For recruiters

Placement voucher (AVGS) – how billing works

Your candidate is registered as unemployed? Then the German employment agency can pay for your placement – with the activation and placement voucher (AVGS-MPAV). Here is how it works and what to watch out for.

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The key points

€2,500 per placement

For a successful placement into employment subject to social insurance, the agency pays €2,500, and up to €3,000 for long-term unemployed people and people with disabilities (Section 45(6) SGB III).

In two instalments

€1,250 after six weeks of employment, the rest after six months. If the employment ends earlier, the second instalment lapses.

Only with approval

You need provider approval from an accredited body under AZAV (Section 176 SGB III) – valid on the day of the placement contract, the job offer and the start of work.

Who gets a voucher

People receiving unemployment benefit who have been unemployed for more than six weeks are entitled to one. At the Jobcenter, issuing it is discretionary.

How billing works

  1. 1

    Check the voucher

    Ask to see the AVGS-MPAV: how long is it valid (usually three to six months), and is there a region the placement must be in?

  2. 2

    Sign a placement contract

    With the candidate, in writing and stating your fee (Section 296 SGB III). You may not ask for advance payments.

  3. 3

    Find a suitable job

    The job must be subject to social insurance and intended to last at least three months. The start date must fall within the voucher's validity and region.

  4. 4

    Bill the first instalment

    After six weeks of employment you submit the voucher to the agency and receive €1,250.

  5. 5

    Bill the second instalment

    If the employment lasts six months, the agency pays the remainder.

When the agency does not pay

There is no fee if the job is limited to less than three months from the outset, or if the candidate starts with a former employer where they worked for more than three months in the last four years (Section 45(6) SGB III). If your approval is missing on any of the three key dates, the agency does not pay either.

Win companies as clients

Checklist before the placement

So that the agency actually pays in the end.

  • Approval valid

    AZAV provider approval in place and valid on all three key dates: contract, offer, start of work.

  • Voucher on file

    Validity and region noted, copy filed.

  • Contract with the candidate

    In writing, with the fee, no advance payment (Section 296 SGB III).

  • The job qualifies

    Subject to social insurance, intended for at least three months, not with a former employer.

  • Deadlines in the calendar

    Six weeks and six months after the start: prepare the billing.

Suitable jobs for your candidates

On SilentHire, companies post open positions. You present your candidates anonymously, with your terms, and the company releases contact details if it is interested. That way you also find a suitable job faster for candidates with a placement voucher.

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No payment details needed. This overview is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions about the placement voucher

How much does the agency pay for a placement with an AVGS?

€2,500 for a successful placement into employment subject to social insurance. For long-term unemployed people and people with disabilities, the agency can set up to €3,000 (Section 45(6) SGB III).

When is the placement voucher paid out?

In two instalments: €1,250 after six weeks of employment, the remainder after six months. You submit the voucher to the agency as soon as the conditions for the first instalment are met.

Do I need approval for the AVGS?

Yes. Private recruiters need provider approval from an accredited body under AZAV (Section 176 SGB III). For placements without a voucher, a trade registration is enough.

May I charge the candidate on top?

No. If the candidate presents a valid voucher, the fee is capped at its amount and deferred until the agency pays (Section 296(3) and (4) SGB III). Advance payments are prohibited.

What if the company also pays a fee?

The voucher pays for the contract with the candidate. What you agree with a company is a separate contract. Be open with both sides about who pays what, and have your contracts checked if in doubt.

Sources

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026