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JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust (“JHVIT” or the “Trust”), formerly John Hancock Trust, is an open-end management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund. Shares of JHVIT are not offered directly to the public but are sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment medium for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts (“variable contracts”). JHVIT provides a range of investment objectives through separate investment portfolios or funds (each a “fund,” collectively the “funds”). The following fund is described in this Prospectus:


	Ticker
Fund Name	Series NAV

International Growth Stock Trust		JGSDX

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. No person, including any dealer or salesperson, has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, unless the information or representation is set forth in this Prospectus. If any such unauthorized information or representation is given, it should not be relied upon as having been authorized by JHVIT, the adviser or any subadvisers to JHVIT or the principal underwriter of the shares. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of JHVIT in any state where such offer or sale would be prohibited.

Prospectus dated November 5, 2012

INTERNATIONAL GROWTH STOCK TRUST

Investment Objective

The fund seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if shares of the fund are held by separate accounts of certain John Hancock insurance companies that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. They are based on expenses incurred during the fund’s most recent fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fund’s average net assets during the year. In subsequent periods, the fund’s expense ratio may increase due to decreases in fund assets attributable to redemptions and declines in portfolio valuation. The fees and expenses do not reflect fees and expenses of any separate account that may use the fund as its underlying investment medium and would be higher if they did.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Total

Distribution

fund

Management

and service (12b-1)

Other

operating

Share Class

fee

fees

Expenses

expenses

Series NAV

0.83%

0.00%

0.15%

0.98%

Examples. The examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that $10,000 is invested in the fund for the periods indicated and then all shares are redeemed at the end of those periods. The examples also assume that the 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 on these assumptions your costs would be:


	Year 1		Year 3		Year 5		Year 10
Series NAV	$	100	$	312	$	542	$	1,201

Portfolio Turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction cost and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of international securities whose issuers are considered by the fund’s subadviser to have strong earnings growth. The fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in stocks of any market capitalization.

The fund invests significantly in foreign issuers. The fund focuses its investments in equity securities of foreign issuers that are listed on a recognized foreign or U.S. securities exchange or traded in a foreign or U.S. over-the-counter market. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, in issuers located in at least three countries outside of the U.S., emphasizing investment in issuers in the developed countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Basin. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in issuers located in developing countries.

The subadviser employs a disciplined investment strategy that emphasizes fundamental research, supported by quantitative analysis, portfolio construction and risk management techniques. The strategy primarily focuses on identifying issuers that have experienced, or exhibit the potential for, accelerating or above average earnings growth but whose prices do not fully reflect these attributes. Investments for the portfolio are selected bottom-up on a security-by-security basis. The focus is on the strengths of individual issuers, rather than sector or country trends.

Use of Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions. The fund is authorized to use various hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions, including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasury futures and options, index derivatives, credit default swaps and currency forwards, described under “Additional Information about the Funds’ Principal Risks – Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk.”

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

The fund is subject to risks, and you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in the fund include:

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Emerging markets risk The risks of investing in foreign securities are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries may experience higher inflation, interest rates and unemployment as well as greater social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties than more developed countries.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Large company risk Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, causing the fund to underperform investments that focus on small- or medium-capitalization stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, the market capitalization of a company is based on its market capitalization at the time the fund purchases the company’s securities. Market capitalizations of companies change over time.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Medium and smaller company risk The prices of medium and smaller company stocks can change more frequently and dramatically than those of large company stocks. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, the market capitalization of a company is based on its market capitalization at the time the fund purchases the company’s securities. Market capitalizations of companies change over time.

Past Performance

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in performance from year to year and by showing how average annual returns for specified periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Unless all share classes shown in the table have the same inception date, performance shown for periods prior to the inception date of a class is the performance of the fund’s oldest share class. This pre-inception performance, with respect to any other share class of the fund, has not been adjusted to reflect the 12b-1 fees of that class. As a result, the pre-inception performance shown for a share class other than the oldest share class may be higher or lower than it would be if adjusted to reflect the 12b-1 fees of the class. The performance information below does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract which may use JHVIT as its underlying investment medium. If such fees and expenses had been reflected, performance would be lower. The past performance of the fund is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, each of the funds is treated as a separate entity, intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to meet the diversification requirements that are applicable to mutual funds that serve as underlying investments for insurance company separate accounts. A fund that qualifies as a regulated investment company will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income and net capital gain that it distributes to its shareholders in each taxable year (provided that it distributes at least 90% of its net investment income and net tax exempt interest income for the taxable year). Insurance company separate accounts, the principal shareholders of the funds, generally do not pay tax on dividends and capital gain distributions from the funds.

Because shares of the funds may be purchased only through variable insurance contracts and qualified plans, it is expected that any dividends or capital gains distributions made by the funds will be exempt from current federal taxation if left to accumulate within the variable contract or qualified plan. Holders of variable insurance contracts should consult the prospectuses of their respective contracts for information on the federal income tax consequences to such holders.

Variable contract owners should consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in the funds, including the application of state and local taxes.

