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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType Other
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2010
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001046292
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jun. 22, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jun. 22, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 29, 2011
Service Shares, Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.43%
Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.28%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.15%
Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund | Summary - Service Shares - Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Supplement [Text Block] gssqx_SupplementTextBlock

GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

Service Shares of the

Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”)

Supplement dated June 22, 2011 to the

Prospectus dated April 29, 2011 (the “Prospectus”)

Effective as of the start of business on July 1, 2011, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (the “Investment Adviser”) has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.97% as an annual percentage rate of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund gssqx_FundFeesAndExpensesAbstract  
Supplement Expense Narrative [Text Block] gssqx_SupplementExpenseNarrativeTextBlock Accordingly, effective July 1, 2011, the following replaces in its entirety the table and its accompanying footnotes in the “Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund—Summary—Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of the Prospectus:
Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_OperatingExpensesAbstract  
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 29, 2012
[1] The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of the management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.97% of the Fund's average daily net assets (effective July 1, 2011), and (ii) reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding management fees, distribution and service fees, transfer agency fees and expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other extraordinary expenses exclusive of any custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.004% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Each arrangement will remain in effect through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs") has agreed to waive distribution and service fees so as not to exceed an annual rate of 0.16% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Service Shares through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date Goldman Sachs may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.