# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000756913
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-177842
**Filing Date:** 2026-4
**Character Count:** 25607
**Document Hash:** a29b5f8ec8c57fb5637140d7a2c7fcf2
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-177842.hdr.sgml**: 20260427

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-177842

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 497K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 3

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260427

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260424

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260427

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000756913

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0630

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 497K
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 002-94157
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26896011

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 617-663-3000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** JOHN HANCOCK TRUST
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20050124

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** MANUFACTURERS INVESTMENT TRUST
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19971022

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** NASL SERIES FUND INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19881030

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Active Bond Trust (Series ID: S000008236)

| Class ID   | Class Name   | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000022430 | NAV          | JAHDX           |
| C000022431 | Series I     | JAHFX           |
| C000022432 | Series II    | JAHEX           |

![](g537257jh_blk.jpg)

**April 27, 2026**

**John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust**

**Summary prospectus**

Active Bond Trust

Before you invest, you may want to review the fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund's prospectus and other information about the fund, including the Statement of Additional Information and most recent reports, online at dfinview.com/johnhancock?site=funds. You can also get this information at no cost by sending an email request to webmail@jhancock.com or calling 800-344-1029 (for John Hancock Variable Annuities) or 800-732-5543 (for John Hancock Variable Life Insurance), or if your policy is held through another insurance company, please contact that company. The fund's [prospectus and Statement of Additional Information](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/756913/000119312526156991/d224548d485bpos.htm), both dated April 27, 2026, as may be supplemented, and most recent [financial highlights](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/756913/000075691326000009/8de763cb907ab7f.htm) information included in the shareholder report, dated December 31, 2025, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. This summary prospectus is intended for use in connection with a variable contract as defined in Section 817(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not intended for use by other investors.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Tickers** |  |  |
| Series I: JAHFX | Series II: JAHEX | Series NAV: JAHDX |

---

**Investment objective**

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To seek income and capital appreciation.

**Fees and expenses**

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This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. **The fees and expenses do not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance or variable annuities contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option 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) | **Series I** | **Series II** | **Series NAV** |
| Management fee | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.60 |
| Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.00 |
| Other expenses | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| **Total annual fund operating expenses** | **0.71** | **0.91** | **0.66** |
| Contractual expense reimbursement | -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>| -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>| -0.01 <br><sup>1</sup><br>|
| **Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements** | **0.70** | **0.90** | **0.65** |

---

**1**

The advisor contractually agrees to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses for the fund and certain other John Hancock funds according to an asset level breakpoint schedule that is based on the aggregate net assets of all the funds participating in the waiver or reimbursement, including the fund (the participating portfolios). This waiver equals, on an annualized basis, 0.0100% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $75 billion but is less than or equal to $125 billion; 0.0125% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $125 billion but is less than or equal to $150 billion; 0.0150% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $150 billion but is less than or equal to $175 billion; 0.0175% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $175 billion but is less than or equal to $200 billion; 0.0200% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $200 billion but is less than or equal to $225 billion; and 0.0225% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $225 billion. The amount of the reimbursement is calculated daily and allocated among all the participating portfolios in proportion to the daily net assets of each participating portfolio. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's reimbursement amounted to 0.01% of the fund's average daily net assets. This agreement expires on July 31, 2027, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.

**Expense example**

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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. The expense example does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

------

Active Bond Trust

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Expenses ($)** | **Series I** | **Series II** | **Series NAV** |
| 1 year | 72 | 92 | 66 |
| 3 years | 226 | 289 | 210 |
| 5 years | 394 | 503 | 367 |
| 10 years | 882 | 1119 | 822 |

---

**Portfolio turnover**

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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 its most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 90% of the average value of its portfolio.

**Principal investment strategies**

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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, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, however, there is no limit on the fund's average maturity. As part of its investment strategy, the fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities to a significant extent.

Eligible investments include, but are not limited to:

● U.S. Treasury and agency securities;

● Asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, both investment grade and below-investment grade, including mortgage pass-through securities, interest-only securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs");

● Corporate bonds, both U.S. and foreign, and without any limit on credit quality; and

● Foreign government and agency securities.

The fund may invest in asset-backed securities rated, at the time of purchase, less than A (but not rated lower than B by S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") or Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), or a comparable rating by another Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization). The subadvisor uses proprietary research and economic and industry analysis to identify specific bonds, bond sectors and industries that are attractively priced. Because the fund is actively managed, it may have a higher than average portfolio turnover ratio, which may increase expenses and affect performance results.

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

Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC manages the fund with two investment teams, each of which employs its own investment approach and independently manages its portion of the fund. The fund is rebalanced periodically so that each team manages the following portions of the fund:

50%\* Securitized Asset Team and 50%\* Core / Core Plus Team

\* Percentages are approximate. Since the fund is only rebalanced periodically, the actual portion of the fund managed by each team will vary. This allocation methodology may change in the future.

**Securitized Asset Team**

The Securitized Asset Team uses a combination of proprietary research and quantitative tools and seeks to identify bonds and bond sectors that are attractively priced based upon market fundamentals and technical factors. The Securitized Asset Team opportunistically emphasizes bonds with yields in excess of U.S. Treasury securities.

This portion of the fund normally has no more than 10% of its total assets in high yield bonds ("junk bonds") and normally invests in foreign securities only if U.S. dollar-denominated. This portion of the fund normally has an average credit rating of "A" or "AA."

**The Core / Core Plus Team**

The Core / Core Plus Team uses proprietary research to identify specific bond sectors, industries and bonds that are attractively priced. The team seeks to anticipate shifts in the business cycle, using economic and industry analysis to determine which sectors and industries might benefit over the next 12 months.

This portion of the fund normally has no more than 25% of its total assets in high yield bonds (sometimes referred to as "junk bonds") and may invest in both U.S. dollar-denominated and foreign currency-denominated foreign securities. This portion of the fund normally has an average credit rating of "A" or "AA."

Under normal circumstances, no more than 15% of the total assets of the portion of the fund managed by the Core / Core Plus Team will be invested in asset-backed securities rated lower than A by both rating agencies. The fund's investment policies are based on credit ratings at the time of purchase.

**2**

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Active Bond Trust

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.

**Principal risks**

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An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Many factors affect performance, and fund shares will fluctuate in price, meaning you could lose money. The fund's investment strategy may not produce the intended results.

The fund's main risks are listed below in alphabetical order, not in order of importance. *Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 257 of the prospectus*.

**Changing distribution levels risk.** The fund may cease or reduce the level of its distribution if income or dividends paid from its investments declines.

**Credit and counterparty risk.** The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract, or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. A downgrade or default affecting any of the fund's securities could affect the fund's performance.

**Economic and market events risk.** Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial services companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.

**Fixed-income securities risk.** A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity or duration of the bonds held by a fund, the more sensitive it will likely be to interest-rate fluctuations. An issuer may not make all interest payments or repay all or any of the principal borrowed. Changes in a security's credit quality may adversely affect fund performance.

**Foreign securities risk.** Less information may be publicly available regarding foreign issuers, including foreign government issuers. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes and may be more volatile than U.S. securities. Currency fluctuations and political and economic developments may adversely impact the value of foreign securities.

**Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk.** Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund's volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund's principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, credit default swaps, foreign currency swaps, interest-rate swaps, swaps, swaptions, equity-linked notes (equity-linked notes generally reflect the risks associated with their underlying securities, depend on the credit of the note's issuer, may be privately placed, and may have a limited secondary market), inverse floating-rate securities, reverse repurchase agreements, total return swaps, and options on futures. Foreign currency forward contracts, futures contracts, options, and swaps generally are subject to counterparty risk. In addition, swaps may be subject to interest-rate and settlement risk, and the risk of default of the underlying reference obligation. Derivatives associated with foreign currency transactions are subject to currency risk. An event of default or insolvency of the counterparty to a reverse repurchase agreement could result in delays or restrictions with respect to the fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. In addition, a reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leverage and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund's net asset value (NAV) per share.

**High portfolio turnover risk.** Trading securities actively and frequently can increase transaction costs (thus lowering performance) and taxable distributions.

**Liquidity risk.** The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments. Liquidity risk may be magnified in rising interest rate environments due to higher than normal redemption rates. Widespread selling of fixed-income securities to satisfy redemptions during periods of reduced demand may adversely impact the price or salability of such securities. Periods of heavy redemption could cause the fund to sell assets at a loss or depressed value, which could negatively affect performance. Redemption risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets.

**Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities risk.** Lower-rated and high-yield fixed-income securities (junk bonds) are subject to greater credit quality risk, risk of default, and price volatility than higher-rated fixed-income securities, may be considered speculative, and can be difficult to resell.

**Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities risk.** Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension, interest-rate, and other market risks. Factors that impact the value of these securities include interest rate changes, the reliability of available information, credit quality or enhancement, and market perception.

**3**

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Active Bond Trust

**Operational and cybersecurity risk.** Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund's securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.

**Sector risk.** When a fund focuses its investments in certain sectors of the economy, its performance may be driven largely by sector performance and could fluctuate more widely than if the fund were invested more evenly across sectors.

**U.S. government agency obligations risk.** U.S. government-sponsored entities such as Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal Home Loan Banks, although chartered or sponsored by Congress, are not funded by congressional appropriations and the debt securities that they issue are neither guaranteed nor issued by the U.S. government. Such debt securities are subject to the risk of default on the payment of interest and/or principal, similar to the debt securities of private issuers. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government obligations may greatly exceed their current resources, including any legal right to support from the U.S. government. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored entities in the future.

**U.S. Treasury obligations risk.** The market value of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury may vary due to changes in interest rates. In addition, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the fund's investments in obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury to decline.

**Past performance**

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The following information illustrates the variability of the fund's returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the fund's average annual returns compared with a broad-based securities market index. Past performance does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. The performance information below does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract which may use JHVIT as its underlying investment option. If such fees and expenses had been reflected, performance would be lower.

**Calendar year total returns (%)—Series NAV**

![](g537257activebdt_nav.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Best quarter:** | Q4 2023 | 7.14% |
| **Worst quarter:** | Q1 2022 | -6.02% |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Average annual total returns (%)—as of 12/31/2025** | **1 year** | **5 year** | **10 year** |
| **Series I** | 7.39 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.02 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.61 |
| **Series II** | 7.18 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.17 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.41 |
| **Series NAV** | 7.56 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.09 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.67 |
| Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | 7.30 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.36 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.01 |

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**Investment management**

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**Investment advisor** John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC

**Subadvisor** Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC

**Portfolio management**

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The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund's portfolio.

**4**

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Active Bond Trust

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Jeffrey N. Given, CFA** | **Connor Minnaar, CFA** |
| *Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of*<br> *U.S. Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income*<br> Managed fund since 2006<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; *Portfolio Manager*<br> Managed fund since 2022<br>|
| **Spencer Godfrey, CFA**<br> *Associate Portfolio Manager*<br> Managed fund since 2025<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Pranay Sonalkar, CFA**<br> *Portfolio Manager*<br> Managed fund since 2021<br>|
| **Howard C. Greene, CFA**<sup>1</sup> <br>*Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of*<br> *U.S. Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income*<br> Managed fund since 2005<br>|  |

---

**1**

Effective December 31, 2027, Howard C. Greene, CFA will no longer serve as a portfolio manager of the fund.

**Purchase and redemption of fund shares**

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Shares of the fund are not sold directly to the public but generally may be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment options 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 and to certain qualified retirement plans (qualified plans).

Shares of the fund are offered continuously, without sales charge, and are sold and redeemed each business day (which typically is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open) at a price equal to their net asset value (NAV) determined for that business day as set forth under "Valuation of shares" in this prospectus. The Portfolio does not have minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements. Payment for shares redeemed will generally be made within seven days after receipt of a proper notice of redemption.

**Taxes**

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Because shares of the fund may be purchased only through variable insurance contracts and qualified plans, it is expected that any dividends or capital gains distributions made by the fund 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.

**Compensation of financial intermediaries**

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The fund is not sold directly to the general public but instead is offered as an underlying investment option for variable insurance contracts. The distributors of these contracts, the insurance companies that issue the contracts and their related companies (Related Parties), 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 fund pays fees to the Related Parties 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 website for more information. In addition, payments by the funds to Related Parties 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.

**5**

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![](g537257jh_blk.jpg)© 2026 John Hancock Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC <br>200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 <br>John Hancock Variable Annuities: 800-344-1029 <br>John Hancock Variable Life Insurance: 800-732-5543 <br>johnhancock.com

SEC file number: 811-04146 <br>4/27/26

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