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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType Other
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Apr. 29, 2011
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName Northern Lights Variable Trust
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001352621
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Apr. 29, 2011
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Apr. 29, 2011
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 29, 2011
Avant Tracking Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading RISK/RETURN
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objectives:
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks returns that reflect the performance of the price of Gold bullion.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund: This table describes the annual operating expenses that you may indirectly pay if you invest in the Fund through your retirement plan or if you allocate your insurance contract premiums or payments to the Fund. However, each insurance contract and separate account involves fees and expenses that are not described in this Prospectus. If the fees and expenses of your insurance contract or separate account were included in this table, your overall expenses would be higher. You should review the insurance contract prospectus for a complete description of fees and expenses. In the table below, acquired fund fees and expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.
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)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover:
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

 The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance.  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs.

Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example:
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

 This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. You would pay the same expenses if you did not redeem your shares. However, each insurance contract and separate account involves fees and expenses that are not included in the Example. If these fees and expenses were included in the Example, your overall expenses would be higher. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in Gold bullion-related: (1) exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"); (2) pooled investment vehicles such as limited partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies ("Underlying Funds"); (3) exchange-traded notes ("ETNs"); and (4) fixed income securities, including through mutual funds that invest primarily in fixed income securities. Gold bullion-related ETFs and Underlying Funds are those that invest primarily in (i) physical Gold bullion, in all forms (i.e. ingots, bars, coins) and/or (ii) over-the-counter or exchange-traded derivatives on Gold bullion such as forward contracts, futures contracts, options contracts or swap contracts.  Derivatives are primarily used as substitutes for Gold bullion because they are expected to produce returns that are substantially similar to those of Gold bullion.  ETFs, Underlying Funds and ETNs may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying Gold index or Gold price upon which they are based.  Gold bullion-related ETNs are those with interest and/or principal payments linked to the price of Gold bullion.  Additionally, the Fund concentrates investments in the Gold bullion industry because, under normal circumstances, it invests over 25% of its assets in the Gold bullion industry.  For purposes of measuring 25% Gold bullion industry investments, the Fund includes the effects of leverage to Gold bullion (e.g. a security with 2 times leverage to Gold bullion price changes is counted at twice its value). The Fund invests in investment grade fixed income corporate notes and bonds to generate interest income and preserve principal.  The Fund defines investment grade fixed income securities as those that are rated, at the time purchased, in the top four categories by a rating agency such as Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or, if unrated, determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality.  However, the fixed income securities are selected without restriction as to maturity, issuer country or capitalization.  


The Fund will invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary (the "Subsidiary").  Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to Gold bullion within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and consistent with the Fund's status as a diversified fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The Subsidiary will invest primarily in Gold bullion-related: ETFs, Underlying Funds, ETNs and/or physical Gold bullion in all forms (i.e. ingots, bars, coins).  The Fund's investments will be composed primarily of securities, even when viewing the Subsidiary on a consolidated basis.  The Subsidiary, when viewed from a consolidated basis, is subject to the same investment restrictions as the Fund.


The adviser buys securities to maintain the Fund's primary allocation to investments that it believes will have returns that reflect the performance of the price of Gold bullion. The adviser sells securities to replace them with investments that it believes have a higher expected return or will more closely track Gold bullion prices or both.  The adviser may engage in frequent buying and selling of securities to achieve the Fund's investment objectives.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Many factors affect the Fund's net asset value and performance.
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The following risks apply to the Fund through its direct investments as well as indirectly through investments in ETFs, mutual funds, ETNs, Underlying Funds and the Subsidiary.


  • Concentration Risk.  Because the Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in the Gold bullion industry, the Fund will be subject to greater volatility risk than a fund that is not concentrated in a single industry.

  • Derivatives Risk:  Derivatives are subject to inherent leverage that magnifies Fund losses.  Option positions may expire worthless.  Derivatives may not provide an effective substitute for Gold bullion because changes in derivative prices may not track those of the underlying Gold bullion.  Also, over the counter derivatives are subject to counterparty default risk.

  • ETF, Mutual Fund and ETN Risk.  ETFs, mutual funds and ETNs are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund.  Each ETF, mutual fund and ETN is subject to specific risks, depending it investment strategy.  Each ETF and ETN may be subject to leverage risk, which will magnify losses.  ETNs are subject to default risks.

  • Fixed Income Risk.  The value of bonds and other fixed income securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.  Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities.

  • Gold Risk.  The price of Gold may be volatile and Gold bullion-related ETFs, Underlying Funds, ETNs and derivatives may be highly sensitive to the price of Gold.  The price of Gold bullion can be significantly affected by international monetary and political developments such as currency devaluation or revaluation, central bank movements, economic and social conditions within a country, transactional or trade imbalances, or trade or currency restrictions between countries.  Physical Gold bullion has sales commission, storage, insurance and auditing expenses.

  • Limited History of Operations.  The Fund is a new mutual fund and has a limited history of operation and the adviser has limited experience advising mutual funds.

  • Management Risk.  The adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation or depreciation of a particular instrument in which the Fund invests may prove to be inaccurate and may not produce the desired results.

  • Market Risk.  The Fund's investments will decline in value if the price of Gold declines.  Overall securities market risks may affect the value of individual Fund holdings.  Factors such as foreign and domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events may adversely affect the equity and fixed income securities markets.

  • Turnover Risk.  A higher portfolio turnover will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.

  • Underlying Funds Risk:  Your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in Underlying Funds and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.  You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the Underlying Funds in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses.

  • Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk. The Subsidiary will not be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"), as amended, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, will not be subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act.  Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.  Your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher because you indirectly bear the expenses of the Subsidiary.


Is the Fund Right for You?


The Fund is intended for investors who want returns that reflect the performance of the price of Gold bullion without the burdens of personally acquiring and holding Gold bullion.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance:
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.  Also, shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be mailed to shareholders semi-annually.  Updated performance information will be available at no cost by calling 1-855-727-5651.

Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 1-855-727-5651
Avant Tracking Fund | Class 1 Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.99% [1]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.72% [2]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.25% [2],[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.96%
Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.97%) [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.99%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 202
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 824
Avant Tracking Fund | Class 2 Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.99% [1]
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.72% [2]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.25% [2],[3]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 3.21%
Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.97%) [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.24%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 227
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 899
[1] Management fees paid to the adviser by the Fund's subsidiary are waived at the Fund level.
[2] Estimated for the Fund's current fiscal year.
[3] The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund's financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund and does not include the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies, some of which may be pooled investment vehicles. Certain other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles may pay management and performance based fees to each entity's manager.
[4] The adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until May 1, 2012 so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) of the Fund do not exceed 1.74% for Class 1 shares and 1.99% for Class 2 shares. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund's Board of Trustees, on 60 days written notice to the adviser.