You Don’t Need a German Passport to Qualify for Government-Funded Coaching

When you move to Germany, it often feels like stepping into a maze — full of opportunity, but also filled with signs in a language you don’t fully understand.

And if you’re an experienced professional, used to knowing your way around, that feeling can be unsettling.

Many of the expats and international professionals I meet tell me the same thing:

“I had no idea that something like AVGS even existed.”

If that’s you — welcome. You’re not alone. I also only discovered this program several years into my life in Germany. But once I understood what it offered, I realized how powerful it can be.

Many expats discover AVGS only when frustration peaks — after months of unanswered job applications or uncertainty about their next career step. That’s why it’s important to know about it early — it can be the turning point that helps you reclaim direction.

So let’s walk through it together.

What Is the AVGS Voucher?

Think of the AVGS voucher as a bridge. It connects where you are now — searching for clarity, structure, and confidence — with where you want to be: running your own business or finally stepping into meaningful self-employment.

The AVGS (short for Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein) is a government-funded voucher that pays for professional coaching.

If you’re unemployed, between jobs, or even just exploring your next step, it can cover the cost of coaching that helps you:

• Define your business idea

• Build a business plan

• Prepare your funding application for the Gründungszuschuss

• Navigate Germany’s legal and financial system with confidence

The best part? You don’t need a German passport to be eligible.

If you’re officially registered in Germany, receiving ALG I, and thinking seriously about self-employment, you can apply for AVGS. You just need to request it from your Agentur für Arbeit caseworker — and I explain this in detail in my AVGS Voucher Guide for Expats.

For many of my clients, learning about AVGS felt like discovering a hidden door — one they wish they’d opened sooner.

Want to keep this information for later? You can download my free AVGS Guide — a short, easy-to-read brochure that explains everything you need to know and helps you get started with your application.

Who Can Apply for the AVGS Voucher in Germany?

You don’t need German citizenship — what you need is residency and ALG I or ALG II status. That means if you’ve worked in Germany, paid into the unemployment system, and now want to use this time to launch your own business, AVGS can be your entry point.

It’s not just for long-term unemployed citizens — it’s for you, the international professional ready to take control of your next chapter.

You’re Already Qualified — You Just Need the Right Support

I often meet expats who are highly skilled, multilingual, and educated — but feel stuck in Germany’s job market. Maybe your qualifications aren’t recognized yet. Maybe you’ve realized the 9–5 system doesn’t give you the freedom you moved here for.

The truth is, you already bring everything you need to build a meaningful business — your experience, perspective, and drive. What’s often missing is guidance that connects your strengths with the German system.

That’s exactly what AVGS-funded coaching can do. It gives you space to slow down, reflect, and build a plan step-by-step — with a professional who understands both the human and bureaucratic side of starting up here.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s completely okay. The AVGS program was designed for exactly this moment — to give structure and direction to your next chapter. You can check your eligibility here, and I’ll personally guide you through the next steps.

Coaching You Don’t Have to Pay For

Here’s something most people don’t realize:

You can either hire a coach and pay privately — or, with an AVGS voucher, the German government pays for it on your behalf.

That means you can work with an experienced business coach, create a strong business plan, prepare your application for the Gründungszuschuss, and do it all without paying out of pocket.

At Persona Coaching, many of my clients use AVGS to finance their Founder Coaching Program, where we cover:

• Your business idea and value proposition

• Sales and marketing strategy

• Financial planning (including my Finance Workshop)

• Writing your business plan and preparing your funding applications

This combination of structure and personal guidance helps you build not just a plan — but confidence.

From Uncertainty to Clarity: What This Journey Feels Like

If you’ve ever stood at a German train station, looking at ten platforms and wondering which one leads home — you already know what the early stages of self-employment can feel like.

AVGS coaching is like having someone beside you who speaks the language, knows the routes, and helps you board the right train.

In our sessions, we clarify your idea, structure your plan, and make sure you’re fully prepared for every step — from your first talk with the Agentur für Arbeit to launching your business.

By the time you submit your Gründungszuschuss business plan, you’ll know not only what to do but why you’re doing it.

You Don’t Have to Walk Alone

When I first learned about AVGS, I wished someone had told me earlier. That’s why I’m sharing it now. Because I know how many talented internationals in Germany could benefit — if only they knew this bridge existed.

If this is you, you don’t need to navigate it alone.

👉 Start here: Check your AVGS eligibility.
Or read my next post about how the Gründungszuschuss grant works and how it can help you build financial security while becoming self-employed.

You already have the skills. Let’s make sure you also have the support.