Identity cards are now available to people living in Manchester.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson showed off his card as he travelled to Brussels for a meeting of European Union ministers.
But the launch was overshadowed by the revelation that the cards are available only to people who already have passports, or whose passports expired this year.
Everyone else wanting a £30 ID card will first have to sign up for a passport at a cost of £77.50.
Phil Booth from campaign group NO2ID said: "The Government claims ID cards are a handy alternative to a passport is bogus.
"You have to have one already so you will pay another £30 and set yourself up for a lifetime of fees, penalties and compliance.
"Once you are on the database you will be obliged to update Whitehall's register on you for the rest of your life."
Anyone in Greater Manchester wanting one can enrol at passport offices in Manchester city centre and at Manchester Airport.
Since applications opened a fortnight ago, 1,386 people living in the area have requested an application form, out of an eligible population of 1.7 million.
The first cards will be issued within 10 days, officials said. Each card costs £30 and can be used to travel passport-free across the EU.