More information about taxes is located in the SAI under the heading “Additional Information Concerning Taxes.”

Compensation of Financial Intermediaries

The funds are not sold directly to the general public but instead are offered as underlying investment options for variable insurance contracts. The distributors of these contracts, the insurance companies that issue the contracts and their related companies may pay compensation to broker-dealers and other intermediaries for distribution and other services and may enter into revenue sharing arrangements with certain intermediaries. The source of funds for these payments to intermediaries may be the fees paid by the funds under their agreements with insurance and related companies for management, distribution and other services. Payments by insurance and related companies to intermediaries may create a conflict of interest by influencing them and their salespersons to recommend such contracts over other investments. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information. In addition, payments by the funds to insurance and related companies may be a factor that an insurance company considers in including the funds as underlying investment options in variable insurance contracts. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your variable insurance contract may contain additional information about these payments.

Temporary Defensive Investing

During unusual or unsettled market conditions, for purposes of meeting redemption requests, or pending investment of its assets, a fund generally may invest all or a portion of its assets in cash and securities that are highly liquid, including: (a) high quality money market instruments, such as short-term U.S. government obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements or other cash equivalents; and (b) money market funds. In the case of funds investing extensively in foreign securities, these investments may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies and may include debt of foreign corporations, governments and supranational organizations. To the extent a fund is in a defensive position, its ability to achieve its investment objective will be limited.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S PRINCIPAL RISKS

The principal risks of investing in each fund are summarized in the description of that fund above. These risks are more fully described below. The risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of importance. The funds’ Statement of Additional Information dated the same date as this prospectus (the “SAI”) contains further details about these risks as well as information about additional risks.

An investment in a fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. A fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Customer Protection Act includes a number of statutory provisions, rulemaking directives and required studies that could directly or indirectly impact the funds through: (i) provisions impacting the regulatory framework; (ii) provisions impacting the funds as investors; (iii) enhancements to the enforcement authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission; (iv) risk regulation of “systematically important” financial institutions; and (v) mandated studies that may have further effects on the funds. Such legislation may impact the funds in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude a fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of a fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose a fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments.

Active management risk

A fund that relies on its manager’s ability to pursue the fund’s goal is subject to management risk. The manager will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for a fund and there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. A fund generally does not attempt to time the market and instead generally stays fully invested in the relevant asset class, such as domestic equities or foreign equities. Notwithstanding its benchmark, a fund may buy securities not included in its benchmark or hold securities in very different proportions than its benchmark. To the extent a fund invests in those securities, its performance depends on the ability of the subadviser to choose securities that perform better than securities that are included in the benchmark.

Equity securities risk

Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities will fluctuate, and can decline and reduce the value of a fund investing in equities. The price of equity securities fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions. The value of equity securities purchased by a fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies in which the fund is invested declines, or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. Even a fund that invests in high-quality or “blue chip” equity securities, or securities of established companies with large market capitalizations (which generally have strong financial characteristics), can be negatively impacted by poor overall market and economic conditions. Companies with large market capitalizations may also have less growth potential than smaller companies and may be less able to react quickly to changes in the marketplace.

Value investing risk. Certain equity securities (generally referred to as value securities) are purchased primarily because they are selling at prices below what a subadviser believes to be their fundamental value and not necessarily because the issuing companies are expected to experience significant earnings growth. The funds bear the risk that the companies that issued these securities may not overcome the adverse business developments or other factors causing their securities to be perceived by the subadvisers to be underpriced or that the market may never come to recognize their fundamental value. A value stock may not increase in price, as anticipated by the subadviser investing in such securities, if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value and bid up the price or invest in markets favoring faster growing companies. A fund’s strategy of investing in value stocks also carries the risk that in certain markets value stocks will underperform growth stocks.

Growth investing risk. Certain equity securities (generally referred to as growth securities) are purchased primarily because a subadviser believes that these securities will experience relatively rapid earnings growth. Growth securities typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other securities. Growth securities are often more sensitive to market fluctuations than other securities because their market prices are highly sensitive to future earnings expectations. At times when it appears that these expectations may not be met, growth stock prices typically fall.

Foreign securities risk

Funds that invest in securities traded principally in securities markets outside the United States are subject to additional and more varied risks, as the value of foreign securities may change more rapidly and extremely than the value of U.S. securities. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Additionally, issuers of foreign securities may not be subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers. Reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. There are generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, transfer taxes, higher custodial costs and the possibility that foreign taxes will be charged on dividends and interest payable on foreign securities. Also, for lesser developed countries, nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which may include the suspension of the ability to transfer currency or assets from a country), political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect a fund’s investments. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, a fund could lose its entire investment in a foreign security. All funds that invest in foreign securities are subject to these risks. Some of the foreign risks are also applicable to funds that invest a material portion of their assets in securities of foreign issuers traded in the U.S.

