<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000928816-17-000561-index.html : 20170228
<SEC-HEADER>0000928816-17-000561.hdr.sgml : 20170228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170228133136
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000928816-17-000561
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-CSR
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		13
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170228
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20170228

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000822671
		IRS NUMBER:				046649095
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-CSR
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05346
		FILM NUMBER:		17646141

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002551581

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM CAPITAL MANAGER TRUST /MA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
<SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
<EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
<SERIES>
<OWNER-CIK>0000822671
<SERIES-ID>S000003893
<SERIES-NAME>Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010881
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IA Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010882
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IB Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
</SERIES>
</EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
</SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-CSR
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a_diversifiedinc.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
<TEXT>
Document 1 - file: a_diversifiedinc.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99. CERT
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b_961certifications.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
Document 2 - file: b_961certifications.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>c_961noscertification.htm
<DESCRIPTION>906CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
Document 3 - file: c_961noscertification.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx1x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 4 - file: diversifiedincx1x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx2x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 5 - file: diversifiedincx2x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx3x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 6 - file: diversifiedincx3x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx3x2.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 7 - file: diversifiedincx3x2.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx3x3.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 8 - file: diversifiedincx3x3.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>9
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx5x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 9 - file: diversifiedincx5x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>10
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx45x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 10 - file: diversifiedincx45x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>11
<FILENAME>diversifiedincx46x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 11 - file: diversifiedincx46x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CODE ETH
<SEQUENCE>12
<FILENAME>a_picoemod1.htm
<TEXT>
Document 12 - file: a_picoemod1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CODE ETH
<SEQUENCE>13
<FILENAME>a_nf69mod8.htm
<TEXT>
Document 13 - file: a_nf69mod8.htm

</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>