Apply for the activation and placement voucher before the start of the intended support at your responsible job center. This can be done on site, in writing or online. Your responsible contact person can also hold a consultation with you beforehand.
Activation and placement voucher


The most important facts in brief
If you receive benefits from your local Jobcenter, specific services can help to introduce you to the training and job market. In addition, the job center can offer further support, for example if you have problems that prevent you from finding a job.
The job center can:
- Provide you with employment subject to social insurance contributions,
- introduce you to self-employment or
- ensure that you take up employment.
The Activation and Placement Voucher (AVGS) is covered by these benefits.
The AVGS applies to:
- an internship,
- trial work or
- measure offers with a certified provider.
The measure offers also apply to a private employment agency. This can improve your chances on the job market by finding you employment subject to social insurance contributions.
The activation and placement voucher is a measured benefit. This means that there is no legal entitlement to the funding.
Your responsible job center will check on a case-by-case basis whether the eligibility requirements are met.
If you would like to receive an activation and placement voucher from your local job center, certain requirements must be met.
The completed activation and placement voucher must be submitted to the relevant job center in the original with the relevant attachments before the start of the planned support.
Who is entitled?
In principle, there is no legal entitlement to the benefit. Whether you receive an AVGM is at the discretion of the responsible job center.
However, basic requirements must be met in order to receive an activation and placement voucher (AVGM):
- You receive a citizen's allowance and are supported by the responsible job center in the job placement process
- The need for the support benefit has been determined by the responsible job center
In these cases, you cannot receive an activation and placement voucher:
- You receive unemployment benefit
- It has not been determined by the responsible job center that you need support
The most important topics relating to the activation and placement voucher
As a rule, no documents are required.
However, your Jobcenter may ask you to submit certain documents or evidence.
If you receive benefits from your local job center, you can receive an activation and placement voucher for:
- an internship or trial work
- for measures offered by a certified provider or
- for a private employment agency
The offers can be divided into three categories:
Measure offers with certified providers
You can receive an activation and placement voucher to register with a provider of your choice for vocational skills training. The prerequisite is that the provider is certified in accordance with the Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV). The voucher contains information on the aim, duration and content of the support. Everything will be discussed in advance with your contact person at the job center.
The provision of vocational skills may not exceed a duration of 8 weeks. Longer qualifications or offers that lead to a vocational qualification can be funded for adults with the promotion of further vocational training (education voucher).
Offers with an employer
With the offer with an employer, an internship/trial work can be funded in accordance with the individually agreed content of the voucher. The duration of the activity can last up to 6 weeks. If you are long-term unemployed or have special obstacles to placement, you can participate for up to 12 weeks.
Offer from private employment agencies
The responsible job center can promote placement in an employment relationship subject to social insurance contributions via an approved private employment agency. If an employment relationship is established with the help of the private employment agency, the agency receives a corresponding placement fee.
- After you have applied for the activation and placement voucher, a consultation can take place with your contact person. They will review and decide on the application.
- If the contact person approves the application, you will receive an activation and placement voucher. Among other things, this contains information on the objective, content, scope and duration of the intended support. Depending on the objective, you give the voucher to an employer, a certified training provider or a private employment agency. The latter then fills in the activation and placement voucher with all the necessary information. The completed activation and placement voucher must then be submitted to your responsible job center again.
- If your contact person rejects the application, you will receive a rejection notice.
Important
The completed activation and placement voucher must be submitted to the responsible job center in the original, including the relevant attachments, before the intended support begins.
In the case of support from a certified provider, the corresponding measurement sheet and proof of certification from the provider must also be enclosed.
The duration of support generally depends on the individual support requirements.
However, there are legal regulations for the following constellations:
- Measures with an employer (internship/trial work): These are possible for a maximum duration of 6 weeks; up to 12 weeks are possible in the case of long-term unemployment or particular obstacles to placement.
- The imparting of vocational skills may not exceed 8 weeks. Longer qualifications and offers that lead to a vocational qualification can be supported for adults through the promotion of further vocational training (education voucher).
The activation and placement voucher is free of charge.
Once the voucher has been approved, individually incurred and necessary costs can be reimbursed. These include, for example, travel costs, work equipment, childcare costs and accommodation away from home.

Apply for benefits online
You can apply for the activation and placement voucher directly online here.

