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Document Type

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Other

Document Period End Date

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Dec. 31, 2010

Registrant Name

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JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

Central Index Key

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0000756913

Amendment Flag

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false

Document Creation Date

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Jun. 27, 2011

Document Effective Date

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Jun. 27, 2011

Prospectus Date

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May 02, 2011

Supplement [Text Block]

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JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

Supplement dated June 27, 2011

to the Prospectus dated May 2, 2011

American Blue Chip Income and Growth Trust

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American Blue Chip Income and Growth Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to produce income exceeding the average yield on U.S. stocks generally and to provide an opportunity for growth of principal consistent with sound common stock investing.

American Blue Chip Income and Growth Trust | American Blue Chip Income and Growth Trust, Series I

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JACHX

American Global Growth Trust

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American Global Growth Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to provide long-term growth of capital.

American Global Growth Trust | American Global Growth Trust, Series III

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JAOHX

American Global Small Capitalization Trust

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American Global Small Capitalization Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to provide long-term growth of capital.

American Global Small Capitalization Trust | American Global Small Capitalization Trust, Series III

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JASHX

American Growth Trust

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American Growth Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to provide growth of capital.

American Growth Trust | American Growth Trust, Series I

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JEGRX

American Growth-Income Trust

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American Growth-Income Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to provide growth of capital and income.

American Growth-Income Trust | American Growth-Income Trust, Series I

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JEGFX

American International Trust

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American International Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek to provide long-term growth of capital.

American International Trust | American International Trust, Series I

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JEILX

American New World Trust

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American New World Trust

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The investment objectives of each fund have been changed as noted below:

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To seek long-term capital appreciation

American New World Trust | American New World Trust, Series III

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JANHX

Fundamental All Cap Core Trust

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Supplement Strategy [Text Block]

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Optimized All Cap Trust

Examples

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Effective June 27, 2011, the Optimized All Cap Trust is changing its name to Fundamental All Cap Core Trust and amending and restating its investment policies as follows:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. Market capitalizations of these companies will span the capitalization spectrum. Equity securities include common, convertible, and preferred securities and their equivalents.

In managing the fund, the subadviser looks for companies that are highly differentiated with key growth drivers, sustainable cash flow production, and high returns on capital. The subadviser seeks to identify companies with sustainable competitive advantages and high barriers to entry, strong management and a focus on creating value for fund shareholders. Both growth and value opportunities are evaluated with an approach that uses the present value of estimated future cash flows as the core methodology for measuring intrinsic value.

The subadviser employs a disciplined fundamental research process which produces bottom-up company assessments using key assumptions that drive sales, margins, and asset intensity. Scenario analysis is designed to provide a meaningful range of outcomes and the ability to assess investors’ embedded expectations. The subadviser seeks to purchase companies that meet the criteria above when the shares are selling at a significant discount to intrinsic value. Sell decisions are similarly driven by long term fundamental analysis.

The subadviser constantly reviews portfolio investments and may sell a holding when it has achieved its valuation target, if it believes there is structural or permanent deterioration in the underlying fundamentals of the business, or if it identifies what it believes is a more attractive investment opportunity.

The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in equity securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and similar investments. For purposes of reducing risk and/or obtaining efficient investment exposure, the fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments that include options, futures contracts, and swaps. The fund may also invest in U.S. government securities and other short-term securities such as money market instruments and repurchase agreements.

Use of Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions. The fund is authorized to use all of the various investment strategies referred to under “Additional Information About the Funds’ Principal Risks —Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk.”

Fundamental Large Cap Value Trust

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Optimized Value Trust

Examples

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Effective June 27, 2011, the Optimized Value Trust is changing its name to Fundamental Large Cap Value Trust and amending and restating its investment policies as follows:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large-capitalization companies. The fund considers large-capitalization companies to be those that at the time of purchase have a market capitalization equal to or greater than that of the top 80% of the companies that comprise the Russell 1000 Index. As of March 31, 2011, the lowest market capitalization in this group was $9.85 billion. Equity securities include common, convertible, and preferred securities and their equivalents.

In managing the fund, the subadviser looks for companies that are structurally well positioned through a combination of favorable industry forces and company-specific competitive advantages. The subadviser uses the results of its fundamental analysis to come up with a range of intrinsic values for the business underlying each equity security. The subadviser seeks to identify equity securities by evaluating purchase price relative to range of value estimates and the quality of the businesses that it is purchasing. The subadviser seeks to sell fund holdings when the valuation is no longer favorable, the subadviser’s assessment of the quality of the business changes or when the subadviser finds more attractive opportunities.

U.S. Equity Trust

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Supplement Strategy [Text Block]

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U.S. Multi Sector Trust

Examples

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Effective June 27, 2011, U.S. Multi Sector Trust changed its name to U.S. Equity Trust and amended its investment policies to reflect that under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities.

Bond Trust

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