Emerging markets risk. Funds that invest a significant portion of their assets in the securities of issuers based in countries with “emerging market” economies are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk than funds investing primarily in more developed foreign markets, since emerging market securities may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political and other risks greater than, or in addition to, risks of investing in developed foreign countries. These risks include: high currency exchange-rate fluctuations; increased risk of default (including both government and private issuers); greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including the risk of war); more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging market countries; the fact that companies in emerging market countries may be newly organized and may be smaller and less seasoned; the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions; difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments in foreign jurisdictions; and significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

Currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of a fund’s investments. Currency risk includes both the risk that currencies in which a fund’s investments are traded, or currencies in which a fund has taken an active investment position, will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly for a number of reasons, including the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets, actual or perceived changes in interest rates, and intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Certain funds may engage in proxy hedging of currencies by entering into derivative transactions with respect to a currency whose value is expected to correlate to the value of a currency the fund owns or wants to own. This presents the risk that the two currencies may not move in relation to one another as expected. In that case, the fund could lose money on its investment and also lose money on the position designed to act as a proxy hedge. Certain funds may also take active currency positions and may cross-hedge currency exposure represented by their securities into another foreign currency. This may result in a fund’s currency exposure being substantially different than that suggested by its securities investments. All funds with foreign currency holdings and/or that invest or trade in securities denominated in foreign currencies or related derivative instruments may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Derivative foreign currency transactions (such as futures, forwards and swaps) may also involve leveraging risk, in addition to currency risk. Leverage may disproportionately increase a fund’s portfolio losses and reduce opportunities for gain when interest rates, stock prices or currency rates are changing.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk

The ability of a fund to utilize derivatives, hedging and other strategic transactions successfully will depend in part on its subadviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements and market risk, counterparty risk, credit risk, interest rate risk and other risk factors, none of which can be assured. The skills required to successfully utilize hedging and other strategic transactions are different from those needed to select a fund’s securities. Even if the subadviser only uses hedging and other strategic transactions in a fund primarily for hedging purposes or to gain exposure to a particular securities market, if the transaction is not successful, it could result in a significant loss to a fund. The amount of loss could be more than the principal amount invested. These transactions may also increase the volatility of a fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of the risks assumed, thereby magnifying the impact of any resulting gain or loss. For example, the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed a fund’s initial investment in such contracts. In addition, these transactions could result in a loss to a fund if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised.

A fund may invest in derivatives, which are financial contracts with a value that depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates or indexes. Examples of derivative instruments include options contracts, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and swap agreements (including, but not limited to, credit default swaps and swaps on exchange-traded funds). Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates and related indexes. A fund may use derivatives for many purposes, including for hedging, and as a substitute for direct investment in securities or other assets. Derivatives may be used to efficiently adjust the exposure of a fund to various securities, markets and currencies without a fund actually having to sell existing investments and make new investments. This generally will be done when the adjustment is expected to be relatively temporary or in anticipation of effecting the sale of fund assets and making new investments over time. Further, since many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. When a fund uses derivatives for leverage, investments in that fund will tend to be more volatile, resulting in larger gains or losses in response to market changes. To limit leverage risk, a fund may segregate assets determined to be liquid or, as permitted by applicable regulation, enter into certain offsetting positions to cover its obligations under derivative instruments. For a description of the various derivative instruments the fund may utilize, refer to the SAI.

The use of derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or potentially greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other more traditional assets. In particular, the use of derivative instruments exposes a fund to the risk that the counterparty to an over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise to honor its obligations. OTC derivatives transactions typically can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction, although either party may engage in an offsetting transaction that puts that party in the same economic position as if it had closed out the transaction with the counterparty or may obtain the other party’s consent to assign the transaction to a third party. If the counterparty defaults, the fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that the counterparty will meet its contractual obligations or that, in the event of default, the fund will succeed in enforcing them. For example, because the contract for each OTC derivatives transaction is individually negotiated with a specific counterparty, a fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty may interpret contractual terms (e.g., the definition of default) differently than the fund when the fund seeks to enforce its contractual rights. If that occurs, the cost and unpredictability of the legal proceedings required for the fund to enforce its contractual rights may lead it to decide not to pursue its claims against the counterparty. The fund, therefore, assumes the risk that it may be unable to obtain payments owed to it under OTC derivatives contracts or that those payments may be delayed or made only after the fund has incurred the costs of litigation. While a subadviser intends to monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will meet its obligations, especially during unusually adverse market conditions. To the extent a fund contracts with a limited number of counterparties, the fund’s risk will be concentrated and events that affect the creditworthiness of any of those counterparties may have a pronounced effect on the fund. Derivatives also are subject to a number of other risks, including market risk and liquidity risk. Since the value of derivatives is calculated and derived from the value of other assets, instruments or references, there is a risk that they will be improperly valued. Derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates or indexes they are designed to hedge or closely track. Suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The fund is also subject to the risk that the counterparty closes out the derivatives transactions upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. In addition, a subadviser may determine not to use derivatives to hedge or otherwise reduce risk exposure.

A detailed discussion of various hedging and other strategic transactions appears in the SAI. To the extent a fund of funds utilizes hedging and other strategic transactions, it will be subject to the same risks.

