Putnam Investments
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
May 10, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
RE: Putnam Variable Trust (Reg. No 33-17486) (811-5346) (the "Fund")
Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Registration Statement on
Form N-1A
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Fund hereby certifies that the form of Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information that would have been filed on behalf
of the Fund pursuant to Rule 497(c) upon the effectiveness of Post-
Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (the "Amendment") would not have differed from that contained in
the Amendment, which is the most recent amendment to such Registration
Statement and was filed electronically on April 28, 2000.
Comments or questions concerning this certificate may be directed
to Gregory L. Pickard at 1-800-225-2465, ext. 17122.
Very truly yours
Putnam Variable Trust
/s/ Gordon H. Silver
By: ---------------------------
Gordon H. Silver
Vice President
cc: David Coombs, Esq.
