Australia is talking to the Philippines about resettling illegal migrants who try to reach its shores.

A multi-million deal to resettle refugees from an Australian-run detention camp on the Pacific nation of Nauru to Cambodia already exists.

But so far, only four refugees have taken up the offer of cash, free health insurance and accommodation to move from Nauru to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

That prompted critics to dub the deal an expensive flop and sent Australia's government looking for another solution.

Australia refuses to accept any refugees who attempt to reach its shores by boat. It pays Nauru and Papua New Guinea, which has a detention centre on Manus Island, to hold them instead.

Immigration minister Peter Dutton said the Australian government had been in talks with several countries, including the Philippines, about possibly resettling its refugees.

"We have been very open to discussions for a long period of time with those partners because we have been very clear about the fact that people on Nauru and people on Manus who have sought to come to our country illegally by boat won't be settling in Australia," Mr Dutton said.

"We have a bilateral arrangement with Cambodia. If we can strike other arrangements with other countries, we will do that."