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Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 497
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000756913
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Dec. 10, 2020
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Dec. 10, 2020
Global Trust  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block] rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock Global Trust
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block] rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio
Managed Volatility Aggressive Portfolio  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block] rr_SupplementToProspectusTextBlock Managed Volatility Aggressive Portfolio
Select Bond Trust  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified mix of debt securities and instruments. (The fund will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to a change in its 80% investment policy.) The fund seeks to invest its assets in debt securities and instruments with an average duration of plus or minus one year of its benchmark, Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, however, there is no limit on the fund’s average maturity. The fund does not invest in bonds rated below investment-grade at time of purchase.

 

Eligible investments include, but are not limited to:

 

•U.S. Treasury and agency securities as well as notes backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
•Mortgage-backed securities, including mortgage pass-through securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”),
•U.S. and foreign corporate bonds, and
•Foreign government and agency securities.

 

The subadvisor uses proprietary research and economic and industry analysis to identify specific bonds, bond sectors and industries that are attractively priced. Due to this process, the fund may have a higher than average portfolio turnover ratio which may affect performance results.

 

The foreign securities in which the fund invests may be denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currency.

 

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” including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasury futures and options, index derivatives, credit default swaps and forwards.