Canberra and Kuala Lumpur are considering establishing an independent body to help implement their proposal to exchange asylum seekers and refugees.
Under the deal, which is yet to be finalised, 800 asylum seekers intercepted trying to make their way to Australia by boat will be taken to Malaysia for processing.
In return, Australia will resettle an extra 4000 people assessed as genuine refugees from Malaysia over four years.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship on Thursday released what spokesman Sandi Logan called a "definitive guide to all things Australia/Malaysia arrangement on irregular maritime arrivals".
It states that all asylum seekers transferred to Malaysia will be treated with dignity and respect and that the United Nations' refugee agency "will undertake refugee status determinations".
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"Malaysia and Australia are also considering the establishment of an independent body to advise on issues related to the implementation of the arrangement," the document states.
It makes clear that only those people who were registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia before Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the swap proposal on May 7 "are eligible for resettlement under the increased resettlement quota of 4000 places".
As well as looking to establish an independent advisory body, the federal government is consulting with both the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration "regarding the implementation of the arrangement", the guide released on Thursday states.
Kuala Lumper this week said it would only accept asylum seekers who arrive in Australia after the transfer deal with Canberra is finalised.
The comments come after Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said anyone who arrived on a boat after May 7 would not be processed in Australia but rather sent to a third country.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Mr Bowen said the government accepted that "no person will be sent to Malaysia until the arrangements are finalised".
"Advanced negotiations are continuing with both Malaysia and Papua New Guinea in relation to all arrivals following the May 7 announcement," he said.