Issuer risk

An issuer of a security purchased by a fund may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline and the issuer may default on its obligations. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, or other factors.

Large company risk

Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Many larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Liquidity risk

A fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions impair the fund’s ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price. Funds with principal investment strategies that involve investments in securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, foreign securities, derivatives, or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Exposure to liquidity risk may be

heightened for funds that invest in emerging markets and related derivatives that are not widely traded, and that may be subject to purchase and sale restrictions.

Medium and smaller company risk

Market risk and liquidity risk may be pronounced for securities of companies with medium-sized market capitalizations and are particularly pronounced for securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations. These companies may have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources or they may depend on a few key employees. The securities of companies with medium and smaller market capitalizations may trade less frequently and in lesser volume than more widely held securities, and their value may fluctuate more sharply than those securities. They may also trade in the over-the-counter market or on a regional exchange, or may otherwise have limited liquidity. Investments in less seasoned companies with medium and smaller market capitalizations may present greater opportunities for growth and capital appreciation, but also involve greater risks than customarily are associated with more established companies with larger market capitalizations. These risks apply to all funds that invest in the securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, each of which primarily makes investments in companies with smaller- or medium-sized market capitalizations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT POLICIES

Subject to certain restrictions and except as noted below, a fund may use the following investment strategies and purchase the following types of securities.

Foreign Repurchase Agreements

A fund may enter into foreign repurchase agreements. Foreign repurchase agreements may be less well secured than U.S. repurchase agreements, and may be denominated in foreign currencies. They also may involve greater risk of loss if the counterparty defaults. Some counterparties in these transactions may be less creditworthy than those in U.S. markets.

Illiquid Securities

A fund is precluded from investing in excess of 15% of its net assets (or 5% in the case of the Money Market Fund) in securities that are not readily marketable. Investment in illiquid securities involves the risk that, because of the lack of consistent market demand for such securities, a fund may be forced to sell them at a discount from the last offer price.

Indexed/Structured Securities

Funds may invest in indexed/structured securities. These securities are typically short- to intermediate-term debt securities whose value at maturity or interest rate is linked to currencies, interest rates, equity securities, indices, commodity prices or other financial indicators. Such securities may be positively or negatively indexed (i.e., their value may increase or decrease if the reference index or instrument appreciates). Indexed/structured securities may have return characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying instruments. A fund bears the market risk of an investment in the underlying instruments, as well as the credit risk of the issuer.

Lending of Fund Securities

A fund may lend its securities so long as such loans do not represent more than 331/3% of the fund’s total assets. As collateral for the loaned securities, the borrower gives the lending portfolio collateral equal to at least 100% of the value of the loaned securities. The collateral may consist of cash, cash equivalents or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The borrower must also agree to increase the collateral if the value of the loaned securities increases. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially.

Loan Participations

The funds may invest in fixed-and floating-rate loans, which investments generally will be in the form of loan participations and assignments of such loans. Participations and assignments involve special types of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and the risks of being a lender. Investments in loan participations and assignments present the possibility that a fund could be held liable as a co-lender under emerging legal theories of lender liability. If a fund purchases a participation, it may only be able to enforce its rights through the lender and may assume the credit risk of the lender in addition to the borrower.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls

The funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. Under a mortgage dollar roll, a fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the future (generally within 30 days) and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date.

At the time a fund enters into a mortgage dollar roll, it will maintain on its records liquid assets such as cash or U.S. government securities equal in value to its obligations in respect of dollar rolls, and accordingly, such dollar rolls will not be considered borrowings.

The funds may only enter into covered rolls. A “covered roll” is a specific type of dollar roll for which there is an offsetting cash or cash equivalent security position that matures on or before the forward settlement date of the dollar roll transaction. Dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the funds may decline below the repurchase price of those securities. While a mortgage dollar roll may be considered a form of leveraging, and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in a fund’s NAV per share, the funds will cover the transaction as described above.

Repurchase Agreements

The funds may enter into repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the acquisition by a fund of debt securities subject to an agreement to resell them at an agreed-upon price. The arrangement is in economic effect a loan collateralized by securities. The fund’s risk in a repurchase transaction is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the delivery date. In the event of bankruptcy or other default by the seller, the instrument purchased may decline in value, interest payable on the instrument may be lost and there may be possible delays and expense in liquidating the instrument. Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be valued every business day and additional collateral will be requested if necessary so that the value of the collateral is at least equal to the value of the repurchased obligation, including the interest accrued thereon. Repurchases agreements maturing in more than seven days are deemed to be illiquid.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The funds may enter into “reverse” repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund may sell a debt security and agree to repurchase it at an agreed upon time and at an agreed upon price. The funds will maintain liquid assets such as cash, Treasury bills or other U.S. government securities having an aggregate value equal to the amount of such commitment to repurchase including accrued interest, until payment is made. While a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leveraging and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in a fund’s NAV per share, the funds will cover the transaction as described above.

