List-$k$-Coloring $H$-free graphs for all $k>4$

Abstract

Given an integer $k>4$ and a graph $H$, we prove that, assuming P$\ne$NP, the List-$k$-Coloring Problem restricted to $H$-free graphs can be solved in polynomial time if and only if either every component of $H$ is a path on at most three vertices, or removing the isolated vertices of $H$ leaves an induced subgraph of the five-vertex path. In fact, the "if" implication holds for all $k\ge 1$.