The first stage on the road to Turkey and the 2011/12 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship was made on 11 November 2010 with the first qualifying round draw in Nyon.

First qualifying round draw (hosts in bold)
Group 1: Norway, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Croatia

Group 2: Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Portugal

Group 3: Czech Republic, Poland, Cyprus, Estonia

Group 4: Iceland, Wales, Slovenia, Kazakhstan

Group 5: Sweden, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia

Group 6: Austria, Italy, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Armenia

Group 7: Finland, Scotland, Belarus, Faroe Islands

Group 8: Denmark, Russia, Greece, Latvia

Group 9: Belgium, Romania, Northern Ireland, Lithuania

Group 10: Spain, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova

Bye to final: Turkey (hosts)

The top two in each of the ten groups will progress to the second qualifying round along with the third-placed team with the best record against the top two in their section. Three countries await them there: with the highest coefficients, Germany, holders France and England were all given a bye through the initial stage.

Seven teams advance from the second qualifying round to join hosts Turkey at the final tournament between 2 and 14 July 2012.