can you say "bureaucracy"? one definition of it is "cash flow improvement and job preservation through predetermined and purposeful application of processes designed to make a simple task tedious".

1, the system was purposely designed so that people who need to get their passports quickly will then need to pay an extra amount to get it "done" fast. no matter if they can finish your passport in 1 day, you will be made to wait and they will deliver it after 6 days. you are not really paying "overtime", you are just paying so you do not have to wait 6 days. your passport was probably printed on the same hour you completed the requirements, they just wanted you to pay the extra "overtime fee".

2, the process was designed so that it will be such a hassle going to the dfa. that is where the courrier system comes in. you do not want to que on the long lines at the dfa, then you pay extra.

job preservation comes in when they make everyone believe that it takes 6 days to print a passport because the department does not have the manpower to do it. if the dfa is undermanned then you can't really fire anyone can you? there is also more bargaining points when salary scale review comes up, "we can't afford to lose these people..." blah blah blah.