Appointments for members of the public to enrol their fingerprints have started at Identity and Passport offices in the city centre and at Manchester Airport.
The first cards are expected to be issued this afternoon.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “The many benefits of the National Identity Card can now be enjoyed by members of the public in Manchester.
“The first applicants will soon be taking advantage of the voluntary card as a means to prove and protect their identity in a quick, simple and secure way. “It can be used by young people as a convenient and universal proof of age and as a credit-card sized alternative to the passport when travelling in Europe,” he added.
Identity Minister Meg Hillier today visited The Printworks, Manchester’s largest entertainment complex, to meet staff and promote the new National Identity Card as a universal proof of age document.
“Greater Manchester has one of the highest populations of young people in Europe.
"With nearly ten per cent of passports lost by young people in bars / clubs on nights out and tough legislation introduced this month to clamp down on underage drinking, it will be more important than ever for young people to have access to a universal proof of age document.
“This viable alternative to carrying a passport has been endorsed by businesses and bar owners across Manchester and by Greater Manchester Police,” Ms Hillier said.
The Identity and Passport Service will now continue the rollout of ID cards across the UK. Citizens in the wider North West will be able to apply for a card early next year and there will be full national coverage by 2012.