U.S. Government Securities

The funds may invest in U.S. government securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. Not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality, which depends entirely on its own resources to repay the debt. U.S. government securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States include U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association. Securities that are only supported by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality include Fannie Mae, FHLBs and Freddie Mac. See “Credit and counterparty risk” for additional information on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities.

Warrants

The funds may, subject to certain restrictions, purchase warrants, including warrants traded independently of the underlying securities. Warrants are rights to purchase securities at specific prices valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and warrant holders receive no dividends and have no voting rights or rights with respect to the assets of an issuer. Warrants cease to have value if not exercised prior to their expiration dates.

When-Issued/Delayed-Delivery/Forward Commitment Securities

A fund may purchase or sell debt or equity securities on a “when-issued,” delayed-delivery or “forward commitment” basis. These terms mean that the fund will purchase or sell securities at a future date beyond customary settlement (typically trade date plus 30 days or longer) at a stated price and/or yield. At the time delivery is made, the value of when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment securities may be more or less than the transaction price, and the yields then available in the market may be higher or lower than those obtained in the transaction.

These investment strategies and securities are described further in the SAI.

MANAGEMENT

Trustees

JHVIT is managed under the direction of its Trustees. The Board oversees the business activities of the funds and retains the services of the various firms that carry out the operations of the funds. The Board may change the investment objective and strategy of a fund without shareholder approval.

Investment Management

John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to JHVIT and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal offices located at 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Its ultimate controlling parent is Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”), a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Canada. MFC and its subsidiaries operate as “Manulife Financial” in Canada and Asia and principally as “John Hancock” in the United States.

The Adviser administers the business and affairs of JHVIT and, except in the case of the JHVIT Feeder Funds, selects, contracts with and compensates subadvisers to manage the assets of most of the funds. The Adviser (i) monitors the compliance of the subadvisers with the investment objectives and related policies of the funds, (ii) reviews the performance of the subadvisers and (iii) reports periodically on such performance to the Board subject to Board approval, the Adviser may elect to directly manage fund assets directly and currently manages the assets of certain funds. As compensation for its services, the Adviser receives a fee from JHVIT computed separately for each fund. Appendix A to this Prospectus is a schedule of the management fees each fund currently is obligated to pay the Adviser.

Subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board, the subadvisers manage the assets of the funds. Each subadviser formulates an investment program for each fund it subadvises, consistent with the fund’s investment goal and strategy, and regularly reports to the Adviser and the Board with respect to such program. The subadvisers are compensated by the Adviser and not by the funds.

An SEC order permits the Adviser to appoint a subadviser or change the terms of a subadvisory agreement (including subadvisory fees) without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval. This order does not, however, permit the Adviser to appoint a subadviser that is an affiliate of the Adviser or JHVIT without obtaining shareholder approval.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the advisory and subadvisory agreements for the funds is available in the funds’ semi-annual report to shareholders for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee or reimburse expenses (the Reimbursement) for certain participating funds of the Trust and John Hancock Funds II. The Reimbursement will equal, on an annualized basis, 0.01% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating funds that exceeds $75 billion but is less than $100 billion and 0.015% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating funds that equals or exceeds $100 billion. The amount of the Reimbursement will be calculated daily and allocated among all the participating funds in proportion to the daily net assets of each such fund. The Reimbursement may be terminated or modified at any time by the Adviser with the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the Board).

Expense Recapture (applicable to all funds)

The Adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed or fees waived under previous expense limitation or waiver arrangements, for a period of three years following the beginning of the month in which such reimbursement or waivers occurred.

Subadvisers and Portfolio Managers

Set forth below, in alphabetical order by subadviser, is additional information about the subadvisers and the fund portfolio managers. The SAI includes additional details about the portfolio managers, including information about their compensation, accounts they manage other than the funds and their ownership of fund securities.

Invesco Advisers, Inc. (“Invesco”)

Invesco is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., whose principal business address is 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. Invesco, an investment adviser since 1976, is a publicly traded company that, through its subsidiaries, engages in the business of investment management on an international basis. Invesco, and/or its affiliates is the

SHARE CLASSES AND RULE 12B-1 PLANS

Share Classes

The funds may issue four classes of shares: Series I, Series II, Series III and NAV shares (not all funds issue all share classes). Each share class is the same except for differences in the allocation of fund expenses and voting rights as described below.

The expenses of each fund are generally borne by its Series I, Series II, Series III and NAV shares (as applicable) based on the net assets of the fund attributable to shares of each class. “Class expenses,” however, are allocated to each class. “Class expenses” include Rule 12b-1 fees (if any) paid by a share class and other expenses determined by the Adviser to be properly allocable to a particular class. The Adviser will make such allocations in a manner and using such methodology as it determines to be reasonably appropriate, subject to ratification or approval by the Board. The kinds of expenses that the Adviser may allocate to a particular class include the following: (i) printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing to the shareholders of a specific class (or owners of contracts funded by shares of such class) materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxies; (ii) professional fees relating solely to such class; (iii) Trustees’ fees, including independent counsel fees, relating specifically to one class; and (iv) expenses associated with meetings of shareholders of a particular class.

