conditions, or the goal is formulated too vaguely.

You can ask:

• Welche Voraussetzungen muss ich erfüllen, damit ein AVGS möglich ist?
• Welche Unterlagen fehlen aus Ihrer Sicht?
• Gibt es eine alternative Maßnahme, die Sie empfehlen?
• Kann ich eine schriftliche Entscheidung bekommen?

If the decision is formal and you believe it is wrong, a Widerspruch may be possible. But for legally significant objections, it is better to use Sozialberatung, Migrationsberatung, or a lawyer, especially if the issue is connected with benefits, residence status, or deadlines.

Common mistakes

• Asking for “any voucher” without explaining the goal.
• Choosing a provider before checking its Zulassung and the voucher conditions.
• Starting coaching before written approval.
• Promising the advisor an unrealistic result such as employment within a few weeks.
• Mixing the AVGS issue with migration advice on §24 and your future residence permit.
• Not keeping letters, the Bescheid, confirmations, and correspondence.

What AVGS does not solve

AVGS can help with employment or business preparation, but it does not extend §24, does not grant a Niederlassungserlaubnis, does not replace a work visa, and does not guarantee diploma recognition. For your migration route, check the requirements of the Ausländerbehörde, the official explanations of federal authorities, and, if necessary, consult specialists.

Short checklist

• Define your goal: work, a career change, or business.
• Collect proof of your attempts and the obstacles.
• Find a suitable measure and check the provider’s Zulassung.
• Discuss AVGS with your Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit advisor.
• Obtain written approval before the measure starts.
• Keep documents and record results: applications, interviews, business plan, next steps.

AVGS is best seen as a practical tool, not as a formality. The more clearly you show the connection between the coaching and getting a job or a stable income, the easier it is for the advisor to assess the benefit of the measure.