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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS (INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS)
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2012
Series II shares | Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary - Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund - Series II shares
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective(s)
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that are incurred, directly or indirectly, when a variable product owner buys, holds, or redeems interest in an insurance company separate account that invests in the Series II shares of the Fund but does not represent the effect of any fees or other expenses assessed in connection with your variable product, and if it did, expenses would be higher.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2013
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). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 35% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 35.00%
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.

This Example does not represent the effect of any fees or expenses assessed in connection with your variable product, and if it did, expenses would be higher.

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. 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 on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. In complying with the 80% investment requirement, the Fund may include synthetic securities that have economic characteristics similar to the Fund’s direct investments that are counted toward the 80% investment requirement.

The portfolio management team seeks to construct a portfolio of issuers that have high or improving return on invested capital (ROIC), quality management, a strong competitive position and which are trading at compelling valuations.

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities, which includes debt and equity securities.

The Fund can invest in derivatives, including index futures and forward foreign currency contracts.

Index futures can be used to gain exposure to the broad market by equitizing cash and as a hedge against downside risk. A stock index futures contract is an exchange-traded contract that provides for the delivery, at a designated date, time and place, of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount multiplied by the difference between the stock index value at the close of trading on the date specified in the contract and the price agreed upon in the futures contract; no physical delivery of stocks comprising the index is made.

The Fund can utilize forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between parties to exchange a specified amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified rate. Forward foreign currency contracts are used to protect against uncertainty in the level of future currency exchange rates or to gain or modify exposure to a particular currency. The Fund can use these contracts to hedge against adverse movements in the foreign currencies in which portfolio securities are denominated.

In selecting securities for the Fund, the portfolio managers conduct fundamental research of issuers to gain a thorough understanding of their business prospects, appreciation potential and ROIC. The process they use to identify potential investments for the Fund includes three phases: financial analysis, business analysis and valuation analysis. The portfolio managers will generally invest in an issuer when they have determined it potentially has high or improving ROIC, quality management, a strong competitive position and is trading at an attractive valuation.

The portfolio managers consider selling a security when it exceeds the target price, has not shown a demonstrable improvement in fundamentals or a more compelling investment opportunity exists.

The Fund employs a risk management strategy to help minimize loss of capital and reduce excessive volatility. Pursuant to this strategy, the Fund generally invests a substantial amount of its assets in cash and cash equivalents. As a result, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Cash/Cash Equivalents Risk. Holding cash or cash equivalents may negatively affect performance.

Debt Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in debt securities that are affected by changing interest rates and changes in their effective maturities and credit quality.

Derivatives Risk. The performance of derivative instruments is tied to the performance of an underlying currency, security, index or other instrument. In addition to risks relating to their underlying instruments, the use of derivatives may include other, possibly greater, risks. Derivatives involve costs, may be volatile, and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. Risks associated with the use of derivatives may include counterparty, leverage, correlation, liquidity, tax, market, interest rate and management risks. Derivatives may also be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than other investments. The Fund may lose more than the cash amount invested on investments in derivatives. Investors should bear in mind that, while the Fund intends to use derivative strategies, it is not obligated to actively engage in these transactions, generally or in any particular kind of derivative, if the investment manager elects not to do so due to availability, cost, market conditions or other factors.

Foreign Securities Risk. The Fund’s foreign investments may be affected by changes in a foreign country’s exchange rates, political and social instability, changes in economic or taxation policies, difficulties when enforcing obligations, decreased liquidity, and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies.

Management Risk. The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

Market Risk. The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations.

Synthetic Securities Risk. Fluctuations in the values of synthetic securities may not correlate perfectly with the instruments they are designed to replicate. Synthetic securities may be subject to interest rate changes, market price fluctuations, counterparty risk and liquidity risk.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and performance table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year as of December 31. Effective September 30, 2002, the Fund changed its investment objective. Performance shown for the Fund reflects the investment objective of the Fund in effect during the periods shown. All performance shown assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains and the effect of the Fund’s expenses. The performance table compares the Fund’s performance to that of a broad-based securities market benchmark, a style specific benchmark and a peer group benchmark with investment objectives and strategies similar to the Fund. The performance table below does not reflect charges assessed in connection with your variable product; if it did, the performance shown would be lower. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of its future performance. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s Web site at www.invesco.com/us. Series I shares are not offered by this prospectus. The Series I shares and Series II shares invest in the same portfolio of securities and will have substantially similar performance, except to the extent that the expenses borne by each share class differ. Series II shares have higher expenses (and therefore lower performance) resulting from its Rule 12b-1 plan, which provides for a maximum fee equal to an annual rate of 0.25% (expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets of the Fund).
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and performance table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year as of December 31. Effective September 30, 2002, the Fund changed its investment objective. Performance shown for the Fund reflects the investment objective of the Fund in effect during the periods shown. All performance shown assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains and the effect of the Fund’s expenses. The performance table compares the Fund’s performance to that of a broad-based securities market benchmark, a style specific benchmark and a peer group benchmark with investment objectives and strategies similar to the Fund.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.invesco.com/us
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of its future performance.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Total Returns
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The performance table below does not reflect charges assessed in connection with your variable product; if it did, the performance shown would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best Quarter (ended June 30, 2009): 16.94%

Worst Quarter (ended December 31, 2008): -21.08%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2011)
Series II shares | Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund | Class: Series II shares
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice   
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther   
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.61%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.28%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.14% [1]
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 116
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 362
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 628
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,386
2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (15.79%)
2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 24.15%
2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 8.67%
2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 5.08%
2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 16.42%
2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 7.88%
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (30.32%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 27.98%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 9.25%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (0.29%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 16.94%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (21.08%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (0.29%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.94%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.83%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 24, 2001
Series II shares | Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.09%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.25%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.92%
Series II shares | Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund | Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.50%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.02%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.34%
Series II shares | Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund | Lipper VUF Large-Cap Core Funds Index
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.10%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.79%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.30%
[1] The Adviser has contractually agreed, through at least April 30, 2013, to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses of Series II shares to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding certain items discussed below) of Series II shares to 1.45% of average daily net assets. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account, and could cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement to exceed the number reflected above: (i) interest; (ii) taxes; (iii) dividend expense on short sales; (iv) extraordinary or non-routine items, including litigation expenses; (v) expenses that the Fund has incurred but did not actually pay because of an expense offset arrangement. Unless the Board of Trustees and Invesco Advisers, Inc. mutually agree to amend or continue the fee waiver agreement, it will terminate on April 30, 2013.