<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000928816-20-000235-index.html : 20200228
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<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200228124859
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000928816-20-000235
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-CSR
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		12
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20191231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200228
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20200228

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:		20667810

	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
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<EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
<SERIES>
<OWNER-CIK>0000822671
<SERIES-ID>S000003887
<SERIES-NAME>Putnam VT Research Fund
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010869
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IA Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000010870
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class IB Shares
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
</SERIES>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-CSR
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a_vtresearch.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
<TEXT>
Document 1 - file: a_vtresearch.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CERT
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b_2lacertifications.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
Document 2 - file: b_2lacertifications.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>c_2lanoscertification.htm
<DESCRIPTION>906CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
Document 3 - file: c_2lanoscertification.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>vtresearchx1x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 4 - file: vtresearchx1x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>vtresearchx2x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 5 - file: vtresearchx2x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>vtresearchx3x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 6 - file: vtresearchx3x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>vtresearchx3x2.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 7 - file: vtresearchx3x2.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>vtresearchx4x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 8 - file: vtresearchx4x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>9
<FILENAME>vtresearchx21x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 9 - file: vtresearchx21x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>10
<FILENAME>vtresearchx22x1.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
Document 10 - file: vtresearchx22x1.jpg

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CODE ETH
<SEQUENCE>11
<FILENAME>a_picoemod3.htm
<TEXT>
Document 11 - file: a_picoemod3.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CODE ETH
<SEQUENCE>12
<FILENAME>a_nf69mod8.htm
<TEXT>
Document 12 - file: a_nf69mod8.htm

</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>