Portugal on Friday lifted a ban on flights to and from the UK as it continues an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the Ministry of Interior clarified that the lifting of the ban only applies to "essential trips". These trips, the ministry said, are those "for professional reasons, studies, family reunions, health or humanitarian reasons."

This means that individuals hoping to travel to the Iberian country for holiday reasons will have to wait longer before they can do so.

Portugal also lifted similar restrictions from Brazil despite the South American country reporting 3,560 COVID-19-related deaths on Thursday.

In mid-January, Portugal suspended all flights, except humanitarian and repatriation flights, to and from Brazil and the UK to prevent the spread of COVID-19 variants.

Restrictions on travel by land and sea to Spain will remain in place for another 15 days and Portugal will continue to require visitors from countries with an infection rate above 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to undertake a two-week quarantine. Such countries include Brazil, France, the Netherlands and South Africa.

Also, travel from countries with a rate above 150 cases for 100,000 inhabitants are also limited to essential trips, the ministry said. Some of these countries include like Germany, Italy and Spain.

(With input from agencies)