All shares of each fund have equal voting rights and are voted in the aggregate, and not by class, except that shares of each class have exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to the arrangement of that class and have separate voting rights when any matter is submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class or when voting by class is otherwise required by law.

Rule 12b-1 Plans

Rule 12b-1 fees will be paid to JHVIT’s Distributor, John Hancock Distributors, LLC, or any successor thereto (the “Distributor”).

To the extent consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules, the Distributor may use Rule 12b-1 fees:

(i) for any expenses relating to the distribution of the shares of the class,

(ii) for any expenses relating to shareholder or administrative services for holders of the shares of the class (or owners of contracts funded in insurance company separate accounts that invest in the shares of the class) and

(iii) for the payment of “service fees” that come within Rule 2830(d)(5) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Without limiting the foregoing, the Distributor may pay all or part of the Rule 12b-1 fees from a fund to one or more affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies that have issued variable insurance contracts for which the fund serves as an investment vehicle as compensation for providing some or all of the types of services described in the preceding sentence; this provision, however, does not obligate the Distributor to make any payments of Rule 12b-1 fees and does not limit the use that the Distributor may make of the Rule 12b-1 fees it receives. Currently, all such payments are made to insurance companies affiliated with JHVIT’s investment adviser and Distributor. However, payments may be made to nonaffiliated insurance companies in the future.

The annual Rule 12b-1 fee rate currently accrued by each fund is set forth in the expense table of each fund. Subject to the approval of the Board, each fund may under the 12b-1 Plans charge Rule 12b-1 fees up to the following maximum annual rates:

Series I shares

an annual rate of up to 0.15%* of the net assets of the Series I shares

Series II shares

an annual rate of up to 0.35%* of the net assets of the Series II shares

Series III shares

an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the net assets of the Series III shares

Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of a fund’s assets on an ongoing basis. Therefore, these fees will increase the cost of an investment in a fund and may, over time, be greater than other types of sales charges.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Purchase and Redemption of Shares

Shares of each fund are offered continuously, without sales charge, and are sold and redeemed at a price equal to their net asset value (NAV) next computed after a purchase payment or redemption request is received. Depending upon the NAV at that time, the amount paid upon redemption may be more or less than the cost of the shares redeemed. Payment for shares redeemed will generally be made within seven days after receipt of a proper notice of redemption. However, JHVIT may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment beyond seven days during any period when:


	•	trading on the NewYork Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the NYSE is closed for other than weekends and holidays;
	•	an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC, as a result of which disposal by JHVIT of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for JHVIT fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or
	•	the SEC by order so permits for the protection of security holders of JHVIT.

Shares of the funds are not sold directly to the public but generally may be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment media for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by such companies, to certain entities affiliated with the insurance companies, to those funds of JHVIT that operate as funds of funds and invest in other funds (“Underlying Funds”) and to certain qualified retirement plans (“qualified plans”).

Due to differences in tax treatments and other considerations, the interests of holder of variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, and the interests of holders of variable contracts and qualified plan investors, that participate in JHVIT may conflict. The Board of Trustees of JHVIT (the “Board” or “Trustees”) will monitor events in order to identify the existence of any material irreconcilable conflicts and determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any such conflict.

Calculation of NAV

The NAV of each fund’s share class is determined once daily as of the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (typically 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time) on each business day that the NYSE is open. On holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed, the NAV is not calculated and the funds do not transact purchase or redemption requests. The time at which shares are priced and until which purchase and redemption orders are accepted may be changed as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Each share class of each fund (except the Money Market Trusts) has its own NAV, which is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, allocated to each share class by the number of fund shares outstanding for that class.

Valuation of Securities

Except as noted below, securities held by a fund are primarily valued on the basis of market quotations or official closing prices. Securities held by each Money Market Trust and certain short-term debt instruments are valued on the basis of amortized cost. Shares of other open-end investments companies held by a fund are valued based on the NAV of the underlying fund.

Fair Valuation of Securities. If market quotations or official closing prices are not readily available or do not accurately reflect fair value for a security or if a security’s value has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, the security will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees. The Trustees have delegated the responsibility to fair value securities to the fund’s Pricing Committee, and the actual calculation of a security’s fair value may be made by persons acting pursuant to the direction of the Trustees.

In deciding whether to a fair value a security, a fund’s Pricing Committee may review a variety of factors, including:

in the case of foreign securities:


	•	developments in foreign markets,
	•	the performance of U.S. securities markets after the close of trading in the market, and
	•	the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities or baskets of foreign securities.

in the case of fixed income securities:


	•	actions by the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee and other significant trends in U.S. fixed-income markets.

in the case of all securities:


	•	political or other developments affecting the economy or markets in which an issuer conducts its operations or its securities are traded,
	•	announcements relating to the issuer of the security concerning matters such as trading suspensions, acquisitions, recapitalizations, litigation developments, a natural disaster affecting the issuer’s operations or regulatory changes or market developments affecting the issuer’s industry, and


	•	events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets).

Fair value pricing of securities is intended to help ensure that a fund’s NAV reflects the fair market value of the fund’s portfolio securities as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (as opposed to a value that is no longer reflects market value as of such close), thus limiting the opportunity for aggressive traders or market timers to purchase shares of the fund at deflated prices reflecting stale security valuations and promptly sell such shares at a gain thereby diluting the interests of long-term shareholders. However, a security’s valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining value, and no assurance can be given that fair value pricing of securities will successfully eliminate all potential opportunities for such trading gains. The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price that a fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security in an orderly transaction between market participants but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. Further, because of the inherent uncertainty and subjective nature of fair valuation, a fair valuation price may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a readily available market price for the investment existed, and these differences could be material. With respect to any portion of a fund’s assets that is invested in an other open-end investment company, that portion of the fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that investment company. The prospectus for the other investment company explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that other investment company.

Dividends

JHVIT intends to declare as dividends substantially all of the net investment income, if any, of each fund. Dividends from the net investment income and the net capital gain, if any, for each fund will be declared not less frequently than annually and reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of that fund or paid in cash.

Disruptive Short Term Trading

None of the funds is designed for short-term trading (frequent purchases and redemption of shares) or market timing activities, which may increase portfolio transaction costs, disrupt management of a fund (affecting a subadviser’s ability to effectively manage a fund in accordance with its investment objective and policies) and dilute the interest in a fund held for long-term investment (“Disruptive Short-Term Trading”).

The Board has adopted procedures to deter Disruptive Short-Term Trading and JHVIT seeks to deter and prevent such trading through several methods:

First, to the extent that there is a delay between a change in the value of a fund’s holdings, and the time when that change is reflected in the NAV of the fund’s shares, the fund is exposed to the risk that investors may seek to exploit this delay by purchasing or redeeming shares at NAVs that do not reflect appropriate fair value prices. JHVIT seeks to deter and prevent this activity, sometimes referred to as “market timing” or “stale price arbitrage,” by the appropriate use of “fair value” pricing of the funds’ portfolio securities. See “Purchases and Redemption of Shares” above for further information on fair value pricing.

Second, management of JHVIT will monitor purchases and redemptions of JHVIT shares either directly or through procedures adopted by the affiliated insurance companies that use JHVIT as their underlying investment vehicle. If management of JHVIT becomes aware of short-term trading that it believes, in its sole discretion, is having or may potentially have the effect of materially increasing portfolio transaction costs, significantly disrupting portfolio management or significantly diluting the interest in a fund held for long-term investment i.e. Disruptive Short-Term Trading, JHVIT may impose restrictions on such trading as described below.

Pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, JHVIT and each insurance company that uses JHVIT as an underlying investment vehicle have entered into information sharing agreements under which the insurance companies are obligated to: (i) adopt, and enforce during the term of the agreement, a short-term trading policy the terms of which are acceptable to JHVIT; (ii) furnish JHVIT, upon its request, with information regarding contract holder trading activities in shares of JHVIT; and (iii) enforce its short-term trading policy with respect to contract holders identified by JHVIT as having engaged in Disruptive Short-Term Trading. Further, when requested information regarding contract holder trading activities is in the possession of a financial intermediary rather than the insurance company, the agreement obligates the insurance company to undertake to obtain such information from the financial intermediary or, if directed by JHVIT, to cease to accept trading instructions from the financial intermediary for the contract holder.

Investors in JHVIT should note that insurance companies have legal and technological limitations on their ability to impose restrictions on Disruptive Short-Term Trading that such limitations and ability may vary among insurance companies and by insurance product. Investors should also note that insurance company separate accounts and omnibus or other nominee accounts, in which purchases and sales of fund shares by multiple investors are aggregated for presentation to a fund on a net basis, inherently make it more difficult for JHVIT to identify short-term transactions in a fund and the investor who is effecting the transaction. Therefore, no assurance can be given that JHVIT will be able to impose uniform restrictions on all insurance companies and all insurance products or that it will be able to successfully impose restrictions on all Disruptive Short-Term Trading. If JHVIT is unsuccessful in restricting Disruptive Short-Term Trading, the affected funds may incur higher brokerage costs, may maintain

higher cash levels (limiting their ability to achieve their investment objective and affecting the subadviser’s ability to effectively manage them) and may be exposed to dilution with respect to interests held for long-term investment.

Market timers may target funds with the following types of investments:


	1.	Funds with significant investments in foreign securities traded on markets that close before the fund determines its NAV.

	2.	Funds with significant investments in high yield securities that are infrequently traded; and

	3.	Funds with significant investments in small cap securities.

Market timers may also target funds with other types of investments for frequent trading of shares.

Policy Regarding Disclosure of Fund Portfolio Holdings

A description of the funds’ policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings can be found in the SAI.

XBRL Filings

A fund’s XBRL filings are located at http://www.johnhancock.com/XBRL/JHT.html.

