DORA applies to credit institutions as defined in its Article 3(31), by cross-referring to the definition of credit institution in Article 4(1), point (1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR). According to the CRR, 'credit institutions' are EU licensed credit institutions. In cases where Directive 2013/36/EU (CRD) applies to third country branches, a reference to third-country branches, and not to credit institutions, is made. As DORA does not refer to third country branches in its scope, it only applies to EU credit institutions and not third-country branches.

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