Can I apply for a social security card directly without paying the fee?

You can't. The social security card should reflect the situation of participating in social security, but it cannot be handled without participating in the social security card. To apply for a social security card, you must participate in social security payment. The Social Security Card of the People's Republic of China is an integrated circuit card issued by local human resources and social security departments to the public, which is mainly used for government social management and public services in the field of human resources and social security. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is responsible for the issuance and application of national social security cards. Provincial and municipal human resources and social security departments are responsible for the issuance and application management of social security cards in the region, and their subordinate information comprehensive management institutions specifically undertake the related affairs of social security card issuance and technical management.