Additional information about fund expenses

Each fund’s annual operating expenses will likely vary throughout the period and from year to year. Each fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year may be higher than the expenses listed in the fund’s “Annual fund operating expenses” table, for some of the following reasons: (i) a significant decrease in average net assets may result in a higher advisory fee rate if advisory fee breakpoints are not achieved; (ii) a significant decrease in average net assets may result in an increase in the expense ratio because certain fund expenses do not decrease as asset levels decrease; or (iii) fees may be incurred for extraordinary events such as fund tax expenses.

JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table below for each fund is intended to help investors understand the financial performance of the fund for the past five years (or since inception in the case of a fund in operation for less than five years.) Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of a fund. The total returns presented in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a particular fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The total return information shown in the Financial Highlights tables does not reflect the fees and expenses of any separate account which may use John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust (“JHVIT”, formerly John Hancock Trust) as its underlying investment medium or of any variable insurance contract that may be funded in such a separate account. If these fees and expenses were included, the total return figures for all periods shown would be reduced.

The financial statements of JHVIT as of December 31, 2011, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is included, along with JHVIT’s financial statements, in JHVIT’s annual report which has been incorporated by reference into the SAI and is available upon request.

Per share operating performance for a share outstanding throughout the period

Ratios and supplemental data

Income (loss) from

investment operations

Less Distributions

Ratios to average net assets

Net real-

ized and

Expenses

Net asset

Net

unrealized

Total from

Net asset

before

including

Net

value,

investment

gain (loss)

investment

From net

value,

reductions

Net

assets,

beginning

income

on invest-

oper-

investment

From net

From capital

Total

end of

Total

and amounts

investment

end of

Portfolio

of period

(loss)

ments

ations

income

realized gain

paid-in

distributions

period

return

recaptured

income (loss)

period

turnover

Period ended

($)

(%)

(in millions)

(%)

International Growth Stock Trust

Series NAV

12-31-2011

13.64

0.21

(1.18

)

(0.97

)

(0.16

)

(0.03

)

—

(0.19

)

12.48

(7.12

)²

0.98

1.60

227

12-31-2010³

12.50

—

^1,4

1.14

—

13.64

9.12

^2,5

1.05

⁶

1.05

⁶

0.02

⁶

157

¹Based on the average daily shares outstanding.

²Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown.

³The inception date for Series NAV shares is 9-16-10.

⁴Less than $0.005 per share.

⁵Not annualized.

⁶Annualized.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The following documents are available, which offer further information on :

Annual/Semiannual Report to Shareholders

Includes financial statements, a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected performance, as well as the auditors’ report (in annual report only).

Statement of Additional Information

The SAI contains more detailed information on all aspects of the Funds. The SAI includes a summary of ’s policy regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings as well as legal and regulatory matters. The current SAI has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into (and is legally a part of) this Prospectus.

To request a free copy of the current annual/semiannual report or the SAI, please contact John Hancock:

By mail:

601 Congress Street

Boston, MA 02210

By phone: 1-800-827-4546

On the Internet: www.jhlifeinsurance.com

Or you may obtain these documents and other information

about the Funds from the SEC:

By mail: Public Reference Section

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, DC 20549-0102

(duplicating fee required)

In person: at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC

For access to the Reference Room call 1-202-551-8090

By electronic request: publicinfo@sec.gov

(duplicating fee required)

On the Internet: www.sec.gov

1940 Act File No. 811-04146


Subadviser		Portfolio Managers

Invesco Advisers, Inc.		Clas Olsson. Lead Portfolio Manager; managed fund since 2010. Shuxin Cao. Portfolio Manager; managed fund since 2010. Jason Holzer. Portfolio Manager; managed fund since 2010. Matthew Dennis. Portfolio Manager; managed fund since 2010. Mark Jason. Porftolio Manager; managed fund since 2011.


Fund		Portfolio Managers

International Growth Stock Trust		Clas Olsson
		Mark Jason
		Shuxin Cao
		Jason Holzer
		Matthew Dennis


Fund	APR		Advisory Fee Breakpoint


International Growth Stock Trust		0.850%		— first $250 million;
		0.800%		— next $500 million; and
		0.750%		— excess over $750 million. (Aggregate Net Assets include the net assets of the fund and the International Growth Stock Fund, a series of JHF II.)


Best Quarter:		6.48% (Quarter ended 12/31/2011) Worst Quarter: −18.11% (Quarter ended 9/30/2011)


	•	Clas Olsson. Lead Portfolio Manager (with respect to the fund’s investments in Europe and Canada), who has been with the Invesco and/or its affiliates since 1994.
	•	Mark Jason. Portfolio Manager, who has been with Invesco and/or its affiliates since 2001.
	•	Shuxin Cao. Portfolio Manager, who has been with Invesco and/or its affiliates since 1997.
	•	Jason Holzer. Portfolio Manager, who has been with Invesco and/or its affiliates since 1996.
	•	Matthew Dennis. Portfolio Manager, who has been with Invesco and/or its affiliates since 2000.