The federal government expects to finalise an asylum-seeker swap deal with Malaysia in the "coming weeks".
But a similar deal with Indonesia is unlikely after it was ruled out by Jakarta.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says he is "very satisfied" with the progress of negotiations between Canberra and Kuala Lumpur over a final agreement that will allow Australia to swap 800 asylum seekers for 4000 people from Malaysia who have already been granted refugee status.
When asked when the agreement would be signed, Mr Bowen on Wednesday told ABC Radio: "In coming weeks."
When pressed on what "coming weeks" meant, the minister said: "Weeks, not months."
The government has been under pressure to complete the deal with Malaysia's home minister recently indicating that the swap arrangement does not include asylum seekers that arrive by boat before the agreement is finalised.
Mr Bowen said Australia was keen to pursue similar agreements with other nations in the region.
NO THANKS: INDONESIA
But Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has dismissed the possibility of his country entering into a swap agreement with Australia.
Instead Indonesia preferred to focus on expanding a regional framework.
"What Indonesia has been doing with Australia is to develop the regional architecture ...so we have not been contemplating a bilateral approach," he said as he emerged from talks as part of a meeting of foreign ministers from around the globe being held in Bali.
Mr Natalegawa did, however, describe the deal between Australia and Malaysia as having potential in terms of complementing wider regional efforts aimed at combating people smuggling and stopping the flow of asylum-seeker boats.
Indonesia is the chief departure point for asylum-seeker boats heading to Australia.
Mr Bowen would not reveal specific details of his discussions with United Nation's humans right chief Navi Pillay in Canberra on Tuesday.
Ms Pillay has warned the swap deal may not be legal because of concerns about Malaysia's human rights record.
"She did very much welcome the conversation that we had and told me that she was warmed by some of things that I explained to her," the minister said.
Ms Pillay is scheduled to hold a press conference in Canberra at 12.30pm (AEST